observer Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 How can the energy companies vary their tariffs? Just rang up about my bill today, and discovered in the conversation that I can go onto a cheaper tariff, no other changes, so what's it all about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Another way of keeping your custom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 It's all about getting as much money as they can out of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Sounds a lot like Mate's Rates - if you buy an item from a shop it's a said price, don't see why gas is any different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 But different shops sell the same items for different prices. It's called "competition". :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverlady54 Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 I understand you should always ask at the end of your contract, or before and tell them you are thinking of changing, so they will be keen to offer you a better rate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 It's the same energy everybody is getting so everybody should be paying the same tarrif and the energy companies should stop farting around with different tarrifs, confusing and losing their customers in a a tangled web of differnt prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Precisely, smoke and mirrors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 It depends on whether you want to save money. Every time you change suppliers you benefit from introductory low prices, so you need to be prepared to do a bit of work. If you can't be bothered well thats your choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 I aint bothered. We only pay about 10 GBP per month. Been about 20-40 pence over but now summer is coming in it will drop down because we do not need heating on now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Not quite the picture Asp: these variations are within the SAME Company. Just to add to this picture of slight of hand: Watchdog tonight (Ann Robinson), did a piece on Insurance Companies - where loyal existing clients for motor insurance were being charged twice the premium of a new customer. If an existing customer wanted the reduced rate, they had to re-apply (rather than re-new) as a new customer. Clearly a ploy to drag in new custom, then make the loyal clients pay for it - not exactly good customer service or rewarding loyalty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Well I certainly agree with your complaint from that point of view Obs, but these are businesses that are in the business of making money and therefore it's up to the customer to find the best value for money. If the customer can't be bothered shopping around, why should the business bother lowering the price. Reality hurts doesn't it? :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Not quite the picture Asp: these variations are within the SAME Company. Just to add to this picture of slight of hand: Watchdog tonight (Ann Robinson), did a piece on Insurance Companies - where loyal existing clients for motor insurance were being charged twice the premium of a new customer. If an existing customer wanted the reduced rate, they had to re-apply (rather than re-new) as a new customer. Clearly a ploy to drag in new custom, then make the loyal clients pay for it - not exactly good customer service or rewarding loyalty. Â It's always been like that. Banks do it, everyone does it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Not everyone has the time or interest to buzz round like a blue a**d fly, looking for "cheap" deals Asp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 That's no reason for a business to lose profits though is it? Utopia doesn't exist. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Imagine filling your car up a the same petrol station that you've used for years; then you see a sign saying - "first time visitors to this garage - half price" - think maybe a less tolerant ASPect would ensue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 I would simply take my custom to a garage where I would be a first time customer and get my petrol there for half price. Same analogy Obs. You OBviously haven't got your thinking head on today, just your "all businessmen are corrupt" head. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Not everyone has the time or interest to buzz round like a blue a**d fly, looking for "cheap" deals Asp. Â If you haven't Obs then maybe you put a cash value on your time much higher the savings which are readily available to anyone who bothers to shop around - in which case you can obviously afford to pay through the nose. We're talking about 10 minutes with a comparison website to save a hundred pounds or more a year. If your time is worth more than that you must be on enough money to get your butler to do it for you! Â Or maybe you're not at all interested in getting value for your money - in which case why are you moaning about businesses which offer you the convenience of an automatic renewal, but for a higher price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Obs, 5 mins less on here, and looking for a good deal might save you some money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 If you are a shareholder, you want the company to encourage new customers to join. You can't have it both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 If you are a shareholder, you want the company to encourage new customers to join. You can't have it both ways. Â Â Are Credit Unions wrong for offering loans at less than the big banks? AND paying better interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 I generally use one S/Market as a convenient routine - now I could go to every S/Market get a copy of the receipts, match them against each other, then armed with the knowledge as to which items are cheapest, then travel to each S/Market for those specific items - forgetting of course, that I would be using more petrol in the process and by the time we'd sussed out the cheapest, the prices would have changed anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 If you do the Asda price promise they do it for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 They're all doing it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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