Check your figures

[spacelem]

After moving into my new flat1, I decided that I'd rather sign up with an energy provider other than the default (let's call the default EP1, and the new one EP2). This doesn't happen instantly, and I was still billed by the EP1 until the EP2 took over

Comments

[spacelem]

I must confess, I didn't do as much research as I should have done, and was lucky when I checked things later on, but I'm certainly going to keep a sharper eye on this sort of thing in the future.

The energy usage records from my old flat weren't particularly useful, as the gas central heating was so rubbish that we just used electric heaters, we didn't have double glazing so we needed to heat things more, and the cookers were electric instead of gas. However I'll start to build up a new profile as the year goes by.

[skullculture]

I've had Scottish Hydro-Electric round the door more than once trying to swindle me into changing. The people concerned describe themselves as "regional manager" and have both used their fingers to hide half the logo on their ID so they appear to be from some kind of standards organisation.

Because of this I have assumed they are deceitful bastards and haven't even looked at their pricing. Nice sales work chaps.

[spacelem]

I find this sort of advertising quite unpleasant, and feel back footed and pressurised to agree, which is why I wanted some time to go away and do my own research. However, I imagine that it does work, or they wouldn't do it.

[luckylove]

EP1 sound just like the two Scottish Gas arses that came round to see Mark today using the pretext of checking that his meter was safe. They tried to get him to pay for a new meter that would put him on a No Standing Charge tariff and save him money! WTF? You do not need a new meter to change to a NSC tariff. I know. I've done it.

British/Scottish Gas say (on tv) that they're the cheapest for gas and electricity but the small print shows that this is only when comparing Standard tariffs for both companies without discounts. As soon as you compare deals and include duel fuel discounts they're suddenly a lot more expensive.

I'd report EP1 to Watchdog and Consumer Direct. Sticking a foot in the door is aggressive behaviour and should be dealt with accordingly.

[kalorlo]

I really upset one of those doorstoppers once when I said "No, I'm not interested in reducing my energy bill." And kept saying I wasn't interested. He was incredulous and eventually went off in a huff :p

(He was also dodgy - was trying to say that no, you wouldn't be changing supplier because the gas all comes from the same place... Uh huh, but to me as a consumer my supplier is the one I PAY. He took a long time to say who he was from - think it may have been Npower).

I have a policy of not going with anyone who comes round like that, and I'll tell them so.