Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Premier_2

ErimusTB wrote: »

Hi I've just switched to the S&S iplan Domestic Standard tariff - which seems to be a hybrid scheme by name but i can't seem to find what exactly it is... is it still worth it? - new user here so hope i'm right place to ask such questions

What was it that made you decide on this particular plan in the first instance?

Was it achieved by following the advice given in the article in the OP?
If so, have you done a recent check to see if it's still the best deal for you?

leitmotif

blahblahdoh wrote: »

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.

That said, Martin's Money Tips newsletter today is misleading when it states that cashback is only available through certain links. [I have made the word 'only' bold and underlined in the quote below.]


Compare, switch & get cashback: (cashback only via these MSE links) Top Picks: Energyhelpline* pays £15 cashback per switch. Crate of wine: Uswitch* offers a crate of wine. Dual Fuel: MoneySupermarket* £30 in cash. More info & cashback options in the FULL Guide: Cheap Energy + Cashback MSE News: S&SE price hike, Will others follow? Related: Boiler Cover

Premier_2

leitmotif wrote: »

That said, Martin's Money Tips newsletter today is misleading when it states that cashback is only available through certain links. [I have made the word 'only' bold and underlined in the quote below.]


Compare, switch & get cashback: (cashback only via these MSE links) Top Picks: Energyhelpline* pays £15 cashback per switch. Crate of wine: Uswitch* offers a crate of wine. Dual Fuel: MoneySupermarket* £30 in cash. More info & cashback options in the FULL Guide: Cheap Energy + Cashback MSE News: S&SE price hike, Will others follow? Related: Boiler Cover

Cashback from the quoted sites is only available if you go via the special MSE links
If you go direct to those sites you won't get cashback.

leitmotif

Premier wrote: »

Cashback from the quoted sites is only available if you go via the special MSE links
If you go direct to those sites you won't get cashback.

It's still misleading. It suggests that those are the only ways of getting cashback, when in fact you could use a cashback site and get considerably more.

competitionscafe

leitmotif wrote: »

It's still misleading. It suggests that those are the only ways of getting cashback, when in fact you could use a cashback site and get considerably more.

Yes, I also thought so. Putting something like "higher cashback may be available via cashback websites" and then a link to the article would help.

I think people who are not members of a cashback site or perhaps not even aware of them would be confused by the wording saying: "cashback only via these MSE links". In any case you can get for example energyhelpline cashback of £20 from a cashback site or moneysupermarket cashback of £20 to £30 - so while going direct will not result in any cashback going via MSE links is not the only option.

If someone were to go via the MSE newsletter link to energyhelpline and get £15 cashback and later find out that they could have got £100 cashback from going to the supplier via topcashback and been £85 better off they might not be a happy bunny! :rotfl:

Premier_2

leitmotif wrote: »

It's still misleading. It suggests that those are the only ways of getting cashback, when in fact you could use a cashback site and get considerably more.

No it's not.

You can't compare at cashback sites (unless you use the cashback site to access the comparison site and then the cashback is usually less than using the MSE link)

MSE articles on cashback sites are available here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cashback-websites

leitmotif

I'm afraid I disagree, Premier. Look at the wording. It doesn't say 'Compare, switch & get cashback: (comparison, switching and cashback only via these MSE links)'. It is only the cashback element that is cited parenthetically as being 'only via these MSE links'. The emphasis is purely on cashback here.

Your counterargument is flawed in that you try to refute my assertion by presenting a disadvantage of cashback sites. That isn't a refutation; it's just an opinion about cashback sites. To refute it succesfully you would have to demonstrate how the wording of Martin's e-mail is not misleading.

Irrespective of whether cashback sites offer the option of comparing, comparison can be done first - separately. I used comparison sites to find what would be the cheapest deal. I then cleared all cookies and visited Quidco. I switched to the relevant company through Quidco and will be getting £80 cashback instead of £20-30.

50Twuncle

We are on Scottish Powers Energy Saver 4 tarriff - I don't know whether this tarriff has an "end date" ?
Is it worth us switching ?
We are low consumers (£45 per month dual fuel)

Isn't it about time that the regulator "standardised" all these confusing rates
ie) The first 500 KWH per quarter being charged at x pence
The rest at y pence - for one company

Whilst another charges z pence for the first 350 kwh per quarter and q pence for the rest

If there was a standard "cut off" - this would make comparisons much easier....

EternallyGrateful

21Twinkle wrote: »

If there was a standard "cut off" - this would make comparisons much easier....

Which is precisely why there isn't one.

Premier_2

leitmotif wrote: »

I'm afraid I disagree, Premier. Look at the wording. It doesn't say 'Compare, switch & get cashback: (comparison, switching and cashback only via these MSE links)'. It is only the cashback element that is cited parenthetically as being 'only via these MSE links'. The emphasis is purely on cashback here.

....

:huh: .

leitmotif wrote: »

...Compare, switch & get cashback: (cashback only via these MSE links) .

You can compare and switch without going via the MSE links, but if you want the cashback too you will have to use the special MSE links.

To suggest otherwise would indeed be misleading

This is also explained in the article linked to:

The easiest way to find who's cheapest is to use a comparison site, where you tell it where you live and as much info as possible about your energy bills, and it tells you who's cheapest. If you don't know have your bills handy for usage figures, it'll estimate.

Yet don't go direct, instead specifically click these special links to the comparison sites, and within 45-90 days you get paid cashback or freebies on top, provided they can switch you (see why they pay).