Mumsnet users discuss their energy supplier

[JustineBMumsnet]

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We’re very aware that energy bills are not the most exciting topic to discuss and that sorting them can be a pain, but they are a fact of life and we’d like to find out how you get on with your energy suppliers. The government has recently passed through some new legislation which will cap the total amount a supplier can charge, but do you think it will make a difference? Some of us are super organised and expert at searching for the best deals and negotiating costs each year whereas others me included overestimate our capacity to be organised enough to sort our energy bill in the least painful way.


We’re really interested in finding out how you get on with your current energy supplier and what you like and dislike about them? Is there something they particularly do that makes your life much easier? Or something you wish they’d start doing? Or even something that frustrates you about them?


Whatever your thoughts are on what makes a good energy supplier and creates a good or bad energy tariff, please share them below for your chance to be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).


Thanks


MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[BristolMum96]

Dislike current provider. Keep sending over estimated bills and refusing to send someone out to read the meter so it can be corrected. Can't win.

[specialsubject]

anyone with half a brain will know that the price cap will simply mean all bills rising to the level of the variable tariff. This will happen as soon as enough people work out that the variable tariff is expensive.

If the 'it's all too hard for little old me' attitude demonstrated here is representative, that will be a while.

bills go up 10-30% a year anyway, shopping around just reduces the increase. The model showing savings is based on the variable tariff, so for anyone on a fix it is a lie.

all suppliers are pretty much the same. Bigger ones have to support infrastructure and warm front, so you may want to think about that before switching to the 'two millenials in a London office' companies.

[sealight123]

To be honest, we rent and our bills are included so I have no idea who my energy supplier is.
They must be doing something good as we've never had any issues...so much so that I don't even know who they are lol

[GazeboLantern]

What specialsubject said. There is an illusion of a free market. Definitely go with a bigger company, rather than a diddy start-up brokering energy, no matter how tempting their rates. (We did that once with insurance. BIG mistake and we were lucky.) be realistic and check rates and deals regularly. It can occasionally be worth the penalty to change suppliers mid-contract. What do I want from them? Reliable energy. Clear tarif structures. Prompt response to any contact or problem.

[MissCherryCakeyBun]

We are moving house currently and trying to get a sensible quote from different energy supplies is like trying to get Teenagers out of bed in the morning! We are moving to Somerset and would like smart meters fitted....however that's a bit like wanting to fly to the moon....no chance.
I can't understand why everything is so bloody difficult when dealing with energy suppliers and why they have so so many different tariffs

[Caribbeanyesplease]

I can’t believe I’m writing this and I’m not in any way affiliated with them BUT...

Bulb. I have been blown away by their customer service and, it was laughably easy to swap, they did everything and even paid my early exit fee!! Plus my bill are cheaper.
Fantastic app too for keeping on top of things.

[SilverHairedCat]

I move around as soon as my contract is coming to a close with any supplier so I have no brand loyalty at all. I'm currently with Sainsbury's who are basically British Gas, even though BG were more expensive for the same house! It's stupid.

I expect all providers to be upfront with costs and for prices to be fixed for the duration of a contract. I also expect to be given sufficient reminders of the contract coming to an end that I can start to find the next one before moving to the standard costs.

I do not expect to have to speak to my supplier for any other reason - if I do, something has gone wrong. Like when BG refused to refund me £700 excess on my account a few years ago, and it took me 3 months to get my money back. That was a major problem and unnecessarily stressful. All caused by a "computer says no" scenario where they set my payments far too high despite my objections.

[Headfullofdreams]

Don't have any like or dislike for current provider. They have never caused me any problems so no complaints so far.

[specialsubject]

why would you want smart meters fitted? They will go dumb again when you switch, and many of them don't work properly.

don't do it until the tech is working.

[sharond101]

Our supplier was best in terms of cost and has provided excellent customer service. It was easy to move to a new home with them so I'd reccommend. We are with First Utility.

