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

You might find something better elsewhere early next week as the other companies follow enegia’s lead???

Don’t they always warn you at the outset that they record the calls. There’s where you will get your proof of what was said.

the BGE offering seems only to be to customers on fixed 24 hour tariffs and dual fuel with 24 hour tariff.

I'