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Big 6 who to choose?

Scotbot
Scotbot Posts: 1,541 Forumite
Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
I inherited GreenStar when I bought the house. They failed to set up the account properly even though supply was already with them and as a result I could not give them meter readings. That was fixed after I complained and all was Ok for a year but now they are unable to send me bills. I have emailed customer service but they just send the previous bill. I find this incredible as i only pay on receipt of the bill so they are not getting any money. I know I have to pay them if they bill me within 12 months but this smacks of incompetence. They have been heavily fined for poor customer service twice and I wonder how long they can carry on. Fed up with this I decided to switch to a big 6 supplier. I don't give a rat's backside about saving a few pounds but I do want accuracy.

So tried to sign up with EON and their online system does not work. My surname has a hyphen and it won't take it with or without the hyphen. This does not bode well. SSEs system does work but they are trying to sell off their domestic division and looking at Ovo.

Anyone any recommendations? Go with SSE and hope they manage to sort out any takeover efficiently? Stick with GreenStar? Try another big 6?

Comments

  • DawnCrush
    DawnCrush Posts: 220 Forumite
    100 Posts Name Dropper
    I'd choose the cheapest supplier, unless you have a specific reason not to use that particular supplier.

    The size of the company does not relate to how accurate they are.
    If fact, it could be argued that suppliers with fewer customers have more time to spend on the customers they do have.

    All energy suppliers are expected to operate customers accounts accurately. If you have cause to complain, then do so following their complaint procedure.
  • BG s latest smart meter installation tariff certainly has a cracking low gas tariff (in my area of only 2.7 p/kwh 20p DSC ) This is the Energy Plus Protection Green Aug 2020.. Have to book a smart meter install though..These "smart meter sweetener tariffs " are usually quite good.
  • DawnCrush wrote: »
    I'd choose the cheapest supplier, unless you have a specific reason not to use that particular supplier.

    The size of the company does not relate to how accurate they are.
    If fact, it could be argued that suppliers with fewer customers have more time to spend on the customers they do have.

    All energy suppliers are expected to operate customers accounts accurately. If you have cause to complain, then do so following their complaint procedure.
    Not Eversmart though. Two of my friends are still trying to get registered after 8 months. On their website they show a small photo of their THREE employees, lol who deal with problems
  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    We have recently switched from EDF to British Gas.

    Had a few minor teething problems with their system not accepting meter readings at the start of the contract but that is all sorted out now.

    The tarrif we are on (Energy Plus Protection Green May 2020 V2) seems competitive enough and we are happy with their customer service department.
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 8,783 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As my gas deal with Better Energy is ending in ~ 48 days time, I was having a look at suppliers today. VERY surprised to see EON coming up (dual fuel) at ~ only £48 more pa than my current gas/leccy deals - closest that a Big 6 Supplier has been in a long time.....and BG weren't far behind either.

    Having said all that I could make real savings on the EON prices (£40-70) if I was prepared to go to AVRO or Breeze -but am I ready to go duel fuel with a small supplier? Decisions ,decisions.......:rotfl:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 15 August 2019 at 1:04PM
    brewerdave wrote: »
    As my gas deal with Better Energy is ending in ~ 48 days time, I was having a look at suppliers today. VERY surprised to see EON coming up (dual fuel) at ~ only £48 more pa than my current gas/leccy deals - closest that a Big 6 Supplier has been in a long time.....and BG weren't far behind either.

    Having said all that I could make real savings on the EON prices (£40-70) if I was prepared to go to AVRO or Breeze -but am I ready to go duel fuel with a small supplier? Decisions ,decisions.......:rotfl:
    What about separate no exit fee gas/electric suppliers on one year fixed tariffs ..Symbio Energy and Zog Energy for gas ?. Those together were just cheapest overall for me with the added flexibility to jump ship exit free if gas or electric prices took an unlikely dive as we head towards the colder months.
  • Smodlet
    Smodlet Posts: 6,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you switch to Bulb, they will pay exit fees up to £60, I believe and no, I don't have a code but they can be found on the Referrers board. They do not apply exit fees so can be a useful medium between switching to fixed tariffs with better established suppliers, plus you can earn £50 cash back directly from them, no third party in the mix.

    I would have done this but would have missed out on the peach of a deal I managed to find from Eon by one day, I believe. :(

    HTH.
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,849 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 15 August 2019 at 3:17PM
    brewerdave wrote: »
    Having said all that I could make real savings on the EON prices (£40-70) if I was prepared to go to AVRO or Breeze -but am I ready to go duel fuel with a small supplier? Decisions, decisions.......:rotfl:
    Avro are fine, albeit a bit slow to refund credit when you leave, but that's Ofgem's fault. Beware of exit fees which they seem to be introducing.
    Scotbot wrote: »
    My surname has a hyphen and it won't take it with or without the hyphen. This does not bode well.
    Yes, it's irritating being told you're an illegal character ! splat.gif
  • Futuristic
    Futuristic Posts: 1,190 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 15 August 2019 at 3:40PM
    I have stuck to the big providers and had 0 issues. Have switched between EON, British Gas & EDF over the years. Looking to go back to EON from EDF right now.

    If EDF had offered its new customer tariff I would have just switched over to that, their loss I guess.
  • Talldave
    Talldave Posts: 2,002 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Houbara wrote: »
    What about separate no exit fee gas/electric suppliers on one year fixed tariffs ..Symbio Energy and Zog Energy for gas ?. Those together were just cheapest overall for me with the added flexibility to jump ship exit free if gas or electric prices took an unlikely dive as we head towards the colder months.

    I've just initiated switches to these two. Zog I've used before, so no worries there. Symbio's website refused to quote for most of today but has now allowed a switch - fingers crossed!
This discussion has been closed.
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