Cashback Price Comparison Services Discussion

System

Martin, I take your point but your heading remains unnecessarily misleading as is your claim to be the UK's only money saving expert, what would Alvin have to say about that?

Lisa

MSE_Martin

OK Lisa, Im going to answer your points then leave this here.

1. A headline is just that - a headline - no one could act on the headline in isolation without reading the main article.

2. Alvin & I have very different specialties - in fact we're working on a programme together at the moment. Alvin specialises more in the pyschology of spending and how you budget - he doesn't refer to himself as a money saving expert. I look at the practical side of reducing expenditure without cutting back.

Hope that answers your queries

martin

lisyloo

Steve,

Can you double check your prices and get back to us.
I checked out Telecom Plus a while ago and the site I use states that these prices EXCLUDE vat.

http://www.utility-shop.com

I cannot check out your site at the moment as my access is forbidden for some reason (I am at work).

Can you come back and confirm please?

Thanks

lisyloo

Note that there are also membership fees with telecom plus of £1.76 per month and you then get discounts (annually) for the number of services you take.
2 - £10
3 - £20
4 - £30
5 - £40
6 - £50

This means it works out chepaer if you take lots of services, but they are not necessarily the cheapest for 1 or 2 services. Several of us on these boards have found Servista to be cheaper.

Sorry Martin - I know you wanted this stopped, but I feel the need to correct things if they aren't correct or aren't showing the whole picture.
Steves message only showed some of the charges involves (and incorrectly on the VAT side I believe).

I hope there's nothing offensive in that.

MSE_Martin

Lisyloo - please don't think that I want the discussion stopped. It was more a specific line of questioning that I personally didnt want to engage in anymore. Im more than happy for TP specific prices to be discussed - that's what the whole site is about. I have had my mind changed about them in the past six month and from never the best value, i now say occassionally they can be.

System

Hi,
I've just used the two price comparison services below -
http://www.energyhelpline.com/cashbackmse
and
http://www.saveonyourbills.co.uk/cashback/index.php?ref=mse

The former suggested I switch dual fuel supplier and save £83/year (as well as suggesting 10-15 other, cheaper-than-current suppliers), while the former said I was already with cheapest supplier.

How so ?
Thanks in advance.
???

MSE_Martin

That does not sound good. Who are you currently with - it could be there's a price change due (a few at the moment) and one is giving the new price and one the old. Post the details and we'll see if we can sort it out!

System

I've followed this thread with interest, having come to the site via radio 2!! Am wanting to check-out savings on gas / electric (switched to NPower a year ago), but while the discussion of comparison sites is interesting, wonder which provider folks have generally found to be best for them?

Peter

lisyloo

I have found Servista to be cheaper for both gas and electricity.
I have gone back to check a few times and they have been consistently the cheapest for me.

It's a "no frills" service and almost totally paperless (except for initial contract).

The service is not fantastic.
They DO answer the phone fairly quickly but they consistently take a week to answer emails which I don't think is good enough.

I have had a few problems with setting up my services and it's taken a few phone calls to sort out.
I don't think the service is brilliant but I think most switches don't seem to be straightforward and once you've done the set up bit then you don't really need to contact them at all.

I had hassle because Servista sent me email saying my gas meter would be read by an agency. Apparently this is not always the case.
I didn't read it, neither did the previous supplier, neither did Transco, neither did Servista.
So it all got a bit confusing.
In the end they estimated the start reading, but I'm still not clear on which party is mant to do it.

Taking your own readings on the day, may save you a great deal of hassle.

lisyloo

By the way - if you do decide to go with Servista then there are a number of people on the referrers board who will be willing to refer you as their "friend".
You will get £15.