EIFA10 Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I know that most of you on the TAMB are a savvy lot, but I thought I'd briefly share my experience with my gas/electricity (dual fuel) supply, to make sure everyone shops around for the best provider. I live in a 3 bedroom detached house and we are a family of 3. I am currently with British Gas for both gas and electricity. My current tariffs, which were the best available at the time, end next month. The best offer they could come up with was a slight increase, putting my estimated annual combined bill at around £1700. I shopped around online and came across Sainsbury's Energy. For the same 1 year fixed tariff, same est. consumption, monthly direct debit payments etc., they came in at around £1300. Almost £400 of a difference! You know what's crazy about this? Guess who Sainsbury's are in partnership with to supply the energy? Yup, British Gas!!! Gas bills are due to come down around 5% next month, but I can switch to a lower tariff with either BG or Sainsbury's, for no fee, should one become available. The Sainsbury's rep that called me was even able to retrieve all of my details from the BG system. Shop around folks. That goes for everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Make sure you ask them to give you back any money that they owe you, if you have overpaid. If you don't ask, some of them just hold on to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairbairn Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I switched to Sainsbury's energy when I moved last year and they are atrocious. You might save a bit of cash but their customer service is up there with the worst I have experienced. I spent hours on the phone to them querying things on my bills, questioning amounts that they took from my bank including double and triple payments. It took them something like 3 months to get my account set up correctly despite me phoning them on almost weekly basis to chase it up. I then had loads of problems with them when I was moving out and not taking them with me. I also ended up paying a damn sight more than the initial quote they gave me. In short I'd avoid them like the plague. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EIFA10 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 Make sure you ask them to give you back any money that they owe you, if you have overpaid. If you don't ask, some of them just hold on to it. Trust me, I will be on top of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EIFA10 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) I switched to Sainsbury's energy when I moved last year and they are atrocious. You might save a bit of cash but their customer service is up there with the worst I have experienced. I spent hours on the phone to them querying things on my bills, questioning amounts that they took from my bank including double and triple payments. It took them something like 3 months to get my account set up correctly despite me phoning them on almost weekly basis to chase it up. I then had loads of problems with them when I was moving out and not taking them with me. I also ended up paying a damn sight more than the initial quote they gave me. In short I'd avoid them like the plague.Ahhh, not a good reflection. Hopefully my experience with them will be far better. I think saving £400 is worth the risk. I will just need to keep an eye on my bills and never move!The fact my details are effectively on the same system as before (BG) should also lessen the chances of setup issues. I will report back if they turn out to be the same shambles that you experienced. Edited July 22, 2015 by EIFA10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Supper Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Havving a mare at the moment! Just switched to the coop energy from Scottish power! Website not working, call centre understaffed, hair getting greyer by the minute. For what it's worth despite SP having a bad name for customer service their side of the switch went smoothly with any outstanding monies refunded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topcat Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) Switched to First Utility (from Scottish Power) a few months ago - saving £70 per month and with a 20% bigger kWh allowance on gas/leccy - well worth a switch - most of them are dirty robbing basteds. Edited July 22, 2015 by Topcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewelk Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I paid about 450 quid for my electricity last year. French energy is cheap. Home made. And subsidised by the uk. Like the public transport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickyt Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Go to moneysavingexpert website and click onto energy club let them find you the best deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunchy Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Switched from bg to Scottish power for our combined saved about £40 a month but it has taken about 6 months to get our closing readings sorted. Both blaming each other wouldn't have minded if it had been just a couple of units but it was hundreds they were out by. Every time we phoned they would take the info again and eventually tell us it will be all sorted and worked out in 4 weeks which when we would check would still be the old values. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I switched to EDF a few years back and took on a fixed tariff for about 3 years. Very pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotunited Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Still having on going issues trying to switch from British Gas to SSE, British Gas kept saying that I had switched and SSE, were saying they had not got the information on the national database. It took over 5 hours of phone calls, being told 3 times it was done and eventually SSE, had to phone they and tell them what the issues was and how to fix it. It took over 6 weeks to resolve and they eventually offered 95 pound compensation, and I am in process of contacting energy ombudsman as the hassle this caused was way more than the compensation offered and I had to fight for them to even acknowledge they were to blame, and original offer was £30. What should have taken a couple of weeks is still ongoing. And that reminds me that I have still to receive my £50 vouchers that SSE were to send. