Want to test new energy switching service Flipper? - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

We’ve been asked by Flipper to find 250 Mumsnetters to test their new energy service.

Here’s what Flipper has to say: "Flipper is a fantastic new service which we think is perfect for Mumsnetters. Flipper is NOT price comparison, we are your personal energy expert. All the work is done on your behalf, no looking at pesky bills, figuring out your usage or which deal is the best for you. We take everything into account when calculating savings (incl exit fees) and we even manage the switch process and confirm it for you. We then run quarterly checks to make sure you are kept on the best deal. Flipper is 100% independent, we take NO commission from energy companies and we only work for our members, ensuring our Flippers are always kept on the best deal. No fuss, no confusion - just savings."

Selected testers will need to sign up to Flipper using a code which will give them access to the service for free. They will then need to use the service to find a better deal and be switched and then give feedback on their experience on a feedback thread in two stages – first once they have used the service to get a deal and switch provider and then again once the switch has taken place.

This product test is open to all UK Mumsnetters who pay their energy bills directly to the supplier. If you’d like to take part please sign up here.

If you have questions about how the service works please see Flipper's FAQs.

All those selected who give the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[Crazybit]

Perfect for me as I switched in February and it still hasn't been sorted so will happily pay an exit fee!

[strongswans]

Signed up, really need to change our suppliers!

[Pastamancer]

I switched my electric on Friday :(

[Candyperfumegirl]

Fab, moved house six months ago & just took on the gas/leccy that was supplied to the new house. Really expensive compared to our previous company, but just not got around to doing a price comparison. So would love to find somethings cheaper with less hastle!

[Doodlekitty]

I've been with the same provider for years, I really should be better at switching

[TheRealPosieParker]

OMG yes please. The house we moved into is a weird pyramid sales set up and I don't trust it.

[guiltynetter]

ooh I'd like this - I'm pretty sure we could save money by switching but last time it was such a faff it's put me off!

[Poppiesway]

I tried to use a comparison site last week for my dual fuel and it seemed no one could beat what I'm currently paying! My fixed tariffs have run out though but I do want to change and fix back in to a tariff as I like to know exactly what's coming out each month and don't want any unexpected bills!

This may help me switch to a better deal and switch over smoothly...

[TisIthecat]

I'm going back to uni in September and we will have much less monry. I am very keen to get all of our bills down as low as possible.

[strongswans]

Am I being silly and not seeing it or can you tell me when when we know if we're selected? Thank you!

[whomovedmychocolate]

What a bargain for Flipper. Normally they get around £35 for persuading a user to switch supplier. They are getting 250 mumsnetters for £300 - well played Flipper, well played

[DiddlySqeak]

WhoMovedMyChoc. I don't think that's right - they don't get commission. They charge there customers £25 PA but ONLY once they have found and saved them at least a £50 pound saving.

I think the £35 pounds 'changing suppliers' commission is for price comparison sites NOT Flipper. Flipper isn't a price comparison site.

[DiddlySqeak]

Their not there

[DiddlySqeak]

Question for Flipper?

I understand that Is the annual subscription charge is only charged once you have saved the customer £50 but does this mean on a recurring basis or is it as a one off. Ie do you commit to saving the customer an additional £50 EVERY YEAR before the subscription is free or are you only commiting to not charging the subscription fee until you have saved at least £50 as a one off and then you will charge the subscription fee every year regardless of whether you have saved them any money. I don't think this is clear on your website.

Also, are you making any commitments as to how and when you will increase your subscription charges?. £25 per year seems ok but unless you are guaranteeing to keep it at a similar level then it makes it less attractive to use your company.

[FlipperSupport]

whomovedmychocolate - Flipper does not take ANY commission from any suppliers. We are completely independent and transparent, to ensure that we cannot be influenced in any way when determining which deals to switch our members to. Flipper members are only every switched to the best deal for them, and we work only on their behalf. Furthermore we are not charging ANY mumsnetters for the use of this service either. Anyone who signs up for the test will get the first switch for free and savings of at least £50 with no cost and no work or hassle.

