Energy companies underquoting to get customers?

Annellii

Six months ago I switched energy companies via an auto switch service. The initial quote was very competitive so I accepted it. At the six month review my monthly payment has jumped by more than £30 even though my home circumstances have not changed and it hasn’t even been a cold winter. I am still awaiting a response from customer services, but my immediate question is whether there is any evidence that energy companies are underquoting to get business and then revising payments. I joined in October so my account is bound to be in deficit right now. Thanks in advance

Carrot007

No, it is usually the customer does not provide accurate kWh figures so the payment is just a complete guess. To be fair though, this should be emphasised a lot more.


When they want you to be in debit differs a lot depending on the compny. Some expect credit at all times. Again do read about who you sign up to and don't expect all of them to be the same.

Merlin139

When you were quoted was it based on kWh per month/year or was it £ per month/year?

Based on that how much energy in kWh have you used since you joined this company?

Have you been providing meter readings? Have you been sent any bills and are they actual or estimated?

JJ_Egan

What the energy companies give is one the facts of tariff prices .
Two they then give an estimate of yearly usage and estimated DD based upon the users input .
User uses less pays less ,use more pay more .
Take monthly meter readings and know your tariff rates to keep on top of billing .


Any claim in the OPs case of saving xx is down to the auto switch site.

Annellii

Thanks, yes I did do the research beforehand, and the kWh came from the annual total of my previous supplier, who provide it on a rolling basis. The monthly payment has gone up 40% which seems excessive even given that it averages out over the year.

Annellii

And yes I have provided meter readings.

PaschalFun

Annellii wrote: »

Thanks, yes I did do the research beforehand, and the kWh came from the annual total of my previous supplier, who provide it on a rolling basis. The monthly payment has gone up 40% which seems excessive even given that it averages out over the year.

Any help?
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/

Takmon

Annellii wrote: »

Thanks, yes I did do the research beforehand, and the kWh came from the annual total of my previous supplier, who provide it on a rolling basis. The monthly payment has gone up 40% which seems excessive even given that it averages out over the year.

So you take the amount of kWh that you use per year and times that by your unit rate then add on a years worth of standing charges and divide that by 12. That will give you your average monthly usage and this should be your direct debit amount.

This is really something you should have done before you switched to them because its very simple and then you know exactly how much you will be paying.