Utility Point Electricity supply - Misleading selling ?

Rawthey_Bank

Anyone recently signed up for  Utility Point Electricity supply?
I did in Jan 21. Been confused by the Utility Point deal/feel disappointed?.
(Apologies for so much info here to describe my concern).
To summarise my problem, following the tariff selection process on their web site I believed that Utility Point Electricity was offering a daytime and night time electricity tariff. Why? see below.
After numerous e-mails (starting 2nd Jan) to Utility Point Help over a month requesting confirmation of the KwH rates, for the quote and tariff that I had accepted, I got a response (8th Feb) and was told there was no night time rate.
This surprise leaves me now expecting an annual bill increase above their quote of about £450 since all electricity will be charged at their standard day time rate. In addition I had invested in smart plugs to control our white appliances  (Dish washer, Washing machine, Clothes dryer) so they run only over night to take advantage of the night rate (plugs cost > £100). I figure I will be about £550 out of pocket...thnx to Utility Point.
If interested read on:
I chose Utility Point Electricity supply because they gave a competitive annual fixed price cost based on our actual usage over the previous 12 months. 
 Utility Point's on-line application process uses a calculator which took our actual annual usage and generated annual cost against Utility Point tariffs.  Based on that estimate U then chose the tariff you prefer and off you go with the monthly payments consistent with the annual cost quote. That's where I am.
Key to the confusion is the Utility Point calculator requested actual usage for Electricity Daytime and Electricity night time and Gas. From this it calculated the annual cost and monthly payments. Re-doing the calculator moving the actual electricity usage between daytime and night time (50%) resulted in calculated annual cost differences (~£450) which you would expect. i.e. the calculator was clearly using a night time rate for the actual night time usage.  Hence my belief I was been offered a tariff with day time and night time electricity rates. No KwH rates are provided at the point of accepting the Utility Point offer. The tariff and annual cost quote and monthly payments which I accepted was based on entering actual figures into their form of approx 3600 KwH electricity daytime, 3000 KwH electricity night time...and gas not relevant here.
I believe that Utility Point offered me a Tariff including electricity rates differing between daytime and night time. I accepted their quote and the supply commenced and started taking direct debits from my bank account.
I responded to the  Utility Point Help email and related the detail of the process during my application to demonstrate why I believed a night time rate was included in my tariff. In addition I stated "I believe this constitutes a contract in UK law" and "the Utility Point application process is....... misleading selling", with screen shots (see below) to show Utility Points application process requesting daytime and night time actual electricity usage. The Utility Point Help responded "the unit rate remains the same for both your day rate and night rate. We do not state any information ageist offering Off Peak rates in our sign ups to ensure that you are not misled, and this is not a selling point of Utility Point"
Rather garbled confusing response I think. 
Apologies again for length of this post.
I guess I should contact Utility Point complaints procedure.

What do you think I should do now?
Thnx

Screenshot below from Utility Point website application process:

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately, it looks like you didn't click on the Tariff Information icon at the bottom of the quotation.

It then shows that the kWh rates are the same day and night.

Neil_Jones

Well I don't know what you've been doing but I've recreated the exact same setup as per your screenshot and I do not see that screen on Smart. That only comes up with the Economy 7 option.

bristolleedsfan

Very expensive 1 rate Electricity tariff

Gerry1

Neil_Jones said:

Well I don't know what you've been doing but I've recreated the exact same setup as per your screenshot and I do not see that screen on Smart. That only comes up with the Economy 7 option.

Just to clarify, I assume you you are referring to the OP's screenshot; my screenshot just pipped you to the post !

You can get the OP's screenshot (i.e.Smart button selected and two fields shown for electricity), but it does require refreshing the page.

rp1974

You accepted and signed up to a contract before knowing what the kWh rates were,who does that?.
Then you made inaccurate assumptions based on what you believed,not what was stated.
As Gerry1 suggested,did you click on the tariff information or not?
Next step would be to pay your agreed exit fees,after doing another comparison and making absolutely certain that you understand exactly what your signing up to,and what your costs will be.

Rawthey_Bank

Thnx - Gerry1 - testing it myself today, yes I see that Tariff link. But all I was interested at the time was the annual cost estimate and monthly payments, which looked good so I just selected the tariff - why would I care to see the tariff detail at that point. 
FYI I tested the Utility Point application process just now - its the same as I experienced before
(Address fields hidden)
e.g. screenshots today showing cost difference between actual electricity with half in night time field, and actual electricity all in day time field. 

Shot 0. The blank application form
Shot 1. Entry form with two electricity fields. Day time and night time. I split my actual between the two fields. 3000 and 3000
Shot 2. Calculated tariffs based on actual 3000 day time 3000 night time. (Monthly cost £174.15)
Shot 3.  Entry form with two electricity fields. Day time and night time. All the actual placed in the day time field.
Shot 4. Calculated tariffs based on all 6000 actual electricity in day time field. (Monthly cost £214.15)

Clearly a big difference in cost which means the calculation in shot 2 is using a night time rate.
Could it be due to...? My post code? I dunno.
Never the less this is what I was offered and believed and accepted.

Gerry1

It's hardly surprising that 6000kWh costs more than 3000kWh !

Clue: You didn't 'split' your usage between the two fields.  In the second example you allocated 3000kWh to the night usage and 0kWh to the day usage.

(Agreed, it's not the most logical website.)

niktheguru

Whilst I do sympathise that the website is misleading and shouldn't give you a "night rate consumption" field it is absolutely imperative that you ALWAYS look at the unit rate and standing charge for any tariff that you take out. If you had looked you would have known there is no difference between the rates. Like gerry1 has said you've put two different consumption estimates in the two examples, which has skewed the results.
Remember there is no such thing as a fixed rate "all you can eat" tariff based on an annual estimate. All fixed rate means is that your direct debits have been estimated to be the same every  month to be able to pay what they think you will consume in the year. If you consume more or less than the estimated annual consumption you would still have to pay the difference. This is why your unit rate is so important as it will dictate how much more or less you would pay depending on consumption.

I think the best way forward is to put a complaint in to utility Point saying their website was difficult to understand and what you thought u signed up for wasn't wasn't case, I'm the hope they may let you switch out to another provider without paying the exit fee. Just remember to look at the unit rates before agreeing to any deal in future.

binao

The 1st, upper box is your total annual usage over the 24 hours., not day OR night time.

The lower box is night time usage.

It is confusing, I'm not fully convinced I'm 100% right.

As others have said you need to check everything, especially kwh rates and any other charges/fees etc. 

Its only  £60 to switch, not the dire end of creation. Save your self a lot of time and grief.
Maybe  switch 1 fuel if you can.
Good luck.

bristolleedsfan

binao said:

Its only  £60 to switch, not the dire end of creation. Save your self a lot of time and grief.

U.P quote exit fees exclusive of VAT thus £72 including VAT dual fuel exit fee