Switching sires such as Uswitch, moneysupermarket etc

BexTech

uSwitch were at one time hiding the cheaper providers if they didn't offer a high enough kickback, they were hiding providers that didn't offer kickbacks and they told suppliers pay us more in kickbacks or you'll not be listed.

uSwitch may have cleaned up their act now, but they will forever be uScam to me.

richmondbabe

I've found that the recommendation seems to be EON but am a little concerned about the customer feedback on the service. Anyone use EON?

alared

The comparison sites get their money from the energy suppliers who pay them "commission", "bribes","kickbacks",called it what you like'.

No comparison site can switch you to Ebico because this company doesn`t pay them anything,so obviously they`re not interested.

The OP asked why each switching site comes up with a different saving and company when the same info is given.
So far the two smart-asses haven`t explained that.

The energy companies invent new tariffs to push them up to the top of the savings chart.
As soon as enough people have swiched to them that tariff is closed and yet another one is invented usually called the same but with a higher number added.
i.e. click1,click2,click3
The whole "scam" is designed to make money for the energy providers and of course the comparison sites.
In the financial services arena "IFA" it`s called "churning".
Which means advising people to change financial products for no good reason other than to gain "commission".

Going back to my final sentence,I`ll repeat it again.

"Calculate your yearly USAGE (not payments) and go to each site and get their prices

---

then do your sums."

Plushchris

alared wrote: »

The comparison sites get their money from the energy suppliers who pay them "commission", "bribes","kickbacks",called it what you like'.

Thats fine, I'll call it commission then (seeing as thats what it is)

alared wrote: »

No comparison site can switch you to Ebico because this company doesn`t pay them anything,so obviously they`re not interested.

But they still show Ebico on the results table, you just cant complete the switch through their site. If you ignore that from your results then its you thats not interested not the switching sites.

alared wrote: »

The OP asked why each switching site comes up with a different saving and company when the same info is given.
So far the two smart-asses haven`t explained that.

I take it by that you are referring to Big dave and myself? Maybe we didnt provide the answers but at least we didnt resort to petty name-calling to defend ourselves.

My guess would be its something to do with the discounts etc. Maybe some sites include all the discounts and some dont. I dont know, I'm no expert (and dont pretend to be like some)

alared wrote: »

The energy companies invent new tariffs to push them up to the top of the savings chart.
As soon as enough people have swiched to them that tariff is closed and yet another one is invented usually called the same but with a higher number added.
i.e. click1,click2,click3
The whole "scam" is designed to make money for the energy providers and of course the comparison sites.
In the financial services arena "IFA" it`s called "churning".
Which means advising people to change financial products for no good reason other than to gain "commission".

And of course to save money by being on a cheaper tariff.

alared wrote: »

Going back to my final sentence,I`ll repeat it again.

"Calculate your yearly USAGE (not payments) and go to each site and get their prices

---

then do your sums."

Without wanting to sound like a stuck record myself I'll repeat my line too

"Most of the comparison sites let you enter the your yearly usage and will do the comparison based on that, so would you then say the savings quoted are right or wrong?

Everytime I have used a comparison site and bothered to work it all out it has come out the same so I dont quite understand your disliking for them"

BigDave_Cash_Saver

alared - you do seem to be misunderstanding my comments in a major way.

I do agree with parts of what you say, anybody that moves something on the say-so of anyone without having a quick double check gets all they deserve when it goes wrong, so I do agree and do suggest anyone changing uses a website.

But the way you deliver the message needs some work mate - Everything is "Con" this and "Rip Off" that, that’s clearly not true and is probably libelous. When you bought your car did your dealer take "bribes" or "kickbacks" from manufacture, or was it a commission......:rolleyes:

I envisage you being sat at home on your 15% variable rate mortgage, with a 40% APR Credit card, paying standard rates with British Gas and congratulating yourself on not being “ripped off” by the comparison system.
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
IF Moneysupermarket.com stopped doing cash back I would use Quidco or someone else.

The simple fact is that Energy providers keep putting up rates due to wholesale price rises, and I am sure that if there had been a conspiracy I’m sure we would have all noticed. To suggest rise come in to fuel the switching industry is frankly idiotic, did you know that generally to Acquire a new customer in UK Business costs 5 times that to retain one…..I’m guessing you didn’t. :rolleyes:

Like Plushchris , I just don’t know where the driving force of the tone of your comments comes from, if you had been ripped off then I’d understand.

MoneyMiser

No comparison site can switch you to Ebico because this company doesn`t pay them anything,so obviously they`re not interested.

Did you know that EBICo is just a selling agent of Southern Electric and is not a company in its own right. This is why they cannot set up deals with comparrisons sites.

The OP asked why each switching site comes up with a different saving and company when the same info is given.
So far the two smart-asses haven`t explained that.

This is more likely the fact that the comparrison sites ask there questions in different ways and it can get confusing if you dont concentrate.

The energy companies invent new tariffs to push them up to the top of the savings chart.
As soon as enough people have swiched to them that tariff is closed and yet another one is invented usually called the same but with a higher number added.
i.e. click1,click2,click3

Isn't this the same for all industries. Companies will try and get their best rates advertised so they get the most business so not sure what your point is here?

The whole "scam" is designed to make money for the energy providers and of course the comparison sites.
In the financial services arena "IFA" it`s called "churning".
Which means advising people to change financial products for no good reason other than to gain "commission".

I would hardly call it a scam, sure the energy companies and comparrison sites make money but doesn't the final decision lie with you whether you want to switch or not? What does it matter whether you switch through energyhelpline, quidco or direct with the supplier. You still get the same unit rates you applied for after doing "your own sums" and get charged for what you use. As a consumer it pays to shop around and by getting the best cash back deal (usually through quidco) what have you got to lose?

I actually feel sorry for you alared as you seem to be getting ganged up upon by three people here. Don't worry as Cardew will be here shortly telling us all about the "parasitic comparrison sites" :rotfl: :rotfl:

MM

alared

BigDave

You do seem to have some savvy.
For anyone to sit down and work out the tariffs and and benefits of the energy companies is a mammoth task.
This is exactly how they want it to be and know full well,for various reasons,time,apathy,etc.,people can`t be bothered and so head for one of the comparison sites.

All I`m saying is (if you can) do your own calculations and homework.
Don`t believe it`s Gospel that because one of them says "you`d be better switching to XXX and make a saving of YYY" it is really so.

Even sitting down with your yearly usage,you have to remember,you use more energy in the winter than summer and most energy companies have a two tariff system where you pay a higher rate for the first so many units and a lower rate for the rest.
In the summer,regarding your gas usage,you may NEVER make it onto the lower tariff!

The comparison sites offer people £30 approx to switch.
They are paid somewhere in the region of double that, by the energy providers, to "help" people change.

Surely it`s not hard to work out that these sites have a vested interest to find big savings to "encourage" people to switch.

Nothing wrong with getting your own figures and prices,sitting down and doing your maths and then going to the sites and choosing the provider that`s best for you.

The problem lies when people go to one site and get a "quote",then go to another site with the exact same info. and then get a completely different "quote".
This is what the OP was asking

---

WHY.

This is why there must be doubt in people`s minds that they are actually getting the best "quote" and are really going to get the big savings they predict.
Lets face it, in 12 months time how are you going to know, if in fact you did make the predicted savings, or are really any better off.
The whole thing is a merrygoround.

All the best

Alared