Bulb Energy - beware

Janisunshine

If you are persuaded to switch to Bulb Energy because of substantial savings, please beware.

Bulb requre you to pay for your energy IN ADVANCE, so in terms of cash flow you may be worse off.


In my case, I was stopped in the supermarket and persuaded to sign up on the basis of a reduction from £55 p/m with British Gas to £43 with Bulb. What they don't tell you is that you have to make the first payment the day BEFORE the switch. So, with 3 months left on my tariff, I had to pay an extra £43 in order to save £36.


Also, if you have exit fees, Bulb say they will pay them up to £120. However, depite the salesperson's assurance that I would get it in cash, Bulb's website says this is with a credit to your Bulb account, not with a cash refund. So you may find yourself having a further cash outlay.



My advice is BE CAREFUL; don't be persuaded to sign up in-store, go home and check your cash flow; you may end up paying MORE for cheaper energy.

Robin9

Taking the first DD is common amongst suppliers.

Just of interest how did the salesman calculate the savings - did he just ask "how much are you paying?"


PS What is your actual consumption for the last 12 months - in kwh not £ ?

Talldave

So you knew that the unit rates and daily standing charges offered to you in the supermarket would save you money for your consumption levels, compared to your existing supplier?

Robin9

Talldave wrote: »

So you knew that the unit rates and daily standing charges offered to you in the supermarket would save you money for your consumption levels, compared to your existing supplier?

Who knows their consumption let alone unit rates/standing charges ? But some will know their DD but , on the experience of this forum, never read meters or know whether they are in credit or debit. DD alone is dangerous territory.

The OP may be on a good deal - they may not.

savemoney

This is why you should never sign up to anything in a street/store etc. Because you don't really have the time or possibly not hear things or they may be economical with the truth when you sign up. Do it in comfort of your own home where you may have more time to digest information assuming they have given you all the facts

maxcy

Janisunshine wrote: »

If you are persuaded to switch to Bulb Energy because of substantial savings, please beware.

Bulb requre you to pay for your energy IN ADVANCE, so in terms of cash flow you may be worse off.


In my case, I was stopped in the supermarket and persuaded to sign up on the basis of a reduction from £55 p/m with British Gas to £43 with Bulb. What they don't tell you is that you have to make the first payment the day BEFORE the switch. So, with 3 months left on my tariff, I had to pay an extra £43 in order to save £36.


Also, if you have exit fees, Bulb say they will pay them up to £120. However, depite the salesperson's assurance that I would get it in cash, Bulb's website says this is with a credit to your Bulb account, not with a cash refund. So you may find yourself having a further cash outlay.



My advice is BE CAREFUL; don't be persuaded to sign up in-store, go home and check your cash flow; you may end up paying MORE for cheaper energy.

Any sales person will only recommend a product that earns them money.

The advice you provide for everyone to make their own investigations by consulting comparison site, including those suppliers the comparison site are not paid by, i.e. what is often referred to a s a whole of market comparison, is well known amongst al MSEers.

Contrary to your thread headline, this doesn't seem a warning about any specific supplier, but rather about approaches from any sales people, especiallly unsolicited ones.

Talldave

Robin9 wrote: »

Who knows their consumption let alone unit rates/standing charges ? But some will know their DD but , on the experience of this forum, never read meters or know whether they are in credit or debit. DD alone is dangerous territory.

The OP may be on a good deal - they may not.

Totally agree and my question was very much tongue in cheek.


What's worrying is that the OP may now be on a more expensive tariff than they were before. The new supplier is simply promising to undercut their current direct debit amount (which may or may not cover their usage) whilst possibly allowing them to run up a debt, only to be hit later with a massive leap in direct debit payments.

Robin9

Talldave wrote: »

Totally agree and my question was very much tongue in cheek.


What's worrying is that the OP may now be on a more expensive tariff than they were before. The new supplier is simply promising to undercut their current direct debit amount (which may or may not cover their usage) whilst possibly allowing them to run up a debt, only to be hit later with a massive leap in direct debit payments.

We are in agreement - hence my PS in #2 requesting consumption detail.

Janisunshine

Gosh, I don't think anyone has taken my point.

Yes I do know my usage, both in £ and kWh, I also know the details of my current tariff and yes, Bulb are definitely cheaper. I am not complaining; it was obviously my choice to sign up and therefore not an issue for complaint.

In all my years, however, I have never come across an energy supplier who demands payment BEFORE they even start to supply you, thus Bulb would be taking MORE cash from my account within the remaining period of my contract, whilst offering a considerably cheaper tariff. That's an anomaly that I felt other potential swappers might be glad to know.

I was not expecting a load of people jumping down my throat without bothering to understand what I was actually saying.
It was my first post, but now my last. I'm sorry I bothered.

elle_may

Janisunshine wrote: »

Gosh, I don't think anyone has taken my point.

Yes I do know my usage, both in £ and kWh, I also know the details of my current tariff and yes, Bulb are definitely cheaper. I am not complaining; it was obviously my choice to sign up and therefore not an issue for complaint.

In all my years, however, I have never come across an energy supplier who demands payment BEFORE they even start to supply you, thus Bulb would be taking MORE cash from my account within the remaining period of my contract, whilst offering a considerably cheaper tariff. That's an anomaly that I felt other potential swappers might be glad to know.

I was not expecting a load of people jumping down my throat without bothering to understand what I was actually saying.
It was my first post, but now my last. I'm sorry I bothered.

Please don't do that, I have found most of the smaller firms do have different modes of operating and this is because of the advice on this good forum. Not everyone knows everything.

Talldave

Ok, you have to make a first payment up front, but your post was confusing in that you talk about 3 months left on a tariff. If you've switched then you've left your previous tariff and won't be paying two suppliers (unless you were in debt with your previous supplier)? So at worst two payments in one month? I've experienced it, but if you want the cheaper supplier you have to stick to their rules. After all, most things in life you pay for before use - I've just moved and paid for water through to next April.

Sorry for focussing on the "supermarket" aspect but that's a worrying business practice too. I've encountered doorstep energy salespeople who couldn't quote their price, I feared they've moved to the high street.