I have a Fixed online Dual Fuel account about to run out which Scottish power will renew if I do not cancel (It carries a penalty to withdraw later ) I have looked at various switching sites but the figures do not seem to tally and although EDF appears to save, the annual figures shown and reports from customers seem at odds. When I changed originally Scottish Power raised the agreed monthly DD quite soon and have done so several times leaving credit each quarter but it seems other companies do this too. I have managed to get the amounts reduced by phoning them but think it should be possible to pay only what I owe. Can anyone advise if this is actually possible with an online account which (in theory) is the cheapest?

shawnee32:

Quite a few points to deal with.

First of all if you compare using annual consumption in kWhrs you will get fairly accurate comparisons. A pre-requisite for knowing your annual consumption is to have actual meter reads. Since you are on a Scottish Power online tariff you should have been providing customer readings at least every 3 months. Whenever you submitted a reading online, your account balance would have been updated immediately. If you can't work out what your annual consumption has been ask your supplier.

The next question is what tariff Scottish Power intend to renew you onto, specifically whether it will be a fixed price and term tariff or a variable tariff. You are free to leave a variable tariff with only 28 days notice but will be locked into a fixed price/term tariff (as you know).

Regarding the monthly payments, in my experience Scottish Power are fair and accurate regarding the calculation of monthly payments. Look online for the description about month payments. Look online at your account balance. If you are still stuck post some more details.

I am on a dual fuel plan but all the comparison sites split electric and gas (why?) and if I fill in my figures I get varying estimates which are not entirely helpful If I change to quarterly direct debit will I be notified of amount due and pay THAT Amount instead of having a credit each quarter I provide meter readings when requested and have managed to get reduced direct debits by phoning them which still leave SP in credit all the time. My next reading is due in a couple of weeks so I can get a more accurate figure then so I have changed my account back to standard so that if I find a better deal I can move without paying the exit fees. On this site EON is recommended it seems at the moment

shawnee32:

I am on a dual fuel plan but all the comparison sites split electric and gas (why?) and if I fill in my figures I get varying estimates which are not entirely helpful

I can see from this your previous thread you are having difficulty with the comparison websites.

Sorry I don't understand your first point. The main feature of a dual fuel plan or tariff is probably an extra discount over seperate tariffs (although it is not always the case that dual fuel is the cheapest option). Some suppliers use a single bill combining gas and electricity, some suppliers have seperate bills even on a dual fuel tariff. It's up to you, but I find single billing much easier.

If the tariff offers it and you select quarterly (direct debit) billing you will pay the actual bill, though it could still be an estimated bill if you don't submit an actual reading. It's likely that a monthly direct debit discount will be lost. Personally I think its a brave person who would chose actual quarterly direct debit over fixed monthly direct debit. There is going to be a massive winter payment. Again up to you.

Something is going wrong with your billing. You were on fixed rate so no price increase. The problem must be an inadequate initial direct debit or inaccurate estimates. Find out your annual consumption and then use the price comparison website to calculate the annual bill and divide by 12 . That will be a fairly accurate monthly payment over the year.

Thanks for your interest As regards the dual fuel plan All the comparison sites ask for SEPARATE costs for each whereas I want to enter the single figure I am paying for two combined. It seems the only way to get a more accurate forecast is to find out my actual usage rather than costing. I will try your final paragraph suggestion. In fact we have an Aga and our winter usage is not vastly higher as we use our central heating only in the very coldest weather so we do not face massive winter payments although I appreciate the summer figures might be lower

Hi Shawnee32,

From my information, ScottishPower are offering their customers on this particular fixed rate deal, which prevented you from having the massive increases in September 2008, a new capped rate, capping your prices, at today's rates, until September 2010. From their website, this isnt available to new or existing customers, except if you are maturing on your fixed rate deal. It also cap's prices longer than any of their other current fixed/capped rates...

Normal Capped rates, as with ScottishPower's normally come at a premium, albeit, a small one, however, I understand your's is free. Capped rates offer some real good security against price rises, but if prices drop, you also get these, something you dont get on a fixed rate.

Alternatively from checking their website, ScottishPower offer one of their very competitive online energy savers again, Online Energy Saver 6. This offers big discounts against their standard rates, (which is what your capped against) but obviously it isnt fixed/capped therefore your prices will increase/decrease as necessary compared to their standard rates.

