On 23/02/2021 11:07, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
Today's task.

Getting a pensioner off her standard rate tariff, doing it over the
phone. She tried, and got quickly flustered and annoyed.

Doing it over the internet is just as bad. The whole system is designed
to be as impenetrable as possible, with vast numbers of tariffs from
each supplier just confusing the issue. The interesting thing about
"switching" sites is that you can feed in exactly the same parameters
for your current usage, and what you want, and they'll often come up
with different tariffs from different suppliers as the "best" fit for
you. Maybe they have arrangements with the suppliers to push certain
tariffs? They will no doubt be the cheaper tariffs, but not necessarily
the cheapest from a different switching website.

I appreciate the "small" suppliers usually offer the cheapest tariff,
but I was surprised when looking at the info on one website that often,
because of recent caps and reductions, the standard variable may
actually be cheaper than a lot of the fixed tariffs from the same energy
supplier. For example, have a look at the section headed "EON Tariffs
compared: Which is the cheapest?" at
https://selectra.co.uk/energy/providers/eon/tariffs or "EDF Energy
tariffs compared: Which is the cheapest?" at
https://selectra.co.uk/energy/providers/edf-energy/tariffs.

I have no doubt this will change from April when the increase is
applied, but if that website is accurate, sometimes things may not be as
clear as has been supposed.

Sticking point, all the fix rate deals from the current supplier require
a smartmeter fitted - which she doesn't want (scared of because of the
negative press).

Se we have to go shopping elsewhere. I'm bringing my laptop and may end
up being a proxy to the deals, running an email address account for her.

I really shouldn't have to. Covid and all.

Is there a switching specialist out there for this market?

Thinking, many internet-less folks will be in the same boat, and paying
full rate on standard tariffs.

See above. It may not be as bleak as assumed.

I asked a month or two ago what tariffs use a smart meter reading and
bill you by DD *exactly* for the amount you have used, not for a monthly
fixed amount which usually exceeds what is being used. I believe there
are some suppliers such as Bristol Energy which do this. Has anybody got
any experience of these suppliers?

--

Jeff