MSE News: Outfox the Market hits customers with FOURTH price hike in six months

MSE_Andrew

Small energy supplier Outfox the Market has announced it is to raise prices yet again - the second time it's announced a hike this month, and the fourth since June...

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'Outfox the Market hits customers with FOURTH price hike in six months'

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feynman33

I joined in september and sucked up the price rises and direct debit mess, but the new standing charge is a step too far. Just initiated a switch to Bristol Energy.

step1974

I literally cannot believe I am reading this news. They will have no customers left to supply at this rate.

paters

Not sure about this, but I read the energy price cap coming into effect on 1st Jan 2019 limits the standing charge for electricity at 23p per day and gas at 26p per day (for DD paying customers).


So how can they charge 28p per fuel?

Kite2010

Is it bad to think they will become the next supplier to go bust?

Wildsound

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. The next new company offering the cheapest energy deal will be along next week, and then once it has enough of a customer base, it will crank up the charges across the board and become the most expensive as it plans to do...

VoucherMan

Oh good. Another post about OFTM to pile on the publicity for them

A small number of Outfox the Market customers are on a fixed rather than variable tariff. If that's you, the rate you pay won't go up in January, but Outfox the Market says you WILL still have to pay a daily standing charge rather than a monthly membership fee from them - which is likely to mean your bills go up.

I wonder when Outfox will have the decency to pass on this information to customers, or if they consider it something they can just change at will without notification.



From one of their grovelling emails in May

To clarify, any customers who have an annual electricity consumption in excess of 4,600kWh will pay a maximum membership fee of £13.99 for the duration of the fixed term.

I guess they haven't lied completely. They're not increasing it, but replacing it with a different charge of about £16 a month, assuming it will be the same as those on variable tariffs.




All I'm waiting for now is the clowns at OFTM to send an email saying they intend to increase the rates on the fixed rate tariffs.
Supposedly they can't increase the rate, but I wouldn't put it past them trying.

puj

Anyone know when the energy club website will be updated with the latest prices from January enabling a fair comparison?


At the moment it's still showing the prices from the last price hike.

Billy_the_fish

VoucherMan wrote: »

Oh good. Another post about OFTM to pile on the publicity for them


I wonder when Outfox will have the decency to pass on this information to customers, or if they consider it something they can just change at will without notification.



From one of their grovelling emails in May
I guess they haven't lied completely. They're not increasing it, but replacing it with a different charge of about £16 a month, assuming it will be the same as those on variable tariffs.




All I'm waiting for now is the clowns at OFTM to send an email saying they intend to increase the rates on the fixed rate tariffs.
Supposedly they can't increase the rate, but I wouldn't put it past them trying.

Im on their Fixed Whack Tariff until April 2019.
The hiked my prices by fabricating my usage, meaning my membership price rises!!!

My actual usage for 2016-2017 was 2408 Elec units.
Upon looking at their membership tier pricing, at the time the prices were....

£6.99 0 - 2499 Elec units (Low user)
£8.99 2500 - 3499 Elec units (Medium User)
£10.99 3500 - 4499(?) Elec units (High user)

As you can see, my usage falls into the 'Low usage' on their Membership Tier.
Ive had CCTV install and some outdoor security lighting earlier in the year so though my usage might rise a little.
So rather than gather debt i decided to go with the Medium tier and pay the extra membership fee of £8.99.

Since my 1st bill 6 months ago they have charged me £10.99 membership fee and on my monthly statement they have repeatedly fabricated that my usage will hit 3651 units.
This was forecast in May. We've had a fantastic summer and i have a 3+KW solar system, so through the summer my bills were very low and built up 3 months of credit in the 1st 6months of direct debits.

So from my usage being within the £6.99 bracket, i decided to choose the slightly higher tier of £8.99 but then OFTM have decided upon themselves that my tier will actually be £10.99

No email to inform me and this change was made on day 1 of me joining them with the only figures for them to go on was my last years actual usage of 2408 units.

michaels

I tried to switch away a week ago, Scottish power emailed today saying oftm is not on there supplier list so the transfer has been cancelled. Since I applied SP have raised the cost of their fix by 150 quid.

Anyone know if this is a SP issue or if it is impossible to leave oftm?

editor1

Thus far, as a few have pointed out, I've been lenient with OFTM due to the fact I contracted for a 'Fixed' period, which means fixed annual costs - given this fact, any effort to rescind the Membership structure, which was sold heavily by OFTM, and change it to one with Standing Charges is clearly a breach of contract - important for those wishing to avoid exit fees of £100 for duel energy users. Actually, I'll go further, its a clear case of mis-selling, which again will Null & Void any existing contract - use Small Claims Court for this should OFTM play hardball.

A few facts for those of us who took advantage of the Whack Tariff Fixed 18 month deal offered in the first quarter of this year (January - March)

1.) OFTM was sold as a members operated business with each member paying a banded monthly membership fee for electricity, with zero charges applicable for gas, namely, we had no standing charges to pay and this was identified clearly in all promotions OFTM run. Indeed, the Welcome Pack clearly indicates in Black & White that OFTM was run on a 'membership' basis and all those subscribing to its services were/are members - regardless of what T&Cs they desire to use they are unable to change this contractual fact by fiat.

2.) No correspondence from OFTM, namely the Welcoming Pack included a copy of the T&Cs, namely a clear and precise list of obligations by both parties to the contract - on checking OVO Energy Welcome pack and First Utility Welcome Pack email I could not find T&Cs, however, OVO actually forwarded a Welcome pack via the post that may have contained T&Cs. Could someone shine a light on this please?

My contract law is rusty as its been a long time since I read law as a Post Grad, however, and regardless of unclear and imprecise T&Cs, as far as switching a membership over to a standing charge structure this is a 'No Go'.

I don't know what lawyers are instructing OFTM, if any at all, but should those of us called 'members' have our membership fees revoked and standing charges imposed this is Breach of Contract, it also is clearly a case of Miss-selling, in which case any contract becomes Null & Void.

As of AM timeline on 30 November I've had no correspondence from OFTM detailing any changes for our 'Fixed' contract. Indeed, the last correspondence OFTM sent was on 23 November detailing new DD charges, these being £119 per month in my families instance.

It would be great if Hengus and a few others can jump in here, in the meantime I'm getting some legal advice from Barrister peers on the Contract Law issue. However, these moves by OFTM, if they impact the 'Fixed' contracts is the last straw for this poster - Fixed Contracts means Fixed prices, this applies to all Futures Contracts, namely, all parties agree to a fixed price for delivery at a future date.

Again, OFTM either need to change Lawyers, or actually ensure they have legal advice issued with regards all the games they are playing - its evident they have not taken legal opinion, had they done so these changes would not be considered based on Contract Law.