Switching Electricity Suppliers

[Misky]

Is it easy to do this using those sites such as u-switch? Npower are just taking the mick with our bills. We've used them for 21 years simply because they supplied the house when we moved in, but I'd like to look elsewhere now. All I ever hear are nightmare stories, never ones where everything went well. We're completely up to date with our payments to Npower now.

[SlackAlice]

Very easy to switch via the comparison sites, but don't just rely on one site. Also, please remember some suppliers are not listed on the comparison site, mainly because they won't pay the sites fees for listing them.

I tend to consider switching my Energy suppliers (Gas and Electric) about every 2 yrs. No such thing as customer loyalty now.

[Misky]

Thanks SlackAlice - I'll spend my lunch hour on all the different sites then! It can't be that bad if you do it so often...

[johnny37]

in theory you should be able to switch every day but in practice it should take about 3 weeks if it goes well. Just a side issue im having with npower - switched away from them about 16 months ago and they have still not settled my account. they had a computer crash about the same time Annoying thing is they keep getting it wrong and it is up to me to point out the errors!

[Misky]

Thanks Johnny - I deal with Npower "customer services " through work and it's experiences with that bunch that have put me off rocking the boat for so long. But I'm gong to bit the bullet now. Wish me luck!

[shaneystar2]

Good luck with that misky .We switched from Npower about six months ago and since then we've had nothing but aggro from them .We settled our final bills with them but they still keep sending bills .We've had threatening letters from them as well. My husband is a patient man but totally lost his rag on the blower with them .
It should be easy to switch ( David Cameron says so ) but in practice it's a nightmare .

[Misky]

Thanks Shaneystar - all I've ever heard about is what a nightmare it is, but having said that, it's a bit of a nightmare being with npower at the minute too!

[ivor4781]

if you have proof you have settled your final bill shaneystar2
just let them keep sending you letters / e-mails,ignore them they have not got a case,

[Old_Geezer]

Never switched myself but my woman has and it proved stressful, with no agreement on what was owed to whom, a need for a new meter (!!!!!) and what was clearly an over-demand which everyone tried to justify but was clearly not in line with previous use. I'm not sure I can work out the garbage any of them put on the bill already let alone trying to juggle two lots both saying I owe and neither being the slightest bit clear (I suspect deliberately).

[shaneystar2]

Lol..we've got proof ivor .My husband was an accountant in his former life and is very fond of making spreadsheets of all our financial incomings and outgoings so we know we don't owe them anything .
It's just so annoying when it's them that can't get their act together. I think it was the fact that they said they would inform other companies of "our failure to pay which could affect our credit rating " that had steam coming out of his ears :)

[ladybirder]

Well I've just done it and it was easy. My new supplier has done it all for me. I just had to read my gas and electricity meters at the weekend and give these to my new supplier and they have done all the liaising with my old company for me. My one piece of advice would be to not just base your decision on the cheapest supplier. Read a couple of reviews about them. I could have saved another £30/year by taking the cheapest but customer reviews were awful so I plumped for the 3rd cheapest with all 5* reviews because that is so important, to me anyway.

[Misky]

Thanks ladybirder, for that ray of hope!

[janbee]

Easy peasy. I've just recently done it and switched to EDF blue tariff

[ladybirder]

Ha Jan, I've just switched from EDF!

[Bazile]

ladybirder - who have you switched to ?

[janbee]

Oh ladybirder. Sorry about that. I think EDF is the best around. BTW, we live in the same area.

[chrissa1]

I have just switched from NPower and it was very easy. I am saving, £36 every month.
When NPower tried to talk me out of switching, they offered me a Fixed Rate for two years, that was £7 more than I was paying them to start with!!!!!!

I am owed £94 from them now and I'm waiting to see when they actually re-pay it.

Do it, Misky. It's easy and will certainly save you money.

[Misky]

Thanks Chrissa - I'm definitely going to do it. x

[ladybirder]

OVO Energy Bazile. I'd never heard of them until I googled when their name came up on one of the comparison websites.
Jan never had a problem in the 5 or so years I was with EDF but OVO are cheaper, for me. Are you in B&H then Jan?

[janbee]

ladybirder .. no, just the H part .

[pastafreak]

I'm thinking of switching and moving from prepayment meters according to this,they are all dire....except Ovo. May look into that one.

.http://www.moneysupermarket.com/utilities/supplier-reviews.aspx