Hope this helps

I have now checked on Go Compare (Money Supermarket offline at present) using KWH resulting in an apparent saving of just £28 but they only offer a fixed price which does not go up but can go down whereas SP capped can go down as well as up so they appear to be the best deal anyway so probably best to stay put

Thanks

sorry omitted EON from above (£28 saving)

My fixed tariff deal with SP ended yesterday - the capped plan that they were going to switch me on to would have cost ~ 14% more per annum than last year!!

I've actually opted out of their kind offer and elected to go onto the standard variable rate until my switch to EON is complete. Using various comparison sites there was little to choose between EDF and EON Online saver rates , both of which will maintain my payments at slightly less than this year's levels provided that we don't have huge price increases again this Autumn.(I know its a risk but one I felt was worth taking)

BREWERDAVE1:

My fixed tariff deal with SP ended yesterday - the capped plan that they were going to switch me on to would have cost ~ 14% more per annum than last year!!

A few months ago I was with SP (still am). Noticed a press release about a latest tariff (Online 5). Isn't that what press releases are for? No sign of a switching facility on comparison websites or even on the SP website. I enquired and it turned out the tariff was controlled by the "landings" team, ie not intererested in existing customers who just want to save money.

I persevered and eventually was switched by SP. Pointless obstruction as I could have switched away and then switched back costing the industry two switching fees.

Going by your post they are still at it as Online 6 is not offered for existing customers.

Unless they insist.

Apart from that I happy with SP prices and service, particularly their billing system.

I still seem to be going round in circles over this I have quotes from EON giving estimated annual bill exact same figure One says a saving of £28 other £290!! I phoned Scot Power having just updated meter reading it was also read by meter reader mid August. My direct debit also went out today but excluding that I have a credit balance £140 which I am told cannot be refunded but they propose reducing DD by £2 per month. If I want to change supplier I have until 17th October to opt out of proposed " Capped Price energy 2010" (not mentioned in email) so in theory I could avoid £50 charge for moving if I do that first, however would not be able to opt back in to this particular offer. Also if I opt out but do not leave I would be moved to Premier plus Their challenge SP on the website suggests cheapest offer why are there so many different rates anyway?I enjoy puzzles in the normal way but this is doing my head in

shawnee32:

Because you have a credit balance you can dictate what you want to do. If you particularly want the credit back you can get it back by switching to another supplier.

Rates and tariff availability vary by region so I can't give specific tariff advice but I'm not convinced SP have recommended their most competitive tariff.

There is no need to go round in circles. If you do a comparison search using a Consumer Focus accredited website (eg Moneysupermarket) based on annual consumption you will get a very accurate indication of what supplier and tariff options are available in your region. Ask your supplier if you don't know what your annual consumption was for the last year.

Don't search on monthly payments. While that will still rank suppliers in approximate order the actual savings indicated may not be achieved.

Bear in mind that some suppliers, eg NPower and Atlantic don't pay any discount for 12 months even though the comparison included the discount. E.ON don't pay any discount on a final bill. There are a lot of "gotchas" out there if you don't understand the small print.

If you want to have the credit balance refunded you can do this. It is your money. Just be firm and polite.

You don't owe them this money yet, so they don't have to have it.

You can reduce your DD also.

To justify this (as they are being awkward) just look at your average usage over the year (and including the winter months where its higher, and work out what you think it should cost you, and reduce your DD to the average (not the low summer usage) amount.

Continue to take accurate readings and keep your balance up to date.

HTH

Sparky.

PS I had exactly the same thing with BG and they were a pain about it too.

sparky76:

If you want to have the credit balance refunded you can do this. It is your money. Just be firm and polite.

Yep, I agree, although the SP small print does say more that 3 months surplus before a refund. Howver they would be stupid not to recognise that the balance would be refunded in full if the customer left. I am not sure however that SP are not stupid.

A comparison using annual consumption will give annual costs for each tariff. The appropriate DD starting afresh is simply the annual cost/12. In my experience switching with annual consumption figures will result in a reasonable DD being set.

PS

if switching don't cancel your DD until you get your balance back otherwise it's a cheque to get lost (or not sent).

Scot Power have just put me on Capped Price Energy 2010 ( can opt out till 17th Oct) Comparison sites suggest savings varying from £28 -£272 -£472 each based on an annual cost of £1280 by moving to Eon I am wary of such varying figures and would need to opt out of capped 2010 to avoid £50 exit charge first Eon exit just £30. The more I search the worse it gets.Have also phoned SP With bill and readings up to date today still have £241 credit with them (includes £113 today for next quarter) but they say cannot have refund. Would welcome advice please