Planning to switch providers, how best to do so?

Schizophonickh

So I can use Cheap Energy club to notify me when there are cheaper tariff but I can use those links to switch but looking on Quidco or TopCashBack for cash back offers.  Would they not be the most effective way to get some money back if I can use their links.
For example Cheap Energy Club is suggesting for me to go with EDF and I can save over £300 but if I was to manually go onto Quidco for example and search for EDF.  They are offering £110 cash back but would this be more sensible to go for rather than the link CEC provides when doing it on their comparison sites?

  

Gerry1

I doubt that you'll save £300.  Compare the annual cost of the kWh based on actual meter readings, forgetting all projections and promised savings.  Unfortunately you can't rely on the CEC to show you all suppliers (e.g. Neon Reef), nor will it alert you to any cheaper Avro tariffs if you're already with Avro.  The cheapest suppliers probably won't offer cashback.

Aim to use several comparison sites including Citizens Advice and Switch with Which?, clear your cookies and then see whether you can get the same tariff(s) with cashback; also check the CEC's Referrals forum. Remember that separate suppliers are often cheaper than dual fuel.  If you have E7, also compare single rate.

Talldave

I'm a long term fan of Quidco and always check options before switching, but have never found a cashback deal that bettered a cheaper deal without cashback. 

Remember the cashback is ultimately paid by you so it has to be paid out of what you pay, in addition to the cost of the energy. Hence it's usually cheaper to go with a supplier who doesn't provide cashback and can charge less.  That said, occasionally a supplier with deep-pocketed investors/backers will pay real cash to grab market share.

I would expect that you could beat your EDF dual fuel deal by going with separate, non-cashback, suppliers.