Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

markbernstein

In today's Money Tips email Martin says:

EDF's Blue* tariff is near the market's cheapest, but its three killer features need highlighting before you compare.

a) It's fixed until April 2014, so no price hikes for two winters - a long time. [...]

If you're on the older, shorter EDF Blue fix, it'll let you switch without penalty (go via this Energyhelpline* link and you'll get £15 cashback too).

I switched to the old EDF Blue fix in May via Energyhelpline's "Huge Switch" promotion, which gave a higher cashback. The switch went active in late June, so it could be late September before they will pay the cashback.

I'm wondering about the possible small print here. If I change again now, from the old to the new EDF Blue, might I forfeit the cashback from the first switch? Would it depend on whether I change directly with EDF or try for a second cashback via Energyhelpline? I'm mostly interested in the longer fix, and the extra £15 would be a welcome but not necessary bonus. I just don't want to lose the Huge Switch cashback.

Deneb

Bonbon wrote: »

Does anyone know if Money S
upermarket is still paying £30 for dual switch? I followed the link from Martins weekly email but there is no mention of cashback.I googled it and their terms and conditions say it only pays if there is a banner at the top of the page stating the cashback, but there isn't one.

I followed the link from the MSE site to MoneySupermarket a couple of days ago and got a quote. The £30 cashback was stated in a blue banner under each plan listed on the results page (£70 for Scottish Power plans). I clicked through and switched to EDF Blue April 2014.

I've had an email confirmation from MS that the switch has gone through, but no mention of the cashback anywhere, so I guess I just have to wait and see what happens up to 12 weeks after the switch has gone through.

I assume that EDF will contact me for further information anyway, as nowhere on the application was I asked for my current supply and meter point numbers.

matty_art

My current fix with Ovo runs out on the 15th September, and I want to fix again ASAP, probably on the EDF Blue Tariff. However, I get a penalty if I switch before the end.

I spoke to the customer service people at EDF who told me to wait until 7 days before the expiry of my Ovo contract to commence this, so that the cooling off period runs out after my contract expires.

Are they correct in saying that the end of the cooling off period represents the switch commencement date or am I safe to get the ball rolling now (as I presume there'll be a few weeks before the actual switch completes following the cooling off period)? I don't want to miss out on the lower rates so want to change ASAP!

paulwaiting

Did a comparison on Energyhelpline web from Martins newsletter link.
1600KWH pay on bill no DD, no mains gas.

EDF Blue +Price Promise April 2014 £269
I rang to take it up and was advised they would ring back in around an hour, four hours later I got a call from offshore saying I would be better off in the long run with E.ON - Fixed Price April 2014 as it had no standing charge. This on their web site comes out at £324, on querying why he was advising to go for the more expensive E-ON, the sales rep became confused and requested time to do the calculation, he did it quarterly and I did it for a year we both came to the same totals give or take a few quid as the web site. When asked why he wanted me to take up the more expensive tariff he changed his tune on why no standing charge "customers prefer to not pay a standing charge as they have to pay it even when they do not use electricity" He then went into customer care mode (damage limitation) when I asked if I could have comments from his manager based on the recording of the call.

In summary do not trust these guys, make sure you can do the basic maths yourself. :eek:

Deneb

matty_art wrote: »

Are they correct in saying that the end of the cooling off period represents the switch commencement date or am I safe to get the ball rolling now (as I presume there'll be a few weeks before the actual switch completes following the cooling off period)? I don't want to miss out on the lower rates so want to change ASAP!

I initiated a switch from E.On to EDF two days ago. I'm on a fixed rate with E.On until 12/9/12. The cooling off period for EDF is 12 days, and my understanding is that nothing happens until that has expired, whereupon your existing provider is then notified and has to be given time to raise any objections to the transfer. Although it could in theory happen quicker, the norm for the objection window is apparently 5 working days.

So, I took a gamble, reasoning that on balance I will most likely be OK, but if it comes to the worse I will get hit with a £30 charge by E.On. £30 cashback from MoneySupermarket will even that out, and I still stand to save over £140 p.a. that it would have cost me to stay with E.On based on the last 12 months consumption. I could perhaps have waited a few more days to be sure, but didn't want to risk EDF Blue being pulled in the meantime.

