Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Consumerist

chris_aaaaa wrote: »

Does the comparison tool on this, or any, site take account of the end of the current fix and subsequent switch to the standard rate tariff?

Comparison sites are fairly crude in what they do. They simply compare the annual costs of all tariffs including any discounts. No account is taken of timing, early-termination charges, terminal bonuses and such.

Consumerist

chris_aaaaa wrote: »

My Scottish power fix runs up to the end of the year and is the cheapest right now, but if I put in the standard Scottish power tariff no surprise there are lots of cheaper deals.

My guess is that 3 months on a good deal and 9 months on a penalty rate for a years comparison should be beaten by many of the offers, unless I got a really good deal (
Online Fixed Price Energy January 2014 (No Standing Charge)

My guess is that you don't understand the switching process.

The normal procedure in your situation would be to wait until 4 -6 weeks before your current fix expires and then look on comparison sites to see which tariff will be best for you at that time.

The switching process currently takes 4 -6 weeks so if you request a switch at, say, 4 weeks before your current contract expires then you should escape any early-termination fees but may spend a week or two on SP's default tariff.

Hope that helps. No need to thank anyone.

chris_aaaaa

I have switched at least half a dozen times now so have good grasp. If nothing else it is a good way to get their sticky mitts off the credit they build up.

In the past it has taken up to 3 months to get it sorted out as they manage half of a dual fuel switch and stumble over the gas transport company.

I got caught out a few years ago, there was one of the periodic great deals with a long fix but it did not compare to my 'lifetime' tariff, when the 'lifetime' tariff ended a few weeks later I lost out as the good deal was gone.

Hence my checking a good time in advance.

No tie in for me, I always avoid those.

Chris

Consumerist

If you have no tie-ins then there is nothing to stop you switching straight away if you can find a cheaper tariff with another supplier. But prices, generally, are only going up recently so it might be hard to find a cheaper deal than the one you're on.

It would be unusual, however, to be on a fixed-term tariff without early-termination fees. Also check that there isn't any discount paid out only after the contract has ended. If you switch early, you'll lose that discount too.

DelBoyPhil

I would avoid that £30 that this site gives you... the cheapest place for me was M&S and they give £48.72 and £20 free m&s vouchers whick knocks the socks of mse!

ascribe

chris_aaaaa wrote: »

Does the comparison tool on this, or any, site take account of the end of the current fix and subsequent switch to the standard rate tariff?

Energy Helpline, if I remember correctly, does take into consideration when your fixed tariff ends and calculates the rest of the year's cost based on the standard tariff (by which time we should have switched anyway). It may be useful for some people, but I find it more useful to compare the cost of my current tariff (regardless of when it ends) to a new tariff. You can switch between the views.

I am also on the Scottish Power Online January 2014 fixed rate (which actually ends on 31 December), and am wondering whether to switch now (to M&S Energy), and 'waste' 7 weeks of much cheaper fuel. Any idea how to work out how much of your consumption takes place in November/December? News has it that the M&S tariff is going to be pulled soon. But we also have a cooling off period before the switch takes place ...

poppyred

Hiya, is anyone elses having problems logging into the Cheap Energy Club Site ?, also i've just done a gas comparision and agreed to switch which is pending, I now want to look at my electric how do i input the details ? any help will be great all a bit new to me

Consumerist

poppyred wrote: »

. . . I now want to look at my electric how do i input the details ? any help will be great all a bit new to me

If you've been with your current supplier for more than a year then your latest bill should tell you what your consumption was over the previous year.

If it's been less than a year, your supplier should be able to tell you what your consumption has been since you have been with them. but you'll need to adjust the figure to account for the rest of the year. If you took a meter reading when you first signed up with them, take a meter reading now and adjust for the remainder of the year.

poppyred

Consumerist wrote: »

If you've been with your current supplier for more than a year then your latest bill should tell you what your consumption was over the previous year.

If it's been less than a year, your supplier should be able to tell you what your consumption has been since you have been with them. but you'll need to adjust the figure to account for the rest of the year. If you took a meter reading when you first signed up with them, take a meter reading now and adjust for the remainder of the year.

Thanks, i was meaning i don't know how to input it on the Energy Club page, it just says under Electric no details given as i was only going to do the Gas.

Consumerist

poppyred wrote: »

Thanks, i was meaning i don't know how to input it on the Energy Club page, it just says under Electric no details given as i was only going to do the Gas.

Ok. Sorry about that.

I'm not familiar with Cheap Energy Club but normally if you want to compare electricity prices then start again asking to compare electricity prices. Have you considered dual fuel tariffs as well as single supplies?