Too many switches ?

Cliddy

I'm probably switching too often, but basically the supplier/MSE couldn't be any slower achieving the actual switch !
I've stuck with BG because recently their offerings have been very good. So consequently my switches within the company should be straight forward.
I switched in early February and that switch is still not completed as far as MSE are concerned. However BG have confirmed on my account months ago that I'm over.
However that means that I haven't received the cash back and can't switch again via MSE.
So I went elsewhere and a switch is in process for offer number 2.
Meanwhile today offer number 3 has come up.
I can't risk switching again because I know chaos will descend on me.

But it's not exactly the classic MSE story is it, where everybody shouts about how much their saving.
MSE have been flogging numerous BG offers recently. It must be falling on lots of deaf ears now, like mine, where we're stuck.
If MSE has the weight they think they have, they should negotiate quicker switches.

thorganby

Of course you can switch again now.

Other better switching sites are available!

I can't understand why so many forum members use the so called Cheap Energy Club when there are better deals available with higher cashback and no CEC hassle.

e.g. https://www.topcashback.co.uk/category/gas-and-electricity/

Cliddy

I'll take on board your comment about other sites available. I'm aware of that, but it's not the issue here.
I have switch 1 not officially completed.
Switch 2 hasn't been acknowledged even yet.
Are you really suggesting I can safely now go for switch 3, all with the same supplier.
It sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Cliddy

By the way what is CEC hassle?

Benight

Cliddy wrote: »

I'm probably switching too often, but basically the supplier/MSE couldn't be any slower achieving the actual switch !
I've stuck with BG because recently their offerings have been very good. So consequently my switches within the company should be straight forward.
I switched in early February and that switch is still not completed as far as MSE are concerned. However BG have confirmed on my account months ago that I'm over.
However that means that I haven't received the cash back and can't switch again via MSE.
So I went elsewhere and a switch is in process for offer number 2.
Meanwhile today offer number 3 has come up.
I can't risk switching again because I know chaos will descend on me.

But it's not exactly the classic MSE story is it, where everybody shouts about how much their saving.
MSE have been flogging numerous BG offers recently. It must be falling on lots of deaf ears now, like mine, where we're stuck.
If MSE has the weight they think they have, they should negotiate quicker switches.

MSE/MSM informs the supplier within 24 hours of you making the application.

Then it's down to the supplier. Switches currently take a minimum of 17 days (including the 14 days cooling off period allowed) and suppliers are expected to make a switch within 21 days under normal conditions - it's nothing to do with MSE.

MSE leaves your account as switch in progress until it receives payment, and so can then pass the cashback part onto you. Suppliers take 3-6 months to pay - to ensure you remain with them long enough to justify paying for your custom.

MSE will manually release the 'switch in progress' if you ask them to so that you can switch again, but doing so may mean you lose out on the cashback.

If you plan to switch so often, and avoid the possibility of cashback (MSE doesn't pay cashback on a significant number of the cheapest options anyway), then probably best just to switch direct with the supplier of your choise, miss out the middleman (and his offer of cashback which you won't get anyway if you switch again so quickly) and speed up the switching process by ...oh, lets see, possibly 24 hours?

Btw, Ofgem are trying to reduce the switching time still further so that switches occur withinh your colloing off periood, but that obviously has issues that need to be ironed out first. If/when that happens, switches via MSE will be equally as quick (save for the up to 24 hours to notify the supplier) - but you will still lose any cashback if you switch again before the cashback is paid; that will still be 3-6 months typically

thorganby

Cliddy wrote: »

By the way what is CEC hassle?

That is what you are experiencing now!

The Cheap Energy Club obviously do not sufficient resources to handle the amount of switches generated and the reward to CEC switchers is pathetic when compared to what is available elsewhere!

My most recent switch, also a the beginning of February to a different supplier took 21 days to complete and when I have previously switched to a different tariff with the same supplier it happened immediately, with no CEC hassle!

It appears to me that you are chasing the CEC cashback with the same supplier, rather than seeking out the best available deal with higher cashback elsewhere.

Your choice but your CEC hassle seems to be a common one based on the number of similar posts here.

Benight

thorganby wrote: »

Of course you can switch again now.

Other better switching sites are available!

I can't understand why so many forum members use the so called Cheap Energy Club when there are better deals available with higher cashback and no CEC hassle.

e.g. https://www.topcashback.co.uk/category/gas-and-electricity/

The energy prices are exactly the same no matter where you buy.
- save for special collective deals etc that are only available from certain sources. I don't know any that TCB have offered, but CEC does have them quite often.

Also, if you follow the terms, the CEC has a good rate of paying out cashback.
TCB, on the other hand, has a good rate of giving excuses not to pay out cashbak, in my experience. I don't use them anymore due to their 100% rate of refusing cashback with online purchases
(their snap & save via receipt submission seems to be the only method they pay cashback consistently)

thorganby

Benight wrote: »

The energy prices are exactly the same no matter where you buy.
- save for special collective deals etc that are only available from certain sources. I don't know any that TCB have offered, but CEC does have them quite often.

Also, if you follow the terms, the CEC has a good rate of paying out cashback.
TCB, on the other hand, has a good rate of giving excuses not to pay out cashbak, in my experience. I don't use them anymore due to their 100% rate of refusing cashback with online purchases
(their snap & save via receipt submission seems to be the only method they pay cashback consistently)

I disagree totally with your post.

Energy prices are not the same no matter where you buy, you have a lot to learn about energy switching!

Most comparison sites offer exclusive tariffs and much higher cashback with the added advantage of no CEC hassle.

:rotfl:

Cliddy

Ok, thanks for all this. I'm not overly bothered about the cash back, I just want the cheapest deal (within reason). If I could get the same deal through the supplier direct, I would.
In my scenario above its through different "sources" but to the same supplier BG.
And BG aren't providing them direct.
Therefore my switches are queuing up.

JJ_Egan

thorganby wrote: »

I disagree totally with your post.


Most comparison sites offer exclusive tariffs and much higher cashback with the added advantage of no CEC hassle.

:rotfl:

Can you link to a few of these exclusive deals in case i want to switch .

Benight

thorganby wrote: »

I disagree totally with your post.

Energy prices are not the same no matter where you buy, you have a lot to learn about energy switching!

Most comparison sites offer exclusive tariffs and much higher cashback with the added advantage of no CEC hassle.

:rotfl:

Feel free to disagree totally with me . it's what makes this place a ball.,

As JJ Egan suggests, perhaps you can give us an example or 2 available exclusively from TCB?
- No, thought not :cool:

Perhaps you need to read a post twice before you elect to "disagree totally" with it ...