Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Snooze

Plushchris wrote: »

I think you need to work out how to use comparison sites.

Uswitch isnt cheaper, Uswitch dont charge for anything so how can they be cheaper?

Umm I know exactly how to use them, and uswitch is cheaper than the other yet both of the util companies are the same.

NonGeographicalMan

Snooze wrote: »

Umm I know exactly how to use them, and uswitch is cheaper than the other yet both of the util companies are the same.

Uswitch can only be cheaper if it pays more cashback than other sites or if it offers a tariff with a particular supplier that can only be accessed through it.

If however the tariff is the same tariff as another site and it is coming up with a different money saving from another switch site then one of those two sites is doing its calculations incorrectly.

You don't seem to realise that all of it is essentially nonsense guesstimation by the switching sites except in the case of fixed tariffs where the companies have to honour the actual fixed deal they are promising today. With variable tariffs they can change things once you sign up in any old way they like.

Terrylw1

NonGeographicalMan wrote: »

So no reason then that the whole thing can't go through in 24 hours like porting a mobile phone number.

The only reason for the 6 week transfer time allowed by Ofgem in my opinion is to cut down on switches to make life easier for the suppliers who they regulate but who also provide their income.

The other thing that should be absolutely prohibited but sadly hasn't been are any variable price tariffs that try to penalise you for leaving the company. Penalties or charges for fixed price tariffs are fair enough since there has to be a trade off for being able to guarantee the price.

It can go through quicker than 6 weeks but it couldn't be quicker than a couple because the old supplier gets to a window to object, 5 days I recall.

The rest of the time is data going back and forth. To request to register goes to the distributor, distributor sends that to old supplier, 5 days to object, after which time the distributor confirms the transfer to the new supplier. On top of that the new supplier has to appoint agents who have to confirm they accept, then the change if supply reading has to be passed to all parties since they can't just accept it without passing via agents.

Its all this which takes the time.

You might find it interesting that Ofgem brought in SLC14A to speed this up to 21 days. I wonder if that's actually happening though since Ofgem release these conditions but don't seem to audit them until customers or the media raise it!

Even if they changed these processes, with the amount of data & parties, a 1 day process would cause problems as they don't have full control of it now. You would really want it stable first.

I still think the latest SLC gives too much time, a lot of it is waiting time where nothing is happened e.g. I'll wait 7 days and chase X party up.

See the supplier links on Ofgems site if you ever need them.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Licensing/Work/Pages/licence-conditions-consolidated.aspx

Terrylw1

Are we expecting lots of new users advertising the gifts from the new owners soon then?...;):D

donaldtramp

But try telling anyone on a £5,000 year pension that Martin is in just the
same boat as them and I some how fear that they simply won't believe
him.

Any longstanding assessment of Martin has always shown that he is
not another Victor Meldrew like most of us but is in fact just another starry
eyed brash marketing man who always saw a website based on selling money saving
to the impoverished as a very good way to make himself a large
fortune.........

Yup all Martin's "advice" to change gas and electricity supplier by follwing Martins links (instead of doing it yourself using Quidco or topcashback) has been a massive success that is, if you think Martin pocketing all his website users cashback by promoting his click through links is a good thing

Was it ever truly in the best interests of the consumer??
Still, what does he care now?

Bugdust

I'm with utility warehouse and I get cash back every month from my supplier not just when I switch. My supplier also has one fixed price for three types of users, low, standard and high. I end up getting my electricity nearly free every month. I have no complaints. When shopping around don't just look at the big 6 there are other good companies out there.

archieboy

My existing tariff with Npower is coming to an end next month. I've searched a couple of the comparison sites and they all bring Npower Bill Saver Aug. 2013 as my best option although it comes out at about £50 more expensive per year than what I'm on now. My question is can I change tariff through a comparison site but keep the same supplier and get cashback? I had been going to just phone Npower and ask for new tariff but if I qualify for cashback that would be even better.

HellcatF6F

I used a couple of comparison sites, each of which promised a £168 per annum saving. Then I tried another offering £30 cashback - surprise, surprise, the saving went down to £138! It's all smoke and mirrors - don't be fooled by it.

jhp

Bugdust wrote: »

I'm with utility warehouse and I get cash back every month from my supplier not just when I switch. My supplier also has one fixed price for three types of users, low, standard and high. I end up getting my electricity nearly free every month. I have no complaints. When shopping around don't just look at the big 6 there are other good companies out there.

Your only allowed to discuss that outfit here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2473547

doveman

I note with the currently promoted EDF Blue Price Promise you'll be supporting Nuclear power. Some people might think that's a great thing but others might not so just wanted to make sure people are aware of that before deciding to switch, particularly as according to the latest issue of Private Eye, p.10, EDF as the only remaining nuclear developer involved in negotiations with the Government has them over a barrel and is demanding they underwrite the contract to the tune of £100bn!