How important is service?

ForestBluebells

It’s that time again to look at new electricity suppliers (electric only economy 7 property). It looks like Nabuh energy is coming out cheapest (although still more expensive 😩🙄) is it worth just going with the cheapest or are all the negative reviews on service worth meaning going with a bigger supplier but a much bigger price increase? 

comeandgo

I went with symbio and their record for customer service is dire but they were so much cheaper than anything else, by 3 p a unit and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.  All has gone well so far.

Gerry1

TL;DR: Depends on whether you want a quiet life, how strong your finances are and how clear your crystal ball is.

Only you can answer that question because much depends on whether you are able and willing to deal with any aggro if things go wrong, and whether your finances have sufficient 'float'.

Small companies are often very cheap in comparison to the big boys, but many go bust when there's a perfect storm.  Even with normal switches it can take eight weeks to get any credit returned, and the new company may have started to collect direct debits even before the official switching date.  If your finances are finely balanced that may be a bit problematic.

However, it can take far, far longer when administrators are dealing with a defunct company.  One pitfall is that it can be a slow process if the defunct company's records and billing were in a mess: the administrators will be keener to chase debts rather than untangle everything and give refunds.  You'll also be largely on your own because the Ombudsman won't be interested if the company has ceased trading.

FWIW I've been with two that went bust or were taken over and ceased trading: GB Energy, Robin Hood Energy.  Three others went the same way after I'd left: Co-Op Energy, Yorkshire Energy, Gulf Gas & Power/Hub Energy.  None caused me any grief, and the BG deal as SoLR was better than RHE's.  It's likely that several other will follow this winter because wholesale prices have risen dramatically and some may be caught out as a result.

So I've saved a fortune by being a cheapskate.  Now with the dreaded Symbio at an unbeatable 13 month fixed rate (no longer available), all going well so far but of course my luck may run out and YMMV.

Faites voz jeux !

daveyjp

If you remain in control of when payments are made poor service can be tolerated.

If the new supplier on a credit tarriff is so useless they never ask for readings, never bill based on readings, never send any estimated bills, never chase for a debt I'll hold onto my money until they do.

If however you are paying £100-150 a month and never receive a bill, statements or requests for readings it does become an issue very quickly.

cannonballdaze

I don't need great service. I send my readings, they send me the bill. No problems in 15 years of switching.

ForestBluebells

Ok I’m just gonna go for the cheapest and see what happens 😂 next to figure out how to sign up to them as it’s not obvious 

Neil_Jones

ForestBluebells said:

It’s that time again to look at new electricity suppliers (electric only economy 7 property). It looks like Nabuh energy is coming out cheapest (although still more expensive 😩🙄) is it worth just going with the cheapest or are all the negative reviews on service worth meaning going with a bigger supplier but a much bigger price increase? 

Negative reviews on any service, provider, existence or whatever else will almost always attract the bulk of negative comments.  People are more likely to pee and moan about companies with bad service than they are if the company bent over backwards to help you.

QrizB

ForestBluebells said:

It’s that time again to look at new electricity suppliers (electric only economy 7 property). It looks like Nabuh energy is coming out cheapest (although still more expensive 😩🙄) is it worth just going with the cheapest or are all the negative reviews on service worth meaning going with a bigger supplier but a much bigger price increase? 

I don't think Nabuh are taking new customers, they had financial problems and are now part of BG?

Although I could be wrong on this, butI couldn't find anywhere on their website to get a quote or a contact for new customers?

ForestBluebells

QrizB said:

ForestBluebells said:

It’s that time again to look at new electricity suppliers (electric only economy 7 property). It looks like Nabuh energy is coming out cheapest (although still more expensive 😩🙄) is it worth just going with the cheapest or are all the negative reviews on service worth meaning going with a bigger supplier but a much bigger price increase? 

I don't think Nabuh are taking new customers, they had financial problems and are now part of BG?

Although I could be wrong on this, butI couldn't find anywhere on their website to get a quote or a contact for new customers?

Maybe I couldn’t see how to sign up either but their tariffs are online in their website, they seem to have the cheapest economy 7 night rate. 

Gerry1

QrizB said:

Although I could be wrong on this, butI couldn't find anywhere on their website to get a quote or a contact for new customers?

https://customer.nabuhenergy.co.uk/#/signUp

Super_Stomper

I look for a low price provider and hope that they will provide accurate monthly billing based on my given meter readings. The smaller companies have generally done this as well as being cheaper. I now expect monthly statements as well as paying by monthly DD. Thrown by EDF only wanting 6-monthy readings and sending 6-monthly invoices despite me paying by monthly DD. Big opportunity for them to under/over charge! I would like all companies to be obliged to state their billing frequency on their websites when you do a price comparison and before you sign up!