To be disappointed with Bulb

[savingthepennies]

Recently switched to Bulb.

Not even paid my first direct debit and they've emailed me to say my monthly payments will increase by up to £15 a month!

Typical.


Off to look at other suppliers and will be looking for a fixed price.

Anyone have any recommendations?

[TinyPaws]

Just cancelled my switch with Bulb as they emailed to tell me they are putting up prices while I was still in my cooling off period.

I'm going with Pure Planet instead now, don't know if they're any good yet as I've only just switched but they quoted a good price.

I have a link which gives a £25 amazon voucher for both of us if you'd like it but not sure if it counts as spamming to post it here?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

I got the email today - it reckons another £23 a month for us, which is far from welcome. In their defence, however, we've been with them for a number of months and they've sent emails before when wholesale prices have gone up but they haven't increased theirs. I may be wrong, but I think they may actually have reduced their prices on occasion when the international markets have been a bit softer.

At least they send you a clear email, with the subject line "We're increasing our prices" and get straight to the point by telling you the extra amount that you're likely to be charged each month, instead of vaguely heading it "Changes to our terms" and then burying the increase as a percentage three quarters of the way down after endless blurb about improving their services, as some would.

I was very disappointed to receive the email today, especially with the mortgage having gone up recently too with the interest rate change (yes, I know it's still at a record low), but I'm going to keep my counsel for a while longer before jumping ship. Horrible though it is, if wholesale prices do keep rising industry-wide. I don't really see what else they can do if they're to stay in business.

Also, not forgetting the addition of 5% VAT - a tax on the luxury of cooking food and not freezing to death - and, call me a cynic if you will, but the smart meters that we're being incessantly urged to get are supposed to cost £400 each and yet, amazingly, are completely 'free' and 'will actually save you money' (in the same way as you fatten a pig by constantly weighing it).

The energy market as a whole is a deeply unpleasant place and I just see it that you do what you can to fight against the ever-rising tide - and never get yourself put on the 'let's rip off pensioners, the vulnerable and people who don't use the internet' standard variable tariffs, whilst accepting that you are, ultimately, going to be held to ransom whatever you do. Whoever we end up with, I definitely wouldn't ever use one of the Big Six (soon to be the Big Five) again, though.

[specialsubject]

variable price, no fix, what did you expect?

I just did a quote with them, hilariously expensive. Possibly because I'm not dual fuel, not in London and hence not their target market. Nor am I subject to greenwash...

[Findingdotty]

I’m really happy with Bulb and their customer service. I think you may have been unlucky with timing. The wholesale prices went up so the prices did also. Been with them over a year. It’s gone up once. Also after it went up, I looked at my useage and rang to ask if I could lower it. No problem, you just make the change to your own amount yourself online. So easy. Also I am still paying less than I was with Scottish Power.

[Findingdotty]

Also you aren’t tied in to a contract so you can walk away no additional fees. So nothing to complain about.

[Panicmode1]

I switched to them recently too. We are very high users of gas and electricity, despite best efforts to reduce use (household of 6 in an old, poorly insulated house), and they were the cheapest for us. Wholesale prices have gone up so they don't have a choice, and I like that you get 3 months notice, and that you can leave whenever you like.

[lifechangesforever]

I'm really annoyed too!! Ours is going up £20 a month, it's almost the same as the supplier I switched from

[StereophonicallyChallenged]

My energy co went bust at end of July, got switched to Octopus under ofgem regs., waited until the day I could switch and opted for Bulb.
So now I guess I'll have to check again and look for my 4th supplier in 6 weeks

Tiny I might just take you up on that because I think PP were next cheapest on my last search, I'll pm you if I'm switching to them!

[rosamacrose]

Like any market, energy prices fluctuate daily.
Energy suppliers buy energy in advance, and can therefore offer a rate to consumers for a duration.
When the amount they bought is used, they must buy more. At a different price, as the market has changed.
They can 'hedge' and buy sufficient for what they think their current and incoming consumers will use and so offer a fixed term tariff, 12, 24, 36 months. (There is a big risk there for less established suppliers)
We are charged a unit rate for every unit of energy we consume. Per kWh. This should be on you bill.
Direct debit payments are set to even out your kWh usage over a quarter, measured by the Meter readings they should ask you for.
If you use more, you pay more.
Bulb, I think, new to the market in 2016\7 bought enough energy to cover their expectations.
That energy is now used, so they buy again at a higher price.
No fixed term contract means that you are free to leave.
It also means that the supplier is not tied in, either, to sell you the energy at a fixed price.

[oooompa]

I've just recently switched and was annoyed to get the same email, luckily however ours is only going up by £6 approximately and is still way cheaper than Utility Warehouse who we were with previously!

I'm still a bit dubious about them as most adverts I see on Facebook are people sharing their £50 referral link and saying how great Bulb are, apparently a lot of the negative comments are deleted!

[Nikephorus]

Mine's only going up £5 per month & I'm still saving tons on what I was paying with British Gas. And their website works properly unlike BG's so I can change my direct debit when I want - BG's spent half its time telling me that the facility was temporarily unaailable.

[Upsy1981]

I've been genuinely pleased with them. Disappointed to learn prices are going up, but we've been with them 18months and this is the first rise. In fact they've reduced in the past. Will stick with them a bit longer and see how it pans out but good to know we can change without exit fees.

[user1484830599]

Mine is going up £35 a month. I really like them, but I'll do a comparison and may have to find another supplier if there is one cheaper.

[Lostandfound81]

mine going up £7
I’d accept more though before I moved. I really like bulb

[rosamacrose]

ooompa the £50 each offer is a loss leader to get people on board and build a quick customer base as a new retailer.
If it costs the supplier £100 for every joiner, its absolutely not sustainable.
Believe it or not, there just isn't enough profit in a medium household to pay for that.
That offer really took off and must have really eaten into their budget.

[Titsywoo]

All the suppliers are raising their prices though. I've just moved to them from British Gas and even with the rise I'm still saving £50 a month so I'm still happy.

[rosamacrose]

titsywoo everyone should look at switching away from the ' big six' (5 when Npower and SSE merge). Multitude of suppliers lead to better choices for the consumer.
Make sure they aren't big six backed, under a different name.
Look at the parent company and if you care about the planet, their fuel mix.

[GladAllOver]

And of course when most customers have those wretched meters fitted, we will be put on continuously variable tariffs. So when the demand is high due to peak times or extreme weather, the rate goes up. And it will be impossible to compare different suppliers.

[Ffiffime]

Ive just switched too and got the same email 😡😡😡

[Stormzyandme]

Mine is going up £2.21. This is my first month with them.

[NoLeslie]

I'm with Bulb and haven't noticed any emails from them lately. I switch a lot and have found Bulb the most honest/straightforward supplier so I am surprised to see all the negativity.

[Stormzyandme]

I switched from Sainsburys and got £50 for joining Bulb.

[PurplePotatoes]

I've just switched to Bulb too and got the email to say prices are going up 13 quid a month. They're still 20 quid a month cheaper than my old supplier though so will stick with it for now. They've also paid my old suppliers exit fees so even if I do switch again I'm free to do so now without any costs I suppose.

[skippythebushkangarootoo]

I switched to Bulb in December 2017 and there have been three price rises in that time and my promised £73 per month DD is now £98 and had an email yesterday saying that will be going up by £12......! Nope- I'm leaving :(

[Stormzyandme]

But B.Gas and all the others are going up.