Check your gas bills

intermiplants · Feb 3, 2008

if someone could make head of tail of the prices and charges and work out the cheapest company we would all probably jump ship asap. then i suspect they would put the prices up by 10%. do we ever win

PeterS · Feb 4, 2008

I think the price comparison sites do a good job. As an accountant I always like to work things out for myself - I don't trust anyone's calculations unless I can see the workings.

So I have checked the calculations of a number of the comparison sites (for a few suppliers - not all) and am pleased to say that they are correct. If you do it yourself on a spreadsheet you get a better feel of what happens if you use more or less units than you state, and the best supplier really does depend on how many units you use, if you use a lot more or a lot less the best supplier changes.

But the biggest problem is knowing when they have or will increase their prices. The cheapest supplier may only be so because they haven't increased their prices yet.

The sad thing these days is that companies rely on inertia. People are sucked in with special cheap offers, and then the companies increase their prices happy in the knowledge that most people wont realise, or just can't be bothered to change. In the end we only have ourselves to blame, but on the other hand in the past you were able to trust most companies, now you must treat many as if they are crooks who will screw you if ever they get a chance to.

shiney · Feb 4, 2008

PeterS said:
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Shiney - I really admire you for taking Npower to court and then the bailiffs. Doesn't the court hearing have to be in their home area, and was that a problem - did you have to travel. I would want to attend, rather than send a letter.
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Hi Peter, it's the other way round. When you use the Small Claims Court and you are making the claim the hearing is at your local court. Also, if a company is claiming against you and they are claiming through their local court you can get it transferred to your court - the system is there to help the individual.

Npower head office is in Hull, their solicitors are in Birmingham and I am down south. They applied to have the judgement in my favour set aside but I pointed out to their solicitor that it would require them to come to the court. They gave in.

pete said:
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Could someone please tell me how you actually make comparisons between companies.
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Hi pete, on the site I used all I had to do was put in what my power consumption was for the previous year (this was given to me by my power company when I phoned and asked - and I also checked it against my bills).

The site then listed what other companies would charge me for the year. When I had agreed to switch, for the agreed monthly Direct Debit amount, I received my contract by email. The website also said that if there were any problems that I should contact them. No problems so far.

As far as I'm concerned I don't mind reading my meter (they will read it once a year just to check) and paying by DD if it is saving me hundreds of pounds a year. The quote was Ã?Â£382 less for our gas and electric - we use quite a lot of power and were already getting a discount through Staywarm.

pete · Feb 4, 2008

As Peter says, the cheapest company is usually the one that hasn't put their prices up.........YET.

The big problem is that most people have better things to do than keep watching the prices, and they know it.

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Check your gas bills

intermiplants Gardener

PeterS Total Gardener

shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

Just checking on Fairygirl

Encouragement or a reality check

Hayfever...Pollen Checker

Check, or cancel, your Direct Debits!

Anyone Remember Laurel & Hardy Dancing To Chubby Checker?

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Check your gas bills

intermiplants Gardener

PeterS Total Gardener

shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

Just checking on Fairygirl

Encouragement or a reality check

Hayfever...Pollen Checker

Check, or cancel, your Direct Debits!

Anyone Remember Laurel & Hardy Dancing To Chubby Checker?

Share This Page

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