Why should I switch? |
UK has experienced major price rises in the gas and electricity market over the past 20 years or so. One of the main reasons behind this is the depletion of the available sources required for gas and electricity. Also, higher import costs are adding to the already aggravated costs. In fact after 1999, the market was completely opened for competition and that is when switching energy suppliers became a trend. In UK, the population has the option of choosing gas and electricity suppliers on their own. There can be different suppliers for gas and electricity or one supplier can provide both the services which is generally known as duel fuel contract. Switch 365 provides a number of options if you are looking for dual fuel contracts. |
Complaints |
In case a customer suffers because of the supplier, they are free to complain about the supplier at Consumer Focus or Ofgem. However, the first attempt should be to make peace with the supplier. While switching one needs to make sure if any heating cover policies are a part of any agreement or contract, because then difference has to be paid. One also needs to take into account the 5% VAT that is charged on the gas and electricity prices.
|
How to Save Energy |
One should not forget that apart from running around to get cheap prices, efforts can be made by individuals themselves to save utility bills right at their own homes. Switch 365 stands out as it helps in providing some useful energy savings tips within the home itself. These tips are provided free and can help you enjoy a cheap electricity bill. Like, for example, by using CFL lamps, one can save up to 75% of energy. Even though their cost is high but the amount saved easily covers up for it. Similarly, using draught proofing systems saves around £35 per year. The use of cavity wall for insulation helps in saving around £130 per year and a loft insulation can add another £80-£100 in the saving department. One is free to ask their own energy supplier to offer free advice, plans, enquiries, and discounts on energy efficient equipments. There is an organization called Energy Saving Trust which offers complimentary and independent advice. Also, suppliers are supposed to make concessions for elderly, mentally handicapped, physically disabled and such other benefits. For example they are free to have loft insulations, draught proofing and central heating systems at their homes. Also various firms provide various advices and funding which can help people in making their living places efficient in terms of use and energy.
|
|
|
Gas & Electricity Suppliers |
There are a lot of big players in terms of gas and electricity suppliers covering the whole of UK. Some of these include British Gas, Countrywide Energy, EDF Energy, First: Utility, London Energy, Npower, Scottish Hydro-Electric, Scottish Power, Seeboard Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy, Southern Electric, Utilita, United Utilities etc. These suppliers have loads of plans, offers and tariffs for their customers to choose from. All target the most basic requirements, less price for more energy, that is, cost-effectiveness with higher productivity. The customers chose their suppliers on the basis of what is available and what suits them the best. The charges of the suppliers also do not remain constant over a particular area. One supplier might by charging a certain amount from one customer for same number of units in a particular area but would be charging quite cheap from another customer is some other area. Such variance is noted mainly according to the energy plant’s locations, their piping, and their raw material availability and so on.
|
Hassle Free Switching |
Switch 365 is a UK registered company providing the customers with the best available options for energy usage. Once a choice is made, the new supplier itself makes arrangement to call the user and the old energy supplier. We contact the customer to verify all the selections made by the customer. The suppliers, old and new, sort out the changes among themselves and finally correspondence is send by the new supplier to the user advising of the dates of change and prices and a final bill from the old supplier. This whole process takes around four to six weeks. There is a 28-day rolling contract offered by most of the suppliers. This also depends upon whether equipments such as pipes and meters are already installed or need to be installed or changed. Most of the times, especially in cases of capped tariff plans, there might be a cancellation fee in the agreement which needs to be taken care of. The problems mostly arise in case a user is in debt and has not been paying the bills regularly. But there are services that can help customers to get out of it. There is a dedicated team of professionals at Switch 365 which are there to assist users with all queries. In case one pays through direct credit all the amount is directly charged from the account. One also needs to pay attention to the mode used for payment. Like, in some cases, payment by direct debit or online payment on a monthly basis works out quite cheaper if paid by cash or cheque. The change can directly be made from the bank if one wants to make sure of security. The direct debit with the old supplier is cancelled automatically when switching takes place.
|
|
