Snoop App for bills?

DaisyBryar

I’ve just seen an ad for this app called Snoop which supposedly looks at your spending and recommends ways to save money, including switching your bills - is this as good as it sounds? Is there anything I should be aware of, or any better alternatives? I’m moving out and paying my own bills for the first time soon, so I’m new to all of it! 

JJ_Egan

You can do it all yourself .

Gerry1

It's a very, very bad idea.  You need to understand and be in control, not be monetised by a site that is likely to switch you to the best deal for them, one that pays commission.

There are many similar threads on the forum, use the Advanced Search on terms such as Look After My Bills, Autoswitch, Bill Buddy, Flip etc.

Just use the Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch' comparison sites, remember that separate suppliers are often cheaper than dual fuel, compare using kWh not DD amounts and ignore all projections and savings claims.  Remember to take readings and register with the incumbent supplier(s) the moment you get possession, that's extremely important and then keep sending monthly readings.

Neil_Jones

DaisyBryar said:

I’ve just seen an ad for this app called Snoop which supposedly looks at your spending and recommends ways to save money, including switching your bills - is this as good as it sounds? Is there anything I should be aware of, or any better alternatives? I’m moving out and paying my own bills for the first time soon, so I’m new to all of it! 

But you can do all the spending calculations in a spreadsheet.  The comparison websites will show you ways to save money, and the rest you can save yourself by adapting your own behaviour.  You don't need an app for that.

In most cases for most bills you can save money by using less of it.  So cut down on gas and electricity usage = lower bills.  Save on fuel by walking where possible.  Save on shopping by going to Aldi/Lidl/other discounters.  Batch freeze stuff you make yourself for a future meal.  Swap utilities/internet/phone regularly.  You don't need an app to tell you all of that.

JJ_Egan

Get parents or somebody to go through all the stuff you need to pay , council tax water gas electric insurance etc .

The forum can point you to the best ways re costs .

DaisyBryar

Thanks for the advice all; there seems to be a consensus that I'm better off doing it myself with help from parents and MSE, and I can see why. 

Gerry1 said:

It's a very, very bad idea.  You need to understand and be in control, not be monetised by a site that is likely to switch you to the best deal for them, one that pays commission.

There are many similar threads on the forum, use the Advanced Search on terms such as Look After My Bills, Autoswitch, Bill Buddy, Flip etc.

Just use the Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch' comparison sites, remember that separate suppliers are often cheaper than dual fuel, compare using kWh not DD amounts and ignore all projections and savings claims.  Remember to take readings and register with the incumbent supplier(s) the moment you get possession, that's extremely important and then keep sending monthly readings.

Thanks to Gerry1 especially because I had no idea about how to compare energy bills!

Gerry1

Try to find somewhere with gas central heating because a kWh of electricity is about five times as expensive as a kWh of gas.  Above all, avoid an all-electric property with panel radiators: nothing is more expensive because they use daytime electricity.  Although a bit inflexible, storage heaters are usually cheaper to run unless it's just a dormitory, preferably the high heat retention modern ones with fan assistance.

You'll have to guess the annual consumption.  The average is around 12,000kWh for gas and 2,900 for electricity, but can vary quite a bit depending on the size and type of property (bungalows use more, flats use less), the insulation, Shetland or Scilly, number of occupants, working from home etc.  For all-electric properties (Profile Class 2) it's apparently 4,200kWh but that's because they're usually small flats, they're aren't many mansions heated by electricity (apart from a few heatpumps).

Although it's all about annual costs, customer service is important.  Citizens Advice has a ratings list although it seems that some previously good suppliers are now very poor, and a big expensive one may not be much better.

MSE-CEC isn't particularly good because you now have to run the gauntlet to avoid Autoswitch, only big name suppliers, etc.  Go to Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch' first.

Edit: Ofgem link updated

glennevis

DaisyBryar said:

I’ve just seen an ad for this app called Snoop which supposedly looks at your spending and recommends ways to save money, including switching your bills - is this as good as it sounds? Is there anything I should be aware of, or any better alternatives? I’m moving out and paying my own bills for the first time soon, so I’m new to all of it! 

I would agree with the experienced posters who have already replied about taking control of switching and understanding the process for yourself. That's fine, but who's going to remind you when all the deals you signed up for are due to expire? That's one of the things Snoop is good at.

Give it a try, it can't do any harm and you might like their friendly, informative curated articles. And if certain categories of articles get on your nerves you can always down-vote them...then they peter out.

(Satisfied Snoop customer)

Neil_Jones

glennevis said:

DaisyBryar said:

I’ve just seen an ad for this app called Snoop which supposedly looks at your spending and recommends ways to save money, including switching your bills - is this as good as it sounds? Is there anything I should be aware of, or any better alternatives? I’m moving out and paying my own bills for the first time soon, so I’m new to all of it! 

I would agree with the experienced posters who have already replied about taking control of switching and understanding the process for yourself. That's fine, but who's going to remind you when all the deals you signed up for are due to expire? That's one of the things Snoop is good at.

So is the act of writing the dates on a wall calendar and a) actually bothering to look at it, and b) actually acting on it.  Which was how this sort of stuff was tracked before apps came along.

Anyway most energy providers will put a tariff end date on the bill.  Most internet providers will tell you this in their online portal when your tariff ends.  Your council tax/water/rent/mortgage/utilities payments will almost certainly go out on the same day every month, and if it suits you better most of them will let you change that date so they all go out together a few days after payday, assuming you get paid monthly.  Again you don't need an app for that, if you set that up properly the entire system takes care of itself.

niktheguru

Or more usefully. Just add it to the calendar on your phone. It will then buzz and remind you a few times come the anniversary date. 

[Deleted User]

I know this is a slightly old thread, but for anyone interested, Snoop are giving out a £5 Amazon gift voucher if you download the app and connect it to a bank account before the end of this month. You need a referral link but you can get one if you just Google it.