Gas and Electric Standard Billing

Just had a letter from EDF stating my Online V5 tariff is ending on 1st August and I am going onto Standard billing.

The difference is astronomical. My total bill would increase by over £300 a year. I called up and got switched to Online V6 which is actually a little bit cheaper than I was paying on V5 just hope it lasts

So let this be a message to anyone who reads this and is on a standard or prepay tariff ( you pay more than everyone) as to how much you are actually being fleeced

Standard prices appear to be 40% at least higher than Online monthly Direct Debit tariffs this difference is huge

[haydnwalker]

The only downside to online tarrifs is that if BG/EDF/NP drop their prices, you are stuck on the higher ones for the duration of your contract.

Not a biggie for most people, but worth mentioning imho.

I don't understand these people that use meters...why would you do it. How long does a fiver's worth of pre-pay leccy last these days?

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by haydnwalker

I don't understand these people that use meters...why would you do it. How long does a fiver's worth of pre-pay leccy last these days?

I think people on low incomes/benefits often don't realise they pay more for having these meters and the companies involved can charge for changing a meter. I've never had pre-payment meters but i did work in a shop which topped their cards/keys etc up and I used to see the same people popping in once a week for £40+ for electricity

[haydnwalker]

OH MY GOD! It doesn't cost me that for A MONTHS ELECTRICITY!

[dilligaf1701]

I must admit I am trying my best not to have to put in a pre payment meter.

[haydnwalker]

Whys that Thomas? (just curious)

[dilligaf1701]

Originally Posted by haydnwalker

Whys that Thomas? (just curious)

Because they are more expensive and because I have trouble getting into town as I'm not as mobile as I could be. Knowing my luck I'd run out on a Friday for example and that's bin day

edit - my electric is around £90 for a quarter by the way.
edit (again ) - and Gas is about the same.

[haydnwalker]

My leccy is also approx £90/qtr but gas is only about £60/70qtr

We are on BG Fixed 2011 but I gather its cheaper than we are paying at the moment, so hopefully it won't go up before we renew our contract

When we first went house-hunting, there was a house with a brand new pre-payment meter in - that put us off buying the house (among other reasons) as it was going to be about £400 to change it to a standard meter

[Taf]

I noticed that several of the big companies now have tariffs with a finite life... and once that period is up you get put onto an exensive "standard" tariff, until you notice... which could be a whole quarter.

Many are also charging fees from £30 to £70 to leave a tariff... even if it's to another one of theirs!

And at least one has tariffs that make you pay more for gas in the winter, less in the spring and autumn, and lowest in summer.

I changed supplier in May, told that it was their "cheapest tariff by far" and now find that it's beaten by 3 other tariffs, except one that costs £50 to get out of before December 2011, and those tariff prices have been the same since April.

I called, complained, and I have retrospectively been put on their cheapest tariff with no get-out fee.

The law still states that you can change supplier every 28 days, but it takes months for it to actually happen, and now they slap on fees to close/alter your account.

[moaningmags]

I have prepay meters for both gas and electricity and wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm £30-£35 a week in electricity and £20-£30 a week in gas during the winter.
For the last few weeks I've been less than £30 per week for electricity and currently sitting with over £20 in gas meter and last bought gas weeks ago due to not using the heating because it's so warm.
I used to have dry meters and none of my kids bothered their backsides about how much was used ended up running up a £600 electricity bill.
Now we're prepay the kids are careful not to leave phone chargers plugged in without a phone attached and the same with their laptops.
I couldn't live without my tumble dryer, it's on for at least 2-3 hours a day and 2 or 3 loads of washing per day not to mention 6 showers.

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by moaningmags

I have prepay meters for both gas and electricity and wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm £30-£35 a week in electricity and £20-£30 a week in gas during the winter.
For the last few weeks I've been less than £30 per week for electricity and currently sitting with over £20 in gas meter and last bought gas weeks ago due to not using the heating because it's so warm.
I used to have dry meters and none of my kids bothered their backsides about how much was used ended up running up a £600 electricity bill.
Now we're prepay the kids are careful not to leave phone chargers plugged in without a phone attached and the same with their laptops.
I couldn't live without my tumble dryer, it's on for at least 2-3 hours a day and 2 or 3 loads of washing per day not to mention 6 showers.

Nobody needs 6 showers a day Mags!!! You must be a nuisance to the rest of your family.
I used to run a cable from your meter until you started using the prepay. It used to irritate me when your electricity ran out my TV and dodgey VM box would go out.

I hope you're going to top it up plenty when you jet off for your hols.

[moaningmags]

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

Nobody needs 6 showers a day Mags!!! You must be a nuisance to the rest of your family.
I used to run a cable from your meter until you started using the prepay. It used to irritate me when your electricity ran out my TV and dodgey VM box would go out.

I hope you're going to top it up plenty when you jet off for your hols.

LOL no one person has time for 6 showers a day.

So that's why my leccy was so high!!

We go in a fortnight!!

seems quite strange a Scot who is happy to pay more for something than anyone else lol lol

[moaningmags]

I've always used prepay and can honestly say I pay less than others. When we had dry meters we didn't watch our electricity consumption at all, whereas now we do.

[Kymmy]

LOL, £190 was our last quarter and that doesn;t include heating/cooking...

Mind you a TIG, MIG and ARC welders along with a lathe, compressor and a few other metalwork tools is probably to blame