Mr Spock:

Something clearly amiss then with their being zero messages in your inbox on your online account..

As a matter of interest I went looking for the new email feature. The email webform records 4 emails in the last 6 months but I know that I have received at least 17 emails.

Not convinced that this is an improvement over POP3 email but in a couple of weeks I will cease to care for at least 16 months. Though I was happy with my energy supply I leave Scottish Power less than completely impressed.

Twee:

This is too complex for me to work out....

...This is designed to confuse !!

Well, it may be designed to confuse but a Consumer Focus accredited comparison website is your friend.

The main thing you need is your annual comsumption in kWhrs. If you do not know ask your current supplier. If using MS use the "detailed" comparison. If you supply your post code and annual consumption, the headline costs returned, very occasional errors excepted, are accurate costs for your (low) consumption as long as you satisfy the tariff small print. The headline cost takes no account of charges for leaving an existing tariff, so for this and other reasons, the quoted saving can sometimes be unreliable.

So if the tariff includes a deferred discount for 12 months, the costs are accurate as long as you remain a customer for 12 months. Ignore apparently excessive standing charges and concentrate on the headline cost (which includes the standing charges and deferred discounts). Or choose a "no standing charge" tariff if you prefer. Consider a "fixed" or "capped" tariff since a variable tariff with a deferred discount leaves you vulnerable to price increases.

One caution though, I note you are sensitive to direct debit increases that you don't understand. Most suppliers do an annual review but NPower reviews more frequently, which virtually guarantees that you will always have an (unrefundable) surplus.

You need to make your own choice on all the factors. Though I am switching for my own reasons, overall I have not found Scottish Power bad (and I think Mr Spocks agrees). Approach this positively, having benchmarked the market, and see if Scottish Power has a suitable tariff for you.

Hi Twee

Something clearly amiss then with their being zero messages in your inbox on your online account. Have you also checked out there most recent deals, I would probably do a manual calculation, i.e. pen and paper, from their pricing leaflets on their new Online 9 or Reward tariffs. I can see their both No Standing Charges too, something which you seem to prefer, although it makes no real difference as you end up paying one anyway ! from looking at their reward tariff I know the primary unit rate is high, but their remaining day & night rates are low.... but you might get caught out on that primary threashold being a low user as you suggest

This is too complex for me to work out

The first question is Is Gofix the cheapest option for dual fuel ?

According to the website - there is a £100 cash back which is more than used up by the "standing charges" of £150 for gas and £16 for electricity - then there's the different rates for night and day (9.671p / 2.492p for day & what about night -(no quoted price !!)

These prices appear cheap - but for myself being a low user (£48.50 per month dual fuel) - they are not as good as they first appear.

I prefer not to pay "Standing Charges" - these things are a total con - often not mentioned and when they are - they are difficult to bring into the calculation - so it looks as if SP have me for a while longer.......

This is designed to confuse !!

Twee:

ie The overpayment is not returnable

I intend to bring in the ombudsman on this ......

According to MSM.COM - My cheapest option is Npower gofix2 tarriff - Saving me about £85 per year - but I can't find any rates per unit on their website - only repeated "We can save you ££'s"

Sorry - unless I see an actual p / unit cost - I will not be changing to Npower......

If you click the tariff hyperlink after the comparison you will get the rates. Remember to read and understand the tariff small print.

I too am an "on-line" customer and I have checked the messages sent box - guess what NUMBER OF EMAILS SENT = ZERO

They have promised to return my payments to the previous amount - but, say that "We will not be able to refund the credit balance."

ie The overpayment is not returnable

I intend to bring in the ombudsman on this ......

According to MSM.COM - My cheapest option is Npower gofix2 tarriff - Saving me about £85 per year - but I can't find any rates per unit on their website - only repeated "We can save you ££'s"

Sorry - unless I see an actual p / unit cost - I will not be changing to Npower......

Hi Twee

I must agree with Jalexa regarding ScottishPowers monthly direct debit calculations having been a customer with them for many years I have never had cause to complain about how they are calculated. Also being on their Online Energy 4 tariff I remember this coming out as it had a low electric price but an average gas price at the start, however, as this product had no such maturity date, as with Jalexa's Online 5 deal, I believe the price has been moved up over time to be compariable with their normal monthly direct debit rate.