Man_Overboard_2

matty_art wrote: »

My current fix with Ovo runs out on the 15th September, and I want to fix again ASAP, probably on the EDF Blue Tariff. However, I get a penalty if I switch before the end.

I spoke to the customer service people at EDF who told me to wait until 7 days before the expiry of my Ovo contract to commence this, so that the cooling off period runs out after my contract expires.

Are they correct in saying that the end of the cooling off period represents the switch commencement date or am I safe to get the ball rolling now (as I presume there'll be a few weeks before the actual switch completes following the cooling off period)? I don't want to miss out on the lower rates so want to change ASAP!

I have today spoken to Npower and Scottish Power. The former told me to call back four weeks before the expiry of my existing tarriff, and the latter told me that the changeover takes place five weeks after application. Neither mentioned the cooling-off period. I will double-check tomorrow when I call Scottish Power again (exactly five weeks before my current tarriff expires)

Terrylw1

To the above posters.

Once your cooling off period expires, the new supplier has the right to apply for your supply by sending a data flow to the distributor who passes this onto your current supplier. This includes a proposed switch date which must be future dated, but not more than 28 days ahead, and must include an ability for the current supplier to object...usually being 5 working days but its a "reasonable period" so is open to supplier policy changes.

Also, data flows have to be processed so it can add a few days.

Don't forget that the trigger to commence this may not be a system automated action, hence further time could be added in waiting for an operator to work your account.

So, use your cooling off period, but you an use the above to initiate it earlier but be wary of these timescales as your new supplier could do it bang on.

Man_Overboard_2

I don't question the accuracy of your posts, but what a lot of old bullox!

My current tarriff expires on 30 Sept - I need to switch on that specific date, which is several weeks hence.

What is so complicated about that?

Terrylw1

Man_Overboard wrote: »

I don't question the accuracy of your posts, but what a lot of old bullox!

My current tarriff expires on 30 Sept - I need to switch on that specific date, which is several weeks hence.

What is so complicated about that?

The switch involves data transfers between the 2 suppliers and the distributor, the 2 suppliers and their agents (each have 3 plus a meter reading company) and the new suppliers reading validation agent receiving and sending data to the old suppliers reading validation agent.

So, there is some sequential steps with data flying back and forth hence the time required after your new supplier starts the ball rolling.

Check your t&c's, some suppliers such as EDF allow you time to switch without the penalty of reverting to standard rates which is above the Ofgem standard which only requires suppliers to give notice for unilateral changes negatively impacting the customer. Ofgem should force that in for them all which would take the worry of standard rates out for customers.

vreemt

when we changed, the date was in the future and we didn't have end dates for the previous supplier, I thought this was arranged by the new supplier? e.g. they contact your old supplier and tell them you are switching well before they actually switch you, then the old supplier can make you an interesting offer (kind of like mobile contracts but a lot less good I think), then you switch anyway... I have no *actual* knowledge of this but this seems the logical way
link for more info (provided earlier in this thread by Terrylw1): https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4108865

we went from e-on (not responsible for bills) to Scottish Power prepaid meters to now British gas prepaid meters, not having full time internet access (moving house) meant this was mostly done by ringing companies directly, which is in hindsight a bit silly (no cashback) but got the job done - prepaid meters are very fussy (well possibly less so for people that can leave them alone...) but we *should* now be able to get credit meters for free (SP charged about 70gbp for both to be changed (low usage means we pay less than that a month for gas+elec together)). The last time I spoke to BG the lady assured me: ring up any time to have them changed (: - but I reckon we should at least top up the gas meter with BG once (went on holiday and put so much credit on it will possibly last for months) - then use the MSE links to hopefully get a better credit meter deal (:

any idea on how Scottish power are going to refund the elec charges? How is this supposed to work? They've already sent a bill showing us we're in credit, the website mentions a cheque, how long will that take?

Gas should hopefully arrive soon too, there were 2 weeks between both switch dates (which also got me confused as we were on holiday when it changed over...)
-is is obvious these things confuddle me?-