Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Consumerist

Try2Survive wrote: »

Hi everyone,
quick question about switching suppliers,
I switched to outfox (aaargh!!!) and a few days before the switch they asked for gas and electric readings,which i supplied.However,when i got my final bill from my previous supplier (EDF) i noticed that some of the readings were based on (over)estimates.Shouldn't they have used the readings i supplied to outfox?Thanks for your help.

Check that the readings used by both suppliers are the same then the difference to you in money terms is going to be quite small (probably pennies).

moneysaver129

I tried Uswitch and using them twice - both times the changeover was a disaster. The second time took a whole six months to sort out and had to get the Ombudsman involved who in the end admitted the suppliers uselessness but that he only had a maximum of £200 limit to award to each successful consumer. And provided that the consumer accept the payment as a 'goodwill gesture'. I asked the ombudsman what would happen if I took the suppliers to small claims and he said 'why not try?'. Each attempted switch the suppliers did not accept my readings and used their own estimates. As far as I can tell the whole switching process is a scam to pretend there is competition. In fact the process is not smooth as Uswitch claim and I would take them to the Advertising Standards Authority but we already know what the result would be. My advice is to find someone who supplies the energy, keeps the bills reasonable and stay with them. Avoid changing as it will give you a headache.

Consumerist

moneysaver129 wrote: »

. . . Avoid changing as it will give you a headache.

A bad experience, I agree. Unfortunately, to avoid switching is to put the big six suppliers more firmly in control of the market

I think the problem lies with Ofgem who seem to have let any Tom, Richard or Harry get a supply licence. You don't mention which suppliers were involved in your recent experience but the newer entrants to the market seem less able to cope if they grow too quickly and using a comparison site to initiate a switch just adds someone for the suppliers to blame when things go wrong.

grumpycrab

Consumerist wrote: »

I think the problem lies with Ofgem who seem to have let any Tom, Richard or Harry get a supply licence.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ofgem-proposes-new-tests-licensing-energy-suppliers

Consumerist

According to an <Ofgem Press Release> we are also supposed to be getting a bit more protection in the case of delayed switches and final bills (from Spring 2019). It seems likely that the suppliers will just build their compensation costs into the tariff prices as a "cost of doing business" and carry on as usual.

moneysaver129

Consumerist wrote: »

I think the problem lies with Ofgem who seem to have let any Tom, Richard or Harry get a supply licence. .

I agree with the above - but whilst that remains the situation I still think better to find a decent company who provides a reasonable service. That is the best you can expect under the current system and reduces headaches for us consumers. Using the consumer as guinea pigs for 'competition' may seem great for radical economists - but it looks like we have had enough of being used this way and are voting with our feet against switching for that reason. It's a pain. Great theory - rubbish practice. About time the Government did its own dirty work and faced down the competition ideologues. It doesn't work.

Consumerist

Mister_G wrote: »

Oh dear, another poster who doesn't read the Forum Rules. You are NOT allowed to post referrals here.

It is better to report illegal post so they are removed - as that one has now been - rather than repeating them. Do you work for Bulb?

Mister_G

Consumerist wrote: »

Do you work for Bulb?

I certainly do not, why do you think that?

If anything, I would have said my post worked against Bulb rather than for them - confused.

Consumerist

Mister_G wrote: »

I certainly do not, why do you think that?
If anything, I would have said my post worked against Bulb rather than for them - confused.

It's a neat trick: post a referral as an alter-ego then come back as another poster and quote it (without the referral link) so the advertising remains.

Mister_G

Consumerist wrote: »

It's a neat trick: post a referral as an alter-ego then come back as another poster and quote it (without the referral link) so the advertising remains.

Well I hadn't thought about that angle. Obviously, from your statement, there are people out there that do that.