We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Rip of energy charges Bulb and others
james_smitha
Posts: 423 Forumite
in Energy
High 5 All,
I am simply interested to know when it became acceptable for Bulb.co.uk and others to seriously rip off those that pay by prepay
As I knew it prepay allows you about £10 on loan before you get cut off, so is a good risk to the energy company.
Payment on demand by comparison is a lot harder for the utility company to get money if I close the bank account before payment day and abscond. They also have to jump through hoops before I pay normally and honestly.
Where as how I pay for a new washing machine for example, the advertised price is the same regardless of what ever payment method I use
I am simply interested to know when it became acceptable for Bulb.co.uk and others to seriously rip off those that pay by prepay
As I knew it prepay allows you about £10 on loan before you get cut off, so is a good risk to the energy company.
Payment on demand by comparison is a lot harder for the utility company to get money if I close the bank account before payment day and abscond. They also have to jump through hoops before I pay normally and honestly.
Where as how I pay for a new washing machine for example, the advertised price is the same regardless of what ever payment method I use
0
Comments
-
Beats me. My view is we should get rid of prepay and just cut people off like much the rest of the world. Then we might get near reasonable prices.0
-
Carrot007 wow that is blunt, you must have loads of friends. As much as I am not one of them, prepay is good in that it allows you to pay the energy company in cash as and when required, no need to worry about giving the money to the Bank to hand on first.
My suspicion is that paypoint are part of the problem. My recollection is that bulb's daily charge is 10p more and the unit 1or 2p more.
Credit cards costs the business very little by comparison for doing pretty much the same thing0 -
Choose another supplier if you dont like Bulb - that's what competition is all about however as OFGEM have put a cap on pre-pay then you probably wont find a lot difference between them.Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers0
-
Have you actually compared the current prepay rates against any suppliers standard variable rates.. Prepay rates are currently at their lowest being both subsidised and in receipt of a price cap. I had a look at BG s current rates for my area and prepayment rates were much lower than STV. The only way to lower even further is to go a yearly fixed deal with monthly/quarterly direct debits.james_smitha wrote: »High 5 All,
I am simply interested to know when it became acceptable for Bulb.co.uk and others to seriously rip off those that pay by prepay
As I knew it prepay allows you about £10 on loan before you get cut off, so is a good risk to the energy company.
Payment on demand by comparison is a lot harder for the utility company to get money if I close the bank account before payment day and abscond. They also have to jump through hoops before I pay normally and honestly.
Where as how I pay for a new washing machine for example, the advertised price is the same regardless of what ever payment method I use0 -
james_smitha wrote: »
I am simply interested to know when it became acceptable for Bulb.co.uk and others to seriously rip off those that pay by prepay.....
OP when you have a specific question like yours, then posting on MSE isn't the best way to get an answer
Unless Bulb have a facebook page or a Rep who answers questions here, try contacting them direct
Out of interest why is the date you are after significant??0 -
Houbara Yes I have as it happens. In the end I went to RAM and went with a monthly bill by email and online accounting to save £45. I am advised that any price rise requires 2 months notice. Direct Debits that I have read in the past give the company to much control of your money and can be abused. I used Cheap energy club here0
-
Quentin A specific date is not vital, even roughly would do. Bulb are just the example as at the top.0
-
It would still be better to put your question directly to Bulb rather than hope a poster here has knowledge of the historical date you want help withjames_smitha wrote: »A specific date is not vital, even roughly would do. Bulb are just the example as at the top.
You don't say why this date is significant??
(They started operating on 27/8/15 if that's the date you are wanting)0 -
Prepayment meters cost suppliers more to supply.
Energy suppliers rent the meters and prepayment meters have higher rental rates.
With smart meters the rent will be exactly the same and so hopefully will the tariffs as many of the current extra costs will be removed.
Things like running the running the payzone/ paypoint etc infrastructure, cards & keys and directing payments to the correct energy supplier all are current additional costs that smart metering should remove.0 -
Well I have seen a few posts on Utilita's facebook page where people have phoned their customer service because their boiler has broken down.
If staff are tied up with queries like this, then it is no wonder their overheads are higher.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards