Changing Energy Supplier...Advice Please.

[ElectroClaret]

Been with British Gas for years, never bothered to change, but the bills have been going up relentlessly.
Heard a lot about Octopus, great reviews online, but would like to hear first hand.
Also read about problems with some customers of Look After My Bills, maybe cos its a fairly new company.

Any advice/recommendations gratefully received.
Cheers in advance.

[wilks_bfc]

I can recommend UW.

Got a good deal on gas/electric/broadband

Let me know if want to know more

[FactualFrank]

Be prepared for around 127 affiliate links to be added by people for Octopus Energy.

[Paul Waine]

Been with British Gas for years, never bothered to change, but the bills have been going up relentlessly.
Heard a lot about Octopus, great reviews online, but would like to hear first hand.
Also read about problems with some customers of Look After My Bills, maybe cos its a fairly new company.

Any advice/recommendations gratefully received.
Cheers in advance.

I moved to Octopus Energy Jan this year. No problems. Submit monthly meter readings. Get updated monthly statements very soon after submitting readings. Seem to be very efficient. There was a thread over the summer (from memory) that discussed Octopus. I think they had an offer that get's you money off your first month's bill if you are recommended. Also money off by the person who recommended you. I've no idea if that offer is still going.

[ClaretDiver]

I looked at Octopus but ended up going with Pure Energy....no issues so far and are slightly cheaper for us!

[karatekid]

Martin Lewis energy club on moneysupermarket.

[claret wizard]

Go to a full market price comparison site. moneysupermarket.com who bought Martin Lewis' busines is one, but there are others. I tend to go with larger energy providers, there have been a few of the niche and smaller energy companies go under recently, and it can cause some issues around billing and tarrifs when someone comes in to take their customer base over. The big boys rates are normally fairly close to the smaller ones.

[Quickenthetempo]

http://click.octopus.energy/ls/click?up ... S8Hw-3D-3D
Click on the link for a free 50 quid if you want to join octopus.
Very modern company that I have been pleased with.

You can leave without any fees if you wish.

Far better than N power that I was with previously.

You must go through the link to start with. You can't add it in later.

[Leisure]

Would recommend OVO.

[evensteadiereddie]

Bulb are very good for a gas/electricity package. I use Good Energy for my Feed in Tariff from the solar panels but, again, their gas/leccy combo looks good.
Beware of short-term deals.

[rufus lumley]

Pure Planet I keep checking if I can get a better deal and they still come out the cheapest.

[ClaretMov]

http://click.octopus.energy/ls/click?up ... S8Hw-3D-3D
Click on the link for a free 50 quid if you want to join octopus.
Very modern company that I have been pleased with.

You can leave without any fees if you wish.

Far better than N power that I was with previously.

You must go through the link to start with. You can't add it in later.

No dont use that link use mine instead https://share.octopus.energy/clean-newt ... 9uMAuPBK2Y. lol:

[IanMcL]

Do a check with the search websites. Martin Lewis is a good call from earlier. Energysavings and Uswitch too.

You could even find British Gas can offer a cheaper tariff. It is ok to use the switch engines to transfer within the same company, to a different tariff.

I am with Green energy for electric and was with Ebico for gas but British Gas has bought them!

Good luck.

[Woodleyclaret]

Utility Warehouse we have broadband phone land line gas electricity around£150pcm
Also they do a useful contactless debit card which you can top up and it doesnt have any overdraft on it.So you can top up and give it to your kids for shopping knowing that they are restricted in their spending

[LeadBelly]

It'll depend on how much energy you use and the gas/elec split + how you wish to pay. Usually, paying by MDD is cheapest because that's less overheads for supplier.
Tariffs vary; some loaded more on gas than elec; some more on standing charge/less on usage rates (or vice versa). Also depends on if you have a smart meter/want to get a smart meter (tariffs with smart meter tend to be cheaper because that's less overheads for supplier). Cheapest for me (with my consumption) will not be necessarily be cheapest for you.

Also consider if you want a fixed tariff (can be better if general prices are expected to rise - quite possibly they will in 2021; so a 12m fix may be good if its competitive already).

The switching sites/comparison sites are where to start.

I've always found Uswitch very good on accuracy and ease of switching. Before you go on the site to do the comparisons, you'll need to know your current supplier and specific tariff and either your consumption of each fuel (or what you've paid so that they can work the consumptions out backwards). Your postcode will also be needed as charges vary geographically.
Once you get the list (usually cheapest first in order) of options you can learn a bit about each tariff and usually you can switch on line and the admion is done for you (costs you nothing as the comparison site gets a sales commission from the supplier chosen)

[wilks_bfc]

Utility Warehouse we have broadband phone land line gas electricity around£150pcm
Also they do a useful contactless debit card which you can top up and it doesnt have any overdraft on it.So you can top up and give it to your kids for shopping knowing that they are restricted in their spending

Also get cash back on purchases on those cards, which go towards reducing the monthly bill

[Bosscat]

We were with one (forgotten the name) that went pop a couple of years ago... we were put with OVO automatically, we stayed with OVO until all the finances had been sorted out .

We went with Bulb Energy and they are good for us but we have heard good things about Octopus Energy...

[Quickenthetempo]

No dont use that link use mine instead https://share.octopus.energy/clean-newt ... 9uMAuPBK2Y. lol:

I think it was your link I used to join.

So back off flower.

[StuffyClaret]

Go to a full market price comparison site. moneysupermarket.com who bought Martin Lewis' busines is one, but there are others. I tend to go with larger energy providers, there have been a few of the niche and smaller energy companies go under recently, and it can cause some issues around billing and tarrifs when someone comes in to take their customer base over. The big boys rates are normally fairly close to the smaller ones.

No such thing.....Plenty of major providers for the various services promoted on the comparison sites choose not to share their prices on there.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Avoid Green Star Energy at all costs.

[IanMcL]

Avoid Green Star Energy at all costs.

Not to be confused with Green.

[Longsidebogs]

Igloo. Have a look.

[Svenster]

I've just prepared a quote for gas, leccy, landline/broadband. Came in at £115pcm based on average fuel consumption. It's with UW. There are other benefits which will reduce that price even further.

If you'd like to see what i can do for you, let me know here and we can discuss the details via email/WhatsApp.

[ClaretDiver]

The biggest issue with Utility Warehouse is that everything it combined....so, if you are not happy with one service then your other services will increase in cost regardless. The amount of customers that I have dealt with at Sky that are increasingly peed off with UW is unreal....you are tied to all your services with them....do your homework....

[Svenster]

The biggest issue with Utility Warehouse is that everything it combined....so, if you are not happy with one service then your other services will increase in cost regardless. The amount of customers that I have dealt with at Sky that are increasingly peed off with UW is unreal....you are tied to all your services with them....do your homework....

I have all my services with UW - no issues. That's why I'm happy to recommend them.

[ClaretDiver]

I have all my services with UW - no issues. That's why I'm happy to recommend them.

And that is your choice, however I am just giving my opinion based upon speaking with customers who are unhappy with them....

[Svenster]

And that is your choice, however I am just giving my opinion based upon speaking with customers who are unhappy with them....

Looks like we both have a vested interest, then.

[ClaretDiver]

Looks like we both have a vested interest, then.

Not at all cause I could not really give a hoot tbf, the only thing that I have been told by UW customers is that they feel tied because all the offers/prices are reliant on them having the services they sign up for and so trying to move away from one of them affects the other services they have...

Like I say, it doesn't affect me, only the customers I speak to.....

[HunterST_BFC]

I can rec' "Bulb" for both elec and gas.

Low price.
Great customer service (which is so rare these days).

Have a look on a comparison site.

If you decide to join them get in touch (any of you) as I can get you £50 off your bill + I get £50 off.
Then you can get £50 off again when you rec' someone.

I'd never heard of them before but they came best rec' from two comparison sites (for my usage) and at a click saved me £100s of pounds.
I've been with them 2 and 1/2 years now.
They were still the best when I checked last time - for me anyway (one came in £15 cheaper last year but I stuck with Bulb for the reasons above).

Prior to Bulb I'd been with EON for a few years and they are quite possibly the worst company I've ever had the displeasure to deal with (Long Story For Another Day but Finally involved having to use The Ombudsman and Court while being unable to change supplier).

Give Bulb a try -

[Svenster]

I guess UW appeals to customers who want to switch services once then forget about having to compare prices in the future, because UW guarantee to be the cheapest if you take all their services. Their unlimited mobile deal is the best in the country ATM.

[claret54]

I change supplier regularly it's straightforward and simple.

My advice is avoid Octopus. Nasty when it came to a problem of their own making. Very bullying attitude which was totally unnecessary .

When you change cancel the direct debit before the final payment is due. That way you are in control of the final payment . If you don't agree with the final bill you are able to contest it. And when it's agreed pay by bank transfer.

[bfcjg]

Another vote for the Martin Lewis site.