Comparing the comparison services discussion

Stephen66

Have been comparing prices on the comparison company sites for Gas & Electric,
Iam now totally confused.
Entered the same information for each enquiry, totally
different supplies recommended from each site.
Why is this? Surely if they use the same data that they must obtain from the companys concerned, the answers must be the same, or are they getting commission to push one company over another?
Anyone got any ideas on how to sort the wheat from the chaff?

Hello, I have visited hald a dozen or so of the sites listed at MSE and am similarly confused. Uswitch told me I was already on the cheapest deal (having switched a couple of years ago) but other sites told me that Southern Electric would be cheaper for gas. I can't remember which said what, but the results varied from £9 saved to £40! Why the discrepancy? When I went to the SE website, it told me it would be £9 dearer than I was already paying, so I am totally confused. The SE website also has a number of tariffs, so I am not sure which the comparison sites use, e.g. one gives you points at Argos, but surely there's no such thing as a free lunch; presumably you pay extra for it? None of the dual fuel offers were cheaper and now I don't know whether to switch gas or not!

miss_judgement

Hope I am replying to the right place as I am a bit of a technophobe and find the whole set up a bit confusing.

Having read an earlier article about gas & elec prices I changed to Powergen as advised. However, another article then appeared warning that they had increased their prices by 9%. I was too late to stop the transfer so I am now with Powergen from 23.11.04 to 22.12.04 when I switch to Scottish Power which came up best when I checked the price comparison tables.

However, I had a call from Powergen yesterday to say that they noted I wanted to change because of their price increase and to notify me that Scottish Power were also about to increase their prices.

It would seem that the Utility companies have still not settled on their final price structures so anybody thinking of changing might be better to wait until the Spring.

It would seem to me that living in a market economy based on supply and demand that they will all end up much of a muchness - is this a good guess or does somebody know more?

knuckledragger

Miss_Judgement,
There was quite a lot of talk about the price increase on a previous thread. The upshot was that Powergen will not be increasing the prices of those who are using "online tariffs". Unless this has changed in the last few days...

booogle

I'm currently on Atlantics standard (not direct) tariff for Gas & Electric. The comparison engines are nearly all showing that london/sweb/seaboard online would give me a £43 annual saving. However Atlantic refund one months direct debit each year which works out at approx £55.

My question is, does anybody conclusively know if the comparison engines take into account the one month rebate per year by Atlantic?

cableguy_3

With regards to the comparisions of the prices of both gas and electricity, I would have thought, that the power companies would have advertised the cost of both gas and electrcity, so that individuals can work work out what they would be charged should they decide, rather than do a comparison online. Surely these companies would have thought of this. Another bone of contention, why is it that these large companies hide behind these 0800 numbers - where are they? India or where ? Come on, please tell us where you are, I think that I am one of many who would like to know. It is extremely frustrating, not knowing and to say the least, I think, that it will get worse. So, all of you power companies, give us the customers geographic number, so we know where you are.

Cable Guy

Anon

cableguy - For the goegraphic equivalent, go to www.saynoto0870.co.uk (I think you meant 0870 - 0800 is free anyway ;-)).

knuckledragger - Further to your message, Powergen increased their prices on 31st January for the online tariff for all those that switched in October and believed that the prices were fixed - they were, for three months!

Anon

knuckledragger

Anon,
might be time to hit the comparison sites again...grrr.
I did however take advantage of the little tip to get gas/electricity at the old prices

howardad

I followed Martin's advice and went to Energyhelpline - they came up with Powergen as my cheapest supplier, fortunately I was able to cancel when their price rise came in - I've not found any site since listing the online tarrif that highly.

So Plan B was Seeboard, online dual fuel sourced through U-switch. It's taken from the 5th of November to 23rd January to get the switch through - nearly three months paying at a higher rate - I've had to make several phone calls, received conflicting information and a persistently higher level of direct debit requested (curently paying £58pm, they suggest £53pm while u-switch indicated £42)

Can anyone explain the difference between Seeboard's costs and the prices suggested by the switching site. I've revisited it several times and Seeboard still come out on top so I can't see it being down to price rises. Seeboard's own price comparrison also suggests a saving of aroung £5pm

I'm more confused than when I started, just as well Seeboard have an 0800 number otherwise I'd be losing money!

Jane_Birt

I have just tried the energyhelpline comparison service for the first time. I did the calculations using the kw/yr and I was pleased to discover how much money I could save. Unfortunately, all the best savings came from companies I could not change to on the website. When I went to 3 different companies websites - npower, LondonEnergy & Powergen - all of them came up with vastly different figures from the comparison service and told me the most I could save was 5pounds as opposed to the 167pounds I was quoted. I do not want to change to discover the comparison website was wrong. How can the figures differ so much?

loon_2

seeboard increased their std tariff on 17/01/05 but the onlne stayed the same. if you keep abreast of the market you will know the seeboard are due to increase their online tariffs over the next month.

when doing a comparison, only use one of the 9 EW approved sites.