Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

hoopstars

Premier wrote: »

:huh:

I'm a little confused as to what you are wanting SP to supply you with.

Obviously you need a two rate meter to be supplied on E7.

If, however, you are now hoping to be billed on a single rate tariff, then whilst some suppliers are prepared to supply this with a dual rate meter, Scottish Power isn't one of them. SP will charge to have the meter changed if you currently have a dual rate meter and want them to bill you on a single rate tariff.

If you need a meter change, best to go direct to the supplier and negotiate the switch on the basis a new meter is required. If you try and do it online, then you will probably get refused (or worse still accepted and stuck on a different tariff)

Hi Thanks for your reply, I have for the time being given up on trying to change supplier.

In answer to your last post to me, I am not hoping to be billed on a single rate tariff but want to be billed on a dual rate meter on E7 as I currently am and as quoted on the comparison sites.
However after many phone calls to Scottish Power they still say they cannot supply me for E7, one person seemed to think it was because my night time hours differed from what SP support, though I have been told so many differing times that E7 ranges that I am totally confused, SP told me one set of times, UW (current supplier) told me different and EDF (local distributor) told me something different.

One thing I did find out was that although my meter has an MPAN (?) it is not actually registered on the central database. Utility Warehouse have said they will now get it registered and I will ring them soon to check it is now on the database. When I told SP they said that could be the reason they refused but only possibly.
To be honest I am so confused and fed up with the whole thing that I don't think I will bother changing. I have bought an energy monitor to see if I can cut down on my usage and will try and be careful with what we use!:(
Thanks again

Terrylw1

hoopstars wrote: »

Hi Thanks for your reply, I have for the time being given up on trying to change supplier.

In answer to your last post to me, I am not hoping to be billed on a single rate tariff but want to be billed on a dual rate meter on E7 as I currently am and as quoted on the comparison sites.
However after many phone calls to Scottish Power they still say they cannot supply me for E7, one person seemed to think it was because my night time hours differed from what SP support, though I have been told so many differing times that E7 ranges that I am totally confused, SP told me one set of times, UW (current supplier) told me different and EDF (local distributor) told me something different.

One thing I did find out was that although my meter has an MPAN (?) it is not actually registered on the central database. Utility Warehouse have said they will now get it registered and I will ring them soon to check it is now on the database. When I told SP they said that could be the reason they refused but only possibly.
To be honest I am so confused and fed up with the whole thing that I don't think I will bother changing. I have bought an energy monitor to see if I can cut down on my usage and will try and be careful with what we use!:(
Thanks again

The timings of the E7 off peak hours are irrelevant to being able to produce a bill. Your meter switches from day to night and the appropriate dial begins to record.

A Supplier gets these register readings and bill them on the correct day/night combination. The Timeswitch is set up when the meter is installed and it's different based on whether it's a timeswitch or radio telemeter. However, they drift, get set up wrong, etc...hence they can still differ then so it's usually best to check it's switching over when you expect.

Distributors don't fit the meters so will only give you the same responses a Supplier could. If the Supplier is unsure, they can always call the Meter Operator and check what it should be.

If you MPAN (and property) is not registered to anyone, you can opt to go to whoever you wish and it's not a "switch" that you will do. It will be your first registration. This brings additional problems, as whilst the registration is actually easier, they will have no record of the meter/readings etc. So, make sure you take them and remind them that they cannot bill you before your registration date (known as Supplier Start Date (SSD)). They only start paying from that date and any previous units used are effectively "lost" and the local Distributor will end up unable to bill the Supplier for them.

Strange that you don't have a registration since you have a meter. Have you been a new build over the past few years? Maybe on a large building site?

leitmotif

Can anyone tell me why Martin's article says 'earn up to £30 cashback'? Looking at Quidco alone I see I can get £80 cashback switching dual fuel to EDF. And why are only certain websites mentioned (Moneysupermarket, Energyhelpline, uSwitch, etc.) and not others (Quidco and suchlike)?

blahblahdoh

leitmotif wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why Martin's article says 'earn up to £30 cashback'? Looking at Quidco alone I see I can get £80 cashback switching dual fuel to EDF. And why are only certain websites mentioned (Moneysupermarket, Energyhelpline, uSwitch, etc.) and not others (Quidco and suchlike)?

These are two different types of website.

The article concentrates on comparison websites which are focused on energy suppliers and have fairly fixed levels of cashback.

Cashback sites like Quidco typically have a wide range of products and the offers and amounts available fluctuate quite rapidly (which makes them difficult to keep up to date with).

From the extended article:

"It may be be possible to INCREASE the cashback ...