[QueenOfPharts]

My current supplier SSE is ok. We now have a smart metre so hopefully things will improve. I really despised the energy company having all your cash over the summer yet as soon as you owed them stuff they are down like a tonne of bricks!

[Scotgirl80]

We are with Ngen. Things I like: easy to use online billing. Super easy to change tariff (the even suggest the best one to move to based on your usage). It was very easy to switch providers. The one thing I don’t like it the time we are having to wait for a smart meter. Requested one over 5 months ago, still waiting on it.

[Earthmoon]

I'm with British Gas as they were offering free change of meter from pay as you go to a credit meter at the time. Its sad that the poorest people (or thoes who haven't had a chance to build up good crerdit history) in this country have to pay more for the privilege of having a pay as you go meter installed.

[Treaclespongeandcustard]

I dislike my provider because they give me a ‘special deal’ which lasts for 2 years and then I have to mess about moving to another ‘special deal’ which is almost identical to the previous one. I wish they would stop messing around and just leave me be without increasing my bills unless I ring them.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

We switch tariffs regularly to get the best deal (when I say “we” I mean DP ). It’s an utterly infuriating system though, it seems bonkers that we have to do this. And it punishes people whose lives are busy and complex.

[specialsubject]

tariff switching takes about 10 mins including the research. no one is that busy.

all it does is reduce the price increase, if you are on a fix you wont get cheaper.

[asuwere]

I'm currently with outfoxthemarket. I don't like or dislike them particularly. I check prices and switch regularly - such a simple process to do. As long as it's easy to submit readings, view a bill and the pricing is clear then I'm happy with it.

[Sammyislost]

I just switched to a company using the Money Saving Expert tool, I don't even know which company, and they've already told us the price is going up...UHHHHHH. Typical. To be honest, I hate all the energy companies because they're just trying to swindle money out of everyone to make the people at the top get big pay bonuses each year.

[zippyup]

Our energy company calls my mobile twice a day! everyday! wanting to know if I will have a smart meter. I've had to block their calls they have become a total nuisance.
My mum had a smart meter fitted with the same company, it took months of phone calls and waiting home for appointments to get it working correctly- no thanks!

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

What NeverTwerkNaked said.
We (DH) switches often to get the best deals but it is a right pain to do. It should be made quicker & easier.
The customer service from any.provider often seems appalling. They don't seem to care and there is no loyalty anymore

[Giraffey1]

Transparent prices.
Bills that aren’t several pages long and are in a type size I can read without a magnifying glass.

[BaconCrispsGone]

i would have to go and look up who current supplier is first ;) we switch frequently to get best prices.

[WonkyWay]

I can't even remember who my latest energy provider is. 😂 I tend to chose longish lock in prices with companies I've heard of. (They can be small companies but I prefer to not use start up companies).
I end up not always choosing the very cheapest tariff.
Switching accounts is no problem at all and I've never had any problems with customer service.

I HATE the fact that the prices switch back to a standard tariff after your deal ends. I've not been caught out with it yet but I know my elderly parents have.

My very elderly MIL pays British Gas's standard tariff. I've offered to change it for her but she does t want to change. It disgusts me that companies take advantage of the most vulnerable of customers. My 96 year old MIL doesn't have internet access and it's sad that BG and other big companies penalize her for this.

I'd prefer a standard and easy to understand tariff for everyone. I don't mind them making a profit but I don't think it's unreasonable to want them to treat their customers fairly with clear and transparent pricing.

[nocutsnobuttsnococonuts]

Ours is current cheapest, never had a problem. Bonus was we qualified for warm house discount this year which was a very easy application form and they added the money to our account.

[MumOfTwoMasterOfNone]

Love my most recent provider Octopus. They're good value, use a lot of renewable energy and they amend your bill really quickly when you submit a meter reading, it's easy to get in contact. I got £50 off from a referral and you get entered into prize draws when you submit meter readings. All in all really happy so far!