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Original poster

Bulb - fix now?

38 replies

Brunonononooo · 09/07/2022 10:21

After some advice from someone who might know more than me! I am still with Bulb and wondering whether to fix with another company now before the likely price hikes in October. Has anyone else done this or done some research into the pros/cons? I’m really struggling with all the information and I can’t decide what to do! Please help!

OP posts:
HappyandYouKnowitClapYourHands · 09/07/2022 10:35

I think you'd be lucky to find another company that would take you on. A lot are saying now that they're unable to offer a tariff to new customers currently when I go on suppliers' websites to get a quote.

I'm with EON next. Was paying dual fuel £100 monthly DD up until last month. It was time for renewal. They quoted me £200 monthly DD on a variable rate or £295 on a fixed rate. I stupidly went for the former.

Following yesterday's news, I called today to enquire about the fixed rate quote. They said it's changed and want almost £400 monthly DD if i fix now. No chance.

Wish I didn't listen to the Martin Lewis advice now about not fixing!

FourTeaFallOut · 09/07/2022 10:43

Companies are reluctant to take on new customers at the svr but they still have fixed tariff on the market. You can go on something like the MSE energy club and put in your annual usage and check out what options you have. I'm not sure any of them are much to write home about though, but worth a look if you are eager to lock in a rare.

FourTeaFallOut · 09/07/2022 10:44

A rate.

Moonchair1 · 09/07/2022 21:33

You carnt listen to someone like Martin Lewis who’s loaded and will never worry about money
if he’s not on a fixed and price goes up he can afford it we carnt !

userxx · 12/07/2022 21:11

I'd sit tight.

Mrsfenchurch · 26/08/2022 22:31

Did you switch @Brunonononooo ? I didn't, and so still with bulb and beginning to panic! Do we still sit tight @userxx it must be bad if MSE are even considering UW (which I don't want to do, and cant anyway due to not needing another two services from them...)

Mollymalone123 · 26/08/2022 23:49

I’m with bulb and decided I’m just going to sit it out and hope for the best now! Think they’ll all be as bad as each other.just trying to overpay as much as I can now

Mrsfenchurch · 26/08/2022 23:54

@Mollymalone123 Sorry if this sounds stupid but how are you overpaying? I am on a monthly DD

Motherofalegend · 27/08/2022 00:05

@HappyandYouKnowitClapYourHands we are also with eon. I’ve been on a fix since last October so pretty much weathered the worst of all of this, but when we worked out the price per unit etc. the cap, even with the October increase, is still cheaper than the fix they were offering. We are just going with it and adjusting our use.

for is not fixing is the right thing to do, may not be right for everyone.

Motherofalegend · 27/08/2022 00:07

To add, my fix ends week after the price cap increases.

Mollymalone123 · 27/08/2022 00:27

I’m on direct debit-I went on the app and you can increase the amount you pay yourself.I’ve been doing this since about January.Hopefully you can do the same and build up as much credit as you can

Ffsjustltb · 27/08/2022 00:32

I've not fixed. I worked on the basis that I would just use less. I know its not the answer for households with very vulnerable, but for the rest of us, we can just turn the heating off more, and wear a hoodie.

Mollymalone123 · 27/08/2022 06:09

@Mrsfenchurch sorry forgot to tag u! Go onto bulb app then click on payments-you’ll see next payment date -click on that and it brings up payment settings which u can then adjust

Startuplife · 27/08/2022 06:45

I’m also unsure what to do. We’ve just moved into a house with Bulb but we’ve gone from a 1 bed flat to a 3 bed house so I’m completely clueless about what our usage will be.
Our flat had a prepayment meter and although it is more expensive it was good to keep track of how much we were actually spending and knowing we weren’t using more than we were paying for.

MsMartini · 27/08/2022 08:50

I'm with Bulb - what other fixes are you considering? The only one available last time I checked MSE was the UW one.

dementedpixie · 27/08/2022 08:54

Mrsfenchurch · 26/08/2022 23:54

@Mollymalone123 Sorry if this sounds stupid but how are you overpaying? I am on a monthly DD

You make extra payments or increase the direct debit amount

GretaVanFleet · 27/08/2022 09:26

I’m with bulb, gas & electric we were paying £115 with £85cr balance and they wanted to put it up to £160. I increased it myself to £130 and the bills since changing have been £157, £128, £157, £129, £110 & £92 and my cr balance is £116. I’m going with better the devil you know at the moment.

QuePrima · 27/08/2022 09:35

I've not fixed. Tbh, I didn't know his advice was not to fix but it seems in line with what I'm seeing.

I gave my meter reading with the recent price increase (want to say march but doesn't feel that long ago) and as I hadn't given one for 2 years, we owed £500. Two months ago, I got an email saying my DD was going from just over £100 to just over £300. I was scared as that's quite a hike so I called them. Asked about fixing and the lady on the phone told me the prices per kWh. It's literally twice as much per kWh. As far as I'm concerned, that's a win. No point paying twice as much now for something that's going to be twice as much in a 6 months/a year as a safety net to try and save money.

I'll let you know if I need to eat my hat...

QuePrima · 27/08/2022 09:38

Forgot to add, if I fix now for a year and it goes up after that period, I've paid double for no reason really because I'll be hit with another increase.

I'm just glad because when I told my mum about the increase in DD, my mum said "I told you that you should fixed" because she loves to rub my face in things and I could tell her actually, I was OK.

I imagine it will be a winter of fluffy socks and blankets but it should be anyway for the environments sake.

JudgeRindersMinder · 27/08/2022 09:42

Mollymalone123 · 26/08/2022 23:49

I’m with bulb and decided I’m just going to sit it out and hope for the best now! Think they’ll all be as bad as each other.just trying to overpay as much as I can now

I’m in the same position as you and for now am also sitting tight

Mrsfenchurch · 27/08/2022 10:39

Direct debit updated @Mollymalone123 We’re in credit anyway but good to boost the balance.
It’s really useful to hear others thoughts and I think I’m in the camp of sitting tight for now. We’re not huge energy users (in a mild part of the country, limited tumbler dryer use, and socks & jumper wearers) but we will defo be keeping an eye on things!

needthiswilderness · 27/08/2022 10:52

OP sorry to hijack but I have a different Bulb related q - they wrote to me a few days ago to say our monthly tariff will be going up from September and this will be the new figure for 13 months.. if this is the case I’m thrilled as it’s only £158 and from what I’ve read this is very much on the low end! But why would they be giving a rate for 13 months when the cap is set to rise and rise? Anyone more clever about this around to advise?

dementedpixie · 27/08/2022 10:55

Does the email give the tariff and standing charge for that payment @needthiswilderness ?

needthiswilderness · 27/08/2022 11:05

Thanks @dementedpixie - the tariff is pay monthly variable and the standing charges are 51p a day for electricity and 27p a day for gas.

dementedpixie · 27/08/2022 11:15

needthiswilderness · 27/08/2022 11:05

Thanks @dementedpixie - the tariff is pay monthly variable and the standing charges are 51p a day for electricity and 27p a day for gas.

What's the price per kwh? Is it just that the payment is increasing rather than the tariff changing?

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