Occasionally, some energy companies pay even more if you switch directly via their websites or via cashback websites. Therefore, for the ultimate finesse, first use the comparison services to find the cheapest, then check the winner's website direct to see if it offers more cashback.

And also check if you can get more going via a cashback website both for the energy provider itself and, on rare occasions, for going to the comparison site, use the Cashback Sites Maximiser. "
"

The Cashback Maximiser is here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cashback-sites-comparison/

competitionscafe

leitmotif wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why Martin's article says 'earn up to £30 cashback'? Looking at Quidco alone I see I can get £80 cashback switching dual fuel to EDF. And why are only certain websites mentioned (Moneysupermarket, Energyhelpline, uSwitch, etc.) and not others (Quidco and suchlike)?

Because Martin/MSE gets paid a commission from moneysupermarket, etc but if you go via topcashback/quidco etc you get all the commission (in the form of cashback).

blahblahdoh

competitionscafe wrote: »

Because Martin/MSE gets paid a commission from moneysupermarket, etc but if you go via topcashback/quidco etc you get all the commission (in the form of cashback).

I don't entirely agree. Firstly, MSE makes no secret of who supports them and who doesn't - it's spelled out clearly at the end of the article. Secondly, cashback sites are mentioned in the article, and the site even offers a cashback checker to help you find the best deal (for YOU, not for MSE). Thirdly, it is not sensible to include transient offers in an article because they are almost impossible to keep up to date and would therefore just confuse and mislead people (hence the headline which is based on a long-standing reliable offer). Fourthly, the comparison sites are arguably more reliable payers than the cashback sites, some of which have been behaving erratically lately.

Biting the hand that feeds you makes me think you must be a werewolf, or possibly a vampire? Happy halloween. :rotfl:

sjb40

Can anyone give me advice? We're having central heating installed via our housing association. As we've never used gas before we're totally confused as to which company to use! Comparison sites are of no use as you need to have previous meter readings and suppliers don't show their gas prices on-line. It all seems a mine field, not to mention scottish & southern energy are upping their prices by nearly 10%!!! I've thought of going with scottish power are they part of the same group as above? Really could do with help as to what to go for!

EternallyGrateful

If I was in your situation I would calculate a projected usage based on the size of my property and use that figure on the comparision sites. For example: I live in a 4 bedroomed property (about 1800 sq ft in total) and my annual usage (as I have just been advised by Scottish Power) is 10500kWh, and we only use gas for central heating and hot water. So, your starting point could be to pro-rata those details to the size of your property. Obviously, if you're using gas for cooking as well you need to incease the kWh accordingly.

I'm also pretty sure that the only relationship between the two comapnies you mention is that they both have "Scottish" in their title.

NonGeographicalMan

sjb40 wrote: »

I've thought of going with scottish power are they part of the same group as above? Really could do with help as to what to go for!

Scottish Power is the UK brand of Spanish energy supply giant Iberdrola. Scottish & Southern Energy PLC is on the other hand a UK stock exchange listed company. There is no connection between the two.

Anyhow why would you want to stay with the same company. You always need to switch away from the original default company for the region you are in before privatisation in order to get the best deal on electricity or gas prices.

As another forum member said just use the function on the www.uswitch.com, https://www.energyhelpline.com, www.whichswitch.co.uk or other sites that asks you to enter the number of bedrooms and the number of people living in the house as an alternative to entering actual historic bills. This should find the cheapest supplier for your area at the current time (although not necessarily the cheapest in another 3 months time......)

donaldtramp

I don't entirely agree. Firstly, MSE makes no secret of who supports them and who doesn't - it's spelled out clearly at the end of the article.

Yes but MSE DOESN'T show you about how to make much more cxashback with Quidco and Topcashback etc.

Secondly, cashback sites are mentioned in the article, and the site even offers a cashback checker to help you find the best deal (for YOU, not for MSE). Thirdly

Mentioned but no links except the ones that make MSE money.
,

it is not sensible to include transient offers in an article because they are almost impossible to keep up to date and would therefore just confuse and mislead people (

They seem to do a pretty good job with other offers....

hence the headline which is based on a long-standing reliable offer).

And also one which makes MSE money.

Fourthly, the comparison sites are arguably more reliable payers than the cashback sites, some of which have been behaving erratically lately.

Never had any problems with the cashback sites I've used. Quidco and topcashback.

This is one of my main gripes with MSE. They are NOT showing consumers the best way to get money. They are however, lining their own pockets through links that must generate HUGE income for MSE.
It is an absolute disgrace.

It's simple, if you want to make Martin even more money, follow his links.
Or if on the other hand you prefer a far larger cashback amount in your hand. Clear your cookies and switch through another cashback website, NOT MSE