SP have lots of newer tariffs, for example their Online 9 version and also their new Online Reward tariff which gives you £105 as a bonus for being with them, on that tariff which is fixed, until August 2011. The reward is applied sometime after June 7th, so their literature states.

Also I am an online customer with them, and find notifications usually arrive in my normal email inbox, however, I dont know if your aware, but SP have enhanced their Online service and you can now see a copy of any emails sent to you ...... if you log in .... then use the links on the right hand side, and go into " My Messages" you will a list appear, however just above where you account number should be listed, there is another hyperlink to "View my email history" if you click on that, you will get a list of the emails SP have sent to you, just by clicking anywhere on the email line, I usually click on the subject, it will then show you the email which has been sent to you.

I asked SP about this and they say its from feedback from their customers who have experienced problems in receiving emails from them in the past.

Hope this helps

Twee:

don't you find it rather strange that they decide to raise it now ?

I am paying 16.981p per unit for electricity (inc VAT), & 4.463p per unit for gas (inc VAT)

How does that compare to the alternatives ?

Normally only an annual review is performed, so the issue is not whether it is summer but whether it is your annual review time (and then whether the calculation is accurate). As I suggested, go through the Scottish Power direct debit review info with a fine tooth comb looking for procedural errors and complain if you find any.

Whilst not impossible I would be surprised if the calculation is wrong. Historically competitive tariffs are not guaranteed to remain competitive after the tariff offer matures. You are on a matured historic tariff. I think that is the underlying problem.

Regarding the rates you are paying, on the face of it they seem high, but you need to consider applicable discounts for the full picture. You should compare your current tariff using annual consumption on a Consumer Focus accredited website.

I wouldn't trust Scottish Power to be honest!

I'm on metered gas and electricity yet they someone got hold of my details and started sending me letters claiming I owed them hundreds of pounds?!

After phoning them they apologised and sorted the problem on their system...sadly I still get letters asking me for money but this time a claims letter is quickly followed by one saying that I'm in credit!

I've come to the conclusion it's total chaos at their end...I pay there and then for what I use...even that seems a puzzle for them though.

I have received a reply from them - promising to return my DD to it's original amount from next month

Also - it says that SP always inform their customers when a DD is being changed

OK - "Prove it"

Still may change suppliers though !!

I have just taken meter readings and added them to my on-line account and am STILL in credit

Considering that we are now at the cheapest time of the year and my DD has remained unchanged throught the last winter - don't you find it rather strange that they decide to raise it now ?

I am paying 16.981p per unit for electricity (inc VAT), & 4.463p per unit for gas (inc VAT)

How does that compare to the alternatives ?

Twee:

Scottish Power have just increased my Direct Debit by over 18% without the courtesey of even notifying me that this was being done -

There is more than one thing going on here. No originator can alter a direct debit amount with giving you notice. You can (if you wish) enforce that with your bank under the Direct Debit guarantee.

Secondly are you sure that "Energy Saver 4" is even a competitive tariff to still be on? IIRC it was a "guaranteed discount" tariff, not a fixed tariff, so possibly your rates have increased. If so, they should have informed you but AFAIUI not necessarily until 60 days afterwards! There is no substitute for regularly benchmarking your existing tariff using a Consumer Focus accredited website.

Regarding the changed monthly payment, my experience of SP is that their calculation is accurate. Previously when I asked in a similar situation I received a good explanation which I accepted as accurate.

If you search the SP website there is information about how SP handle direct debit reviews. If they have fallen foul of their own procedure don't hesitate to raise a complaint. I think their online system now has online complaint tracking. Go for it.

Personally I am leaving Scottish Power. They only notified me 5 days before maturity that my current Online Saver 5 tariff was (if I wanted) being extended for 12 months. How stupid was that? I had already started a switch. Of course if I had been a new customer they would have given me £50.

I conclude my custom wasn't valued, so I'm off. And will save 3% into the bargain.

Scottish Power have just increased my Direct Debit by over 18% without the courtesey of even notifying me that this was being done - I feel so angry about this, that I am considering changing suppliers - I am at present on "Energy Saver 4" - which used to be cheap - but with everyone else bringing their prices down - I believe that Scottish power have made a mistake - since I am currently almost 2 months in credit with them (at my current charges) - this does not allow them to modify my payments without notifying me !!!