Electric suppliers, who do people use?

[OllyO]

Just a quick question, who do people use for their electricity supply and are they any good? I've work alone but have a few machines MIG, MMA, Lathe, Repeating lathe, forge etc. I've just signed a new lease and am wondering whether or not to stick with British Gas (as it is at the mo) or shop around.
Got 3 phase

 

[Wedg1e]

I've never switched, I'm still with nPower and British Gas. All the people I've discussed it with say that over a couple of years they didn't notice any saving worth having.

 

[the snooper]

I hate british gas they are useless I used them for workshop and left them must be at least 8 years ago, I changed supplier new supplier took readings all is good then came a bill from gritish bas for £194 with readings that had yet to appear on the meters and a service charge for November even though id left in October went through it many times with them they sent threatening letters, recovery company letters about 8 different companies and once explained to these they checked it out and wanted nothing more to do with it, then got a BG employee that said they saw the problem, didn't owe them the 194 they owed us 194 and stuck it in the bank account what, yes its correct roll on to around april this year and it raises it ugly head again in the form of yet another agency went through it all and simply said as I did to the others take it to court id love to have a day there with you, they never do and its well over 6 years old now, they cant touch it but they still ring from time to time, also as only 2 meters are in use the 3rd still has a lower reading on it 8 years after their final bill

PLANKS

 

[rikrobson]

I'm with Scottish Hydro,

They are Scottish and Southern Energy now

 

[rikrobson]

The Call Centre in Perth is SSE now, it used to be Hydro.

People still say they work at the Hydro though, unless they are new to the company and then its SSE

 

[rtbcomp]

Brit Gas are terrible, Indian call centres, tried to send my brother a gas bill...bit tricky considering his flat at the time had no gas supply and never has done, he wasted a day hunting all over the flat for a gas meter

When I signed up with BG the billed me but didn't take the money, when I pointed this out after a few months they started taking the money without billing me. I signed up for online meter reading, but they still send G4S round to read my meter.

I've been supposed to have a smart meter for over a year now, G4S have made 5 appointments to fit it and cancelled every one at the last minute.

I had a new meter board fitted, that went OK except that since fitting it they have made an appointment to fit it again and a guy turned up on my doorstep to fit it for a third time.

I recently got a letter saying they were going to reduce my Direct Debit - to exactly the same amount I'm already paying.

All companies make mistakes, but why is it that they can't put them right without all this fuss?

 

[rikrobson]

The Workshop is attached to the SWMBO's Sewing shop. So she sorts the 'leccy and gas.

She used one of the business 2 business companies that were a little bit expensive, after the initial "we will save you money"
Then they put a smart meter in and after one Direct Debit got missed (due to cash flow I think) they put hre on Pre-pay.
when she tried to change they would not allow it saying she was in contract, depite them changing it.
Any hoo. its in contract until january then she is moving to another company ,who do the phone. But the current company did drop the price.

 

[Justme]

I make my own.

 

[rikrobson]

they still list 2 different numbers....phone one - Hello Scottish Hydro, phone the other "hello, Southern Energy / Scottish and Southern"

I know one call centre I worked in, in the past had several teams all answering for different "brands" in the same company group, much hilarity could ensue if someone forgot what brand they were doing the answering for that week

Yea I do vipo for call centre software company. x amount of numbers in to tha same staff. They should get a different script up on their screens though. probabply the staff running on auto pilot

 

[HughF]

I make my own.

Likewise...

 

[OllyO]

Cheers for all the replies. It seems every company out there can be a pain in the ass and most of there administration is a shambles. Same goes for insurance companys etc in my experience. The workshop I have taken on is with BG so I may just stay put and try not to rock the boat. Most suppliers seem to have a similar rate anyway.

HughF and Justme- you got the right idea. Would like to be in that position as well at some point in the future.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Cheers for all the replies. It seems every company out there can be a pain in the ass and most of there administration is a shambles. Same goes for insurance companys etc in my experience. The workshop I have taken on is with BG so I may just stay put and try not to rock the boat. Most suppliers seem to have a similar rate anyway.

HughF and Justme- you got the right idea. Would like to be in that position as well at some point in the future.

Did you change your lathe for the Student?