Switching electric/gas providers (see first post for links)

Tazium

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119860698#Comment_119860698

Thanks for the tip, but no, we've not activated any options. We've moved from Panda to Energia to Electric Ireland all from the same MPRN over the years we've been here. At a loss to know why it's now being blocked. Wait times for help are ridiculous on the phone.

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119860954#Comment_119860954

So I'm assuming your bill is still showing the MCC as MCC01.

Sarn

This would be interesting to know. If it has changed, it would indicate that EI has unilaterally decided to change some accounts over (or it was not clear when clicking something in the account what would happen).

The Gardener

I opted for EI's "energy insights' early on in the game, unwittingly I was putting myself on a smart plan. Would be slow to return to EI in the future, but I am prepared to swallow my pride if the price is right!

Tazium

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119861067#Comment_119861067

Just checked and it shows MCC12. I'm a fecker when it comes to these things, I'll be asking them to show me where I agreed to any changes. Still on the phone, been 1 hour, 26 minutes so far. That's a massive amount of lost time on hold and without reasonable justification in my opinion. Too many places claiming COVID is the reason for such increased call wait times. Bad form.

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119861307#Comment_119861307

The problem being your are now restricted to smart tariffs going forward as you can't move back to a 24 hr tariff. I have however seen posts about people being successful in having their smart meter removed & replaced with a day/night meter (MCC02).

bonkers

If I enable these without the 30m interval. Does that move me to a irreversible smart plan?

Out of contract at end of this month with ei. Offered me 14% disc but currently on 26%. They tell me to wait for a better offer via a call from them

zell12

Flogas latest bill have kept me at the old standing charge of €280pa, despite it rising for new customers. €183.49 credit also applied. Happy enough.

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119861705#Comment_119861705

Seems to me that you don't have an option to choose anything other than the 30 min interval which results in the listed free services being provided.

garlad

Surely they can't do this?

I tried to switch when that OBS offer was available but was rejected due to 'smart meter'

I'm not on a smart tariff but my bill does state MCC12. Most likely due to the 'Energy Inights' with EI.

But were we informed that this would mean we could never move back to a 24 hr tariff?

Itchyness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119856790#Comment_119856790

Thanks for the heads up. I had rang yesterday before I saw your post and was offered 7% off despite them having 10% off on the website! I did receive the call from BG with 25% off but back at the end of September. I didn't take it at the time but now its not available apparently. I just called the loyalty line line that you posted and the lady said that the offer ended and only 10% off was the only offer available? I am out of contract now but she said the offer is not different whether you are in or out of contract.

nephster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119862497#Comment_119862497

Jeez. They started with me with an 18% discount yesterday and then "looked in the catalogue" and came up with the 25%, unprompted. They did say to come back to them as soon as possible as said discounts were changing rapidly; I couldn't find anything close to that for my fairly modest usage figures, so called them back within about 30 minutes and accepted.

It's hideous having to do it, but this is starting to remind me of the old Sky and Virgin loyalty threads where you have to keep on ringing and can get different results each time.

Trimm Trabb

Rang BG back yesterday and they offered me 25%.

ParkRunner

I renewed with EI on the understanding that my 30% discount would continue and got an email recently saying total annual bill is expected to be €1,652 inc vat and all charges assuming average usage. This, I think, includes the discounted rate.

Now my account says discount is only 5.5% and that would push the bill to over €2k per year. Has anyone else had similar? I have a request with them to re-apply the higher discount and will escalate it if necessary.

Cape Clear

Charlie Weston saying what most of us have noticed on this thread over the last while.

https://www.independent.ie/news/energy-firms-slash-switcher-discounts-by-hundreds-best-deal-plummets-from-40pc-to-about-10pc-42138535.html

masterboy123

My Electric Ireland contract has expired a month ago. I couldn't get a better deal from their Loyality team but to continue free Sunday and 8.5% discount (picture attached).

Am I better off staying with EI?

Itchyness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119862710#Comment_119862710

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119864291#Comment_119864291

Ah stop! That has me raging now! I imagine its because I am out of contract now, despite what they say. It's counter intuitive but calling them to bargain a higher discount is what perpetuates the system they operate. They should be given only one opportunity to provide their best quote and if doesn't beat the competition, then customers should move.

I think i'll switch to Energia as it's pretty much the same cost for me and had a good experience with them before.

sonyvision

Called EI retention team, base rate offered was 14% of both Eletric and Gas. No budging any higher contract up in 10 days. I'll give bord gais a call see what is the best rate they offer on 24th

Cape Clear

Just got the below "helpful" email from BG I'd imagine all providers will send similar. The first tranche has already landed in my account. Unlike the last time where SSE held off applying it to my account for 6 weeks and pocketed the difference in vat.

As you may know, the government has announced a scheme to credit all residential electricity customers with €600, in three €200 (including VAT) instalments, over the coming months.

Your €200 credits will be applied directly to your electricity account during the following three separate payment periods:

1. Between 1 November 2022 – 31 December 2022
2. Between 1 January 2023 – 28 February 2023
3. Between 1 March 2023 – 30 April 2023

We’ve applied the first instalment (€183.49 excluding VAT) for the first payment period to your account.

Please note that if you are no longer a Bord Gáis Energy customer at the time of the 2nd and/or 3rd payment periods above, your government credits will be applied by your new electricity supplier.

masterboy123

I found this on electric Ireland.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119836479#Comment_119836479

Did you have to ask for the cheque or did it issue automatically? Any idea how long it took?

Qwerty27

Any direct number of EI loyalty team? Have been on hold ages, contacted them via messager last week and they said they would call me back but havent hard a word!

amber2

01 9025245 EI @Qwerty27.

phobia2011

Hi , recently had meter installed,am I right in saying avoid smart plans at all costs? I’m with energia, contract up end of month, what’s the best deal available on their 24hr rate? Was offered 10%, current contract 35%.

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119877840#Comment_119877840

I have just gone through this as EI account closed and government credit applied at same time. I had 200 credit on my closed account.

Rang EI last week and spent over an hour on hold. When I eventually got through to the outsourced customer service rep, they told me no refund was due as it wasn’t my money 🫤. I insisted that I be transferred to a supervisor or manager and she eventually did. The EI employed supervisor apologised and said she would action a transfer to my bank account.

Money in my bank this morning.

mel123

Can we keep this thread to deals on gas/electric providers and switching deals rather than the government €200 credit?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119880614#Comment_119880614

The Govt credit is very pertinent to switching - particularly at the moment as to what happens it when you switch after 27 October.

Rang EI there about the closed account in credit, 19 minutes total, and the credit is being EFTd to me.

Qwerty27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119878236#Comment_119878236

Thanks a lot for that number...less than 5 minutes on hold, 3 minute conversation and 18% discount applied to both accounts for another year! Nice one!

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Been offered the following to renew with energia, tried bonkers etc and can't seem to find a better rate. Anyone else got a better one?

• The discounted unit rate on electric is 0.4359
• The discounted unit rate on the gas is 0.1333

Cape Clear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119880665#Comment_119880665

Agreed and I would suggest that unless people chase up the credit after switching it could be months before the previous provider goes about refunding it to customers also probably insisting on an EFT rather than cheque is the way to go.