Customer Loyalty - a thing of the past.

peteuk

My fixed rate Gas and Electric tariff ends at the end of June, so I contacted my supplier who's quote of prices was ridiculous   After some to and fro I was advised their cheapest deal was available via U switch and although this is still an increase it is minimum.   Of course as soon as I go to U switch there are cheaper options.   When pushed my provider agreed that the situation was stupid, that U Switch subsidized the tariff and agreed that they wouldn't be the cheapest or the best on many comparison web sites,   It was like they half expected to loose me as a customer.

Gerry1

U Switch don't subsidise any tariffs.  Your supplier is simply hiding the best deals from their existing customers.

Cardew

Gerry1 said:

U Switch don't subsidise any tariffs.  Your supplier is simply hiding the best deals from their existing customers.

Not only hiding the cheapest tariffs, but in some cases only making those tariffs avaiable to new customers. A case in point is British Gas who will not allow their cheapest tariff to be obtained by existing customers.

Robin9

@peteuk When looking for suppliers don't forget that separate  suppliers can be cheaper than dual fuels from the same supplier.

Bacman

This is what MSE has been saying for years, there is no customer loyalty in the electricity market, customers need to regularly change suppliers to get a decent deal.

tim_p

Bacman said:

This is what MSE has been saying for years, there is no customer loyalty in the electricity market,

Quite the opposite it would seem. Loyalty is punished.  Not just the energy market though, just look at pretty much any insurance, despite the presence of a ‘no claims’ system. 

brewerdave

tim_p said:

Bacman said:

This is what MSE has been saying for years, there is no customer loyalty in the electricity market,

Quite the opposite it would seem. Loyalty is punished.  Not just the energy market though, just look at pretty much any insurance, despite the presence of a ‘no claims’ system. 

Telecoms, TV , Breakdown cover .....all the same - negotiate afresh every year !!

JJ_Egan

Odd that the OP is on a site that discourages loyalty but expects loyalty .

Gerry1

The MSE CEC site has also been known to hide all the results from some companies (e.g. Avro) if you are already with them.

Bacman

Some providers for other utilities do not rip off customers; the company I use for car insurance gives existing customers the same rate as for new customers, if not then generate a quote and give them the reference number of it and they will update to that price. Most utility and insurance companies, yes, not so creditable so you need to get the best deal all the time (which I have been doing for the last years). Home insurance company I use put the price up a bit for renewal, I phoned them, argued the toss and they actually gave me a better price than even for new customers!

peteuk

JJ_Egan said:

Odd that the OP is on a site that discourages loyalty but expects loyalty .

I like to keep things simple and swopping, splitting providers is a pain.  Start up is often the time when mistakes happen. 
All I asked of Scottish Power is a choice of a simple, cheap tariff without the difficulties of using a third party web page.  If I find a company that I believe will benefit me then I will switch.