Energy: Find the cheapest supplier & earn cashback

Woody's_Girl

boobbby wrote: »

Actually I am glad to see that Atlantic Electric and Gas has come up well in the above reviews. I have been with them for many years and athough I get a full month re-payment back each November I had been wondering if I should change to another provider. I am reluctant to change as iIn the past when I change they will increase their fees after a few months so I am pleased I now don't have to bother.

We were with Atlantic in our old house for both Gas and Electric and honestly I couldn't fault their service, the extra payments each year for staying were a bonus and we saved money after being with British Gas previously. Unfortunately when we moved, because we went to stay with parents for a time, they made a hash of the switch, taking my parents' supply by mistake. To credit them though, they did put it right and give us compensation for it but now, in our new build, we're with E-on, they seem very expensive so i'm looking at switching now.

The cheapest coming up is the EDF V5 but i'm concerned that I'll be tied in, the penalty to get out is £50 although they pay about £80 via Quidco so I guess that would cancel out the 'get out' payment wouldn't it?

I've never been tied in in the past so I am tempted to go back to Atlantic, they don't charge a standing charge and there's no tie in but the saving is £214 per annum as opposed to about £280 with EDF

what would everyone else do in this situation?

dillie

I signed up with npower Sept 08 and was put on their sol 13 standard tariff duel fuel paying by direct debit with £100 rebate each anniversary.
Was told I would receive a statement twice a year and that I would have to submit the meter readings. That was ok by me. Later they prompted me to go "paperless" which I did.

Today after ringing to complain about their complex billing and ever climbing direct debit demands I used the energyhelpline comparison site to see if I could get cheaper fuel elsewhere.
Guess what?
It said I could save £144 per year by switching to npower sol 17 paperless billing with a direct debit drop of £14 per month!!!!!!
Same company, same paperless bills - but with a lower price tariff which they don't tell existing customers about.
Sharp practice or is this across the board now?
Switch to npower by all means but don't assume you will always be getting their best price!

1Foxylady

Anybody else got any thoughts on switching to npower?

Premier_2

1Foxylady wrote: »

Anybody else got any thoughts on switching to npower?

I suggest you think again.

Why? Well today I've been trying to help someone who is with nPower, and I must say it is one of the worst experiences I've ever seen in the energy industry.
I'm tempted to drive to Gateshead and show their right hand their left hand! :eek::rolleyes:

harryhound

EDF have just written to me with notice of an increase on 15/1/10:

Day rate:

288 per 1/4 @ 15.64p -> 250 per 1/4 @ 17.66p
then
9.03 per KWh -> 11.05p

Night rate

5.34p per KWh (no change).

(all exclusive of VAT.)

That is more than a 20% increase in the day rate.
I use quite a bit of "day" electricity for heating especially in this sub zero weather.

Any thoughts on what is happening - is this simply an attempt at inertia selling.
Does arranging to "ditch and switch" stop the clock on the increases ?

Harry.

cmjb

Just got a letter from EDF. New tariff effective 15 January. All prices including VAT.

Electric
First 225 kwhs per quarter - 17.30p
additional kwhs - 10.49p

Gas
First 670 kwhs per quarter - 7.350p
additional kwhs - 3.209p

We were paying 5.300p per kwhs for the first units.This is almost a 40% increase in our initial unit rate. :mad: The additional units were 3.056p so not much change there.

Interesting how they waited for the maximum use of gas to occur before raising the price. I keep careful track of our energy use and at our old rate of use the new tariff would increase our bill by 14% overall. Of course with the current cold temperatures right now we're using possibly 50% more gas than we have in the past few years.

andyinyorkshire

Today I have just got a letter from EDF and claims new electicity tariff is effective from 15 January 2010 also!!! (*I am on Dual Fuel with them)

Electric (Yorkshire region)
First 225 kwhs per quarter - 19.91p
additional kwhs - 9.84p


We were paying ...
First 670 kwhs per quarter - 5.175p
additional kwhs - 3.209p

As cmjb mentions they have waited until the peak period with approx 2 months minimum to be able to change suppliers giving less than 5 days notice! IS THIS LEGAL? if so why stop there and increase it by 1001%!!!

Will come back to this post so if anyone knows if this is legal please let me know as I quickly try and find a new supplier!

edit: This can't be legal just from a few things I have found on the internet so far...
"The lack of transparency is apparent when you receive a price increase letter from an energy supplier; the letter says that the offer will have been deemed to have been accepted unless the customer rejects the price increase. If you do nothing, you will have entered into a legally binding contract for a further supply period at the increased rates."

See below for details in my terms and conditions...
3. Prices and Changes to Terms


3.2 We will be allowed under this contract to change any of these terms (including the price we charge you) at any time. If this change is to your significant disadvantage (such as a price increase), we will notify you in accordance with the requirements of our supply licence ("Variation Notice"). If you do not wish to accept this change to your terms, you must advise us in writing within 14 days from the date on which we told you of the change. If you do that, you will also need to appoint an alternative supplier to take over the supply of your services within 28 days of telling us that you wish to end our contract. If, within this 28 day period, your alternative supplier applies to be registered with the local metering point administration service in relation to the supply of services to your premises, our contract with you for such service will end when your new supplier takes over the supply and we will not apply the change to our terms during the intervening period. Otherwise, the change to your terms will be implemented and we will continue to supply in accordance with the terms as revised.

Subs

Me too (letter arrived today from EDF), but I've found a saving without changing supplier.

I take only electricity from EDF, and for my usage calculated annual cost was to increase from £417 to £479, ie by 14.8%. However, after looking at alternatives, I am staying with EDF on their new Online Saver Version 5 tariff. For me the new annual cost should be about £380, ie an 8.9% reduction.

There is a downside - £25 penalty fee on the new tariff if I transfer away from EDF before 31 Mar 2011. Also, illogically, as an existing customer I could not sign up to the new tariff online. However, EDF were very helpful when I rang, and I'm even thinking of transferring my gas to EDF on the same new tariff.

iwantitnow

I have had notification from EDF of increases from 15 January, I am changing to Fixonline5 with e-on this work out slightly cheaper and I can get £70 cash from Quidco

Surfer

We got thed same annoying letter. They give you no chance to change and youa re forced to pay the higher rate. Surely this is illegal? Maybe if we all complain to Ombudsman something may get done although I doubt it. I think that when they are going to put up their prices they should give uis 6 weeks notice which is the same period that it takes to transfer to another supplier. I know for a fact that electric and gas is bought in advance at wholesale prices sometimes months ahead and on the "open" market therefore they know when prices should be increasing well in advance.