Hope that clarifies things for you.

[FlipperSupport]

DiddlySqeak - Thank you for your question. The fee is a yearly recurring fee and will be charged each year regardless of the savings. While savings are important and of course we will constantly check the market to ensure the best savings available, our members pay us the £25/year in order to have peace of mind that their energy is dealt with. That doesn't just mean getting them the best deal, that means constant support in ensuring they understand their bills, how they are being charged by suppliers, how to ensure they do not build debt on their account and any other issues that may come up. Flipper is always available to help and support its' members.

We will not be increasing the cost of the membership. The fee is a flat £25, nothing hidden, no other charges.

[DiddlySqeak]

Flipper. Thank you for answering my question. I think It might be a good idea to make your fees clearer on your website. I think people might assume that they will only pay the subscription if you save them £50 or more EACH year rather than just as a one off.

I've copied and pasted the bit that I think could be misunderstood from your websites FAQs. I think it's ambiguous.


How does Flipper make money?
We charge our customers £25 (incl. VAT) per year as a flat fee.
The reason for this is because we work for you only and can not charge anyone else. It's a flat fee so you know exactly how much you'll be charged
We will also not charge the fee until we find you a saving of at least £50.


I don't think £25 is a bad price but people might find it annoying to pay if they don't end up saving any money after the first switch?

I had heard one of your representatives on Radio 4's Money Box. I think it's sounds like a useful service.

Do you look at every energy provider in the UK? Or do you only use larger or more well known companies?

I just potentially 'saved' an elderly relative £600 pounds off her yearly energy bills of £1900 by using Martin Lewis's Cheap Energy Club. She was on standard plans for both Gas and Electric. . It's awful that it's people like her that end up paying full whack for their energy. She actually said she would like to stay with British Gas as they were a 'good honest' company. I had to spell out how much her loyalty was costing her. I wonder how much she could have saved if she had switched suppliers regularly over the years.

[JustineBMumsnet]

Hi Diddlysqeak, here's a response from Flipper:

"Thank you for your feedback, that is very useful. I will have our copywriter look at that section of the FAQ to make sure it is as clear as possible.

I can appreciate your point regarding only being charged when a saving is made, however as I pointed out we see our service as being very much beyond savings. That said, it is very unlikely that we would not find at least one additional saving of £50 within the first year, in fact in most cases we find savings well before the first year is up so users benefit from further savings without any additional charge.

We search the entire market, every provider in the UK. In fact, because we are not tied by commercial agreements with suppliers, unlike price comparison sites, we are currently the only switching service who can switch to ANY provider. PCWs will only switch users to suppliers they have commercial agreements with, otherwise they will just display the deal and instruct the user to contact the supplier directly. We also allow our members to specify suppliers they do not wish to be switched too (eg if they have a preference for big 6 suppliers), or if they would only like to be switched to a green tariff.

Hope you decide to try us out for free via Mumsnet, would be great to get your feedback once you have experienced the service for yourself"

[DiddlySqeak]

Flipper Thank you for answering my questions.

[asuwere]

What happens if we sign up to test but flipper can't find any cheaper deals? Would we be removed as a tester?

[JustineBMumsnet]

Hi asuwere, feedback would be required in two stages - the first being your experience of using the site to organise a switch and the second being your experience if a switch occurs. If you weren't switched because a better deal couldn't be found then you would only need to give the first stage of feedback. If you have any other questions just let us know.

[shrunkenhead]

Could this potentially be a right faff that I will regret signing up for....?

[shrunkenhead]

That's what puts me off switching...being plagued with phone calls, being charged by 2 companies in error, people changing my meters over etc etc having to phone call centres when it all goes wrong....

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

MNHQ- I accidentally selected "No" to the question about whether I would switch energy supplier. Actually I do want to switch, it has been on my to do list for ages.... Survey Monkey won't let me repeat the questionnaire, could you please amend my entry?

[eternalopt]

Would love to be selected. Paying loads as just on standard contract, so really need to move, but very confused by deals out there and never done it before