Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Rhenser

Katina wrote: »

I filled all the forms out in August to switch to First Utility. As I had not heard anything, I phoned up this morning but was told the application for some reason had gone through twice and each had corrupted the other so it hadn't been progressed. They should have notified me but didn't.
Pretty crap service.
I now have to start again and wait another six weeks - meanwhile prices have gone up and my gas and elec use has gone up with the cold weather.
Has anyone else had any problems with First Utility as so far their customer service is not receiving many points.

Why was your initial application refused?

Unless you find out and address whatever the issue is, then the chances are that another request will end up likewise, whether that be to FU or any other supplier.

-MRS_T-

Hello

I have recently been thinking of more ways to reduce my outgoings and one thing I have never looked at before is electricity and gas bills.

The reason I have not done this is due to the fact tbh I dont understand it. I am not really sure what my bills are each month as I have dual fuel online with scottish power it says I am on standard. I pay £80 per month into it and then give them my reading every quarter and I am usually still owing them more.

I have an app on my iphone where I type in my meter readings every quarter and I have done this for the last 18 months or so (not sure why I do this as I am still none the wiser lol).

I would appreciate if anyway could help me with this and where is the best place to start as I want to make sure I switch to something that is cheaper.

Thanks

samsnan

Do you pay a separate standing charge for your gas and electricity meters, or do you have 2 separate KwH rates for gas used and 2 separate KwH rates for electricity used with no obvious standing charges? Either way the best method of checking your usage against your payments is by means of a spreadsheet. It can be done, I do this. I do not think using your phone will help here, a spreadsheet on computer would be better. I can let you have a few guidelines on how to set up and run the calculations on a spreadsheet once I know how you are billed.

Atidi

-MRS_T- wrote: »

Hello

I have recently been thinking of more ways to reduce my outgoings and one thing I have never looked at before is electricity and gas bills.

The reason I have not done this is due to the fact tbh I dont understand it. I am not really sure what my bills are each month as I have dual fuel online with scottish power it says I am on standard. I pay £80 per month into it and then give them my reading every quarter and I am usually still owing them more.

I have an app on my iphone where I type in my meter readings every quarter and I have done this for the last 18 months or so (not sure why I do this as I am still none the wiser lol).

I would appreciate if anyway could help me with this and where is the best place to start as I want to make sure I switch to something that is cheaper.

Thanks

I would suggest you start by contacting your existing supplier, ask them for your annual consumption in kWh for gas & electricity.

Then follow the guide and save yourself several £hundred per year.
:beer:

samsnan

-MRS_T- wrote: »

Hello

I have recently been thinking of more ways to reduce my outgoings and one thing I have never looked at before is electricity and gas bills.

The reason I have not done this is due to the fact tbh I dont understand it. I am not really sure what my bills are each month as I have dual fuel online with scottish power it says I am on standard. I pay £80 per month into it and then give them my reading every quarter and I am usually still owing them more.

I have an app on my iphone where I type in my meter readings every quarter and I have done this for the last 18 months or so (not sure why I do this as I am still none the wiser lol).

I would appreciate if anyway could help me with this and where is the best place to start as I want to make sure I switch to something that is cheaper.

Thanks

Following up from my previous reply, if you want to use a comparison site in the first instance to find a better deal, ask your supplier for the actual annual KwH totals you used for gas and electricity. You enter these figures into a comparison website to get a more accurate result, based on the name of your current plan which you also enter, the website will do the rest. £80 a month may not be sufficient to cover your usage if you are on an expensive tariff. I believe, thanks to Ofgen, most, if not all suppliers, now show their standing charges for gas and electricity meters separately with the cost per KwH shown as one figure for gas and another for electricity. Previously, there was a choice, the standing charges were either shown separately from the KwH charges on the bill (as is now the case) or the standing charge was recovered from the lower of the two tiers of tariffs for gas and electricity. This change should make comparisons easier and highlight the differences in standing charges and tariffs between the suppliers.

Hope this helps

JonR1

Thanks, Archna.
I was on BG Online Saver4 last year which gave me an energy meter.
It was coming up for renewal. BG recommended their Online Variable Nov2013.
I used the comparison site which showed I could get £176 per year improvement. I phoned BG to see what they could offer.
The sales lady said she could offer £125 discount on top of the Online Variable. I said yes to this, since I thought it would save any hassle of changing.
Shortly after we confirmed this, she rang me back to say she'd made a mistake, and the offer was only £75: but what she would do by way of apology was to offer me two £75s, the second in 9 months time!
But if it hadn't been for MSE's information and comparators, I wouldn't have been able to get such a good deal.
Cheers.

Atidi

JonR1 wrote: »

Thanks, Archna.
I was on BG Online Saver4 last year which gave me an energy meter.
It was coming up for renewal. BG recommended their Online Variable Nov2013.
I used the comparison site which showed I could get £176 per year improvement. I phoned BG to see what they could offer.
The sales lady said she could offer £125 discount on top of the Online Variable. I said yes to this, since I thought it would save any hassle of changing.
Shortly after we confirmed this, she rang me back to say she'd made a mistake, and the offer was only £75: but what she would do by way of apology was to offer me two £75s, the second in 9 months time!
But if it hadn't been for MSE's information and comparators, I wouldn't have been able to get such a good deal.
Cheers.

Sorry to hear that you didn't get the full £125 credit, but £75 for a phone call sounds great all the same ... and you can still switch and save an additional £176 p.a.

I know there is a £30 per fuel early cancellation charge, but that will still leave you £15 up on the deal :beer:

burslembabe

I have tried to switch energy suppliers from Southern Electric to Utility First as the saving came up at over £300 a year but I've had an email from them to say before they can do this they need a security deposit.

Is this usual as I didn't have to pay a security deposit with my current providers

Atidi

burslembabe wrote: »

I have tried to switch energy suppliers from Southern Electric to Utility First as the saving came up at over £300 a year but I've had an email from them to say before they can do this they need a security deposit.

Is this usual as I didn't have to pay a security deposit with my current providers

It's not usual, but can occur if you have a poor credit status.
Offering to pay monthly by DD often helps.

If not, they'll only want the deposit for a year and don't forget you'll earn interest on the deposit too! (assuming you pay the bills on time)

http://www.first-utility.com/help-and-advice/Switching_to_First_Utility/__ka1D0000000031fIAA/Why-have-I-been-asked-for-a-security-deposit%3F

rg12bee

well pleased. switched from SSE to British Gas, using MSE link to USwitch (free case of wine for using the link!). Saved £200 fixed til end of 2013. Also, because we already have an account with BG (boiler cover) get £200 off first year of dual fuel because switched by Sept 30th.. Got letter through after switching, telling me SSE prices going up 9% ish on Oct 15th!! Factor bonus Nectar points in ; worth all the effort!!