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giblet Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I switched to Sainsbury's energy when I moved last year and they are atrocious. You might save a bit of cash but their customer service is up there with the worst I have experienced. I spent hours on the phone to them querying things on my bills, questioning amounts that they took from my bank including double and triple payments. It took them something like 3 months to get my account set up correctly despite me phoning them on almost weekly basis to chase it up. I then had loads of problems with them when I was moving out and not taking them with me. I also ended up paying a damn sight more than the initial quote they gave me. In short I'd avoid them like the plague. Bugger, just switched my mums energy to them as essentially you were getting cheaper but still earning nectar points. Was about to do the same for mine, might not now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stapes Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 My deal with EDF just ended, and my savings will be around £500 a month. Sainsbury's was cheap, but GB Energy was cheaper. Ok, it's variable but there are no get out fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 My deal with EDF just ended, and my savings will be around £500 a month. Sainsbury's was cheap, but GB Energy was cheaper. Ok, it's variable but there are no get out fees. Do you pay for the Blackpool illuminations ?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stapes Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Do you pay for the Blackpool illuminations ?! Just coming off winter My payment in summer can be as low as £95. Currently it's £121. Lots of lights in my house - 16 in the kitchen alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus_Young Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) Go to moneysavingexpert website and click onto energy club let them find you the best deal.Came on to post this. well worth it. I'm with first utility as well now. Customer service is very good so far in that it's all done electronically. They ask for meter readings every month which I quite like. Makes sure your estimated usage is correct and you don't end up under/overpaying by too much Ps OP's bill sounds very very expensive. Edited July 22, 2015 by Angus_Young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 £500 per month though and that's just savings ? 24 hour Disco chez Stapes ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave the bankie Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Has anyone switched to GB Energy Supply ? if so did you have any problems ?, apparently I can save £20 per month by switching to them but they are a fairly new company according to Money Saving Expert . I have never switched Energy Companies before so I am unsure of the problems switching may throw up . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stapes Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 £500 per month though and that's just savings ? 24 hour Disco chez Stapes ? Oh right, aye, £500 a year I blame the wife and her electric sex toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stapes Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Has anyone switched to GB Energy Supply ? if so did you have any problems ?, apparently I can save £20 per month by switching to them but they are a fairly new company according to Money Saving Expert . I have never switched Energy Companies before so I am unsure of the problems switching may throw up . I've switched numerous times and the companies make it all very simple - you really don't have to do anything. Not sure about GB Energy, but I'm definitely considering them, but only because they have a no-fee to end the contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Oh right, aye, £500 a year I blame the wife and her electric sex toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave the bankie Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I've switched numerous times and the companies make it all very simple - you really don't have to do anything. Not sure about GB Energy, but I'm definitely considering them, but only because they have a no-fee to end the contract. Thanks , the companies that are giving me the best quotes are all new and Money Saving Expert has no feedback on them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipped flake Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 switched to First Utility just over a year ago. Couple of months ago I did my usual trawl round the sites to find the best deal - it was First Utility again. Not had any issues with them at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EIFA10 Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 Ps OP's bill sounds very very expensive. It all depends on how you look at it. Our consumption seems pretty high, but I put that down to my wife being at home with the little one a lot of the time and she occasionally works shifts, which means she is at home while I am work. Plus all of the gadgets and gizmos around the house and the washing machine being on almost every day it seems! Hardly an advert for saving the planet. On average per year, we use 5450kWh of electricity and 19557kWh of gas. Government figures show: Average cost, based on average of 3800kWh per year for electricity, by direct debit. North of Scotland: £616 South of Scotland: £556 For 15000kWh of gas: North of Scotland: £719 South of Scotland: £714 With those figures and how much higher our estimated usages are, a combined £1400 isn't a bad deal at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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