Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

I-LOV-MONEY

handful wrote: »

I think it's worth mentioning here, and the advice is there in Martin's article on switching (but easily missed) that some of the providers, BG included are playing a very clever con trick.

Could this be reported to the OFT , Consumer Watchdog, OfGas (??) ?

handful

I don't suppose they are doing anything illegal. They are just taking advantage of the widspread use of comparison sites and the inclination of people to go for the cheapest option, particularly when they are given the green light to switch. There is always going to be people who don't realise that the rate increases haven't yet been applied to the online rates.

oxymore

Hi, can someone tell me if the quotes on the comparison sites (energyhelpline, moneysupermarket, etc) include the online & direct debit discounts in their quotation? Thanks!

oxymore

So British Gas Click Energy 5 is going to go up by 20-25% ?? So I presume with the quote they give you, which is a lot cheaper to the rest, you have to add this 20-25% to get a more accurate quote. Is this right?

helwarren

just did a check today and sure enough bgas and eon online ones came out top, but ebico and spark (?) came out slighly cheaper but not worth changing for. Still waiting for £20 cashback from npower after switch initiated in march.

JayMT

handful wrote: »

I think it's worth mentioning here, and the advice is there in Martin's article on switching (but easily missed) that some of the providers, BG included are playing a very clever con trick.

They raise their prices, wait for the competitors to do the same but they leave their 'online' account rates unchanged until they catch all the people switching away from the competitors...

snip

True, but remember that the terms and conditions may allow you to reject a price rise as long as you notify them and switch away in a certain timeframe.

So if you switch to a cheaper rate today at least you'd get a few weeks of the cheaper rate before they go up.

This applies to Eon, npower and British Gas. Can't say for the other companies but the wording on the previous three looked pretty similar so it could be an industry standard. As always read the small print on the particular tariff you plan to switch to.

So British Gas Click Energy 5 is going to go up by 20-25% ?? So I presume with the quote they give you, which is a lot cheaper to the rest, you have to add this 20-25% to get a more accurate quote. Is this right?

It's difficult to say. The typical headline increase figure announced by the power companies may bear no relation at all to your individual circumstances, it depends on your annual usage, area and the tariff.

As discussed elsewhere in this forum, some online electricity tariffs have already been increased by huge percentages way above what's being reported.

So don't assume that BG Click 5 will 'only' go up by a smallish percentage, as it may be much much more.

I wish Martin would change his article to point this out, as even there he implies that online tariffs may only go up by 20-25%. Recent increases have proved otherwise.

BubbleOfLife

JayMT wrote: »

snip
....
So don't assume that BG Click 5 will 'only' go up by a smallish percentage, as it may be much much more.

I wish Martin would change his article to point this out, as even there he implies that online tariffs may only go up by 20-25%. Recent increases have proved otherwise.

Hello Everyone :-)

I've been spending the evening listening to music whilst calculating my gas and electricity consumption. I most definitely consume 5 times more gas than electricity, partly due to having central heating and partly due to all the energy saving bulbs I've installed around the flat, along with turning lights off when a room is not in use.
I've been on a dual fuel system with British Gas for the past 6-7 years, on a quarterly direct debit, and I'm quite worried about the price hikes. I've checked all the Cashback Energy Services and save for MoneySupermarket who cannot provide service in my area, they all come up with British Gas Click 5.

I didn't know that there was a on-line alternative like British Gas Click 5 that, as I understand, has a different tariff and it comes with monthly billing .
But from what you're saying BG Click 5's prices have not been changed yet.
If that is so, then I better wait a little longer before calling British Gas.

samsong_1234

I think this article should be updated, as it is a very confusing subject anyway. There is too much confusion now on wether BG click 5 is actually the cheapest or not.

I mean surely if were still waiting for these onlin tarrifs to do their rise, then we shouldnt switch at all until EVERYONE has done their rise. Would that not be more sensible?

taka

I just did a comparison on my gas and elec costs (based on kWh used over the last year) and npower sign online 13 is coming up as the best price. I'm confused as to whether this has had the recent increases yet or not? Martin's rise or fall table talks about a change to sign online 12 changing to 13 on 01/09/08. Does this mean this tarrif has increased and can now be compared with the major tariffs or is it still likely to increase in the next few months?

I'm so confused!! Thanks in advance!

BubbleOfLife

samsong_1234 wrote: »

I think this article should be updated, as it is a very confusing subject anyway. There is too much confusion now on wether BG click 5 is actually the cheapest or not.

I mean surely if were still waiting for these onlin tarrifs to do their rise, then we shouldnt switch at all until EVERYONE has done their rise. Would that not be more sensible?

I think I'll just call British Gas, tomorrow, and ask them if and when they're going to raise the price. Let's see what I'll hear and keep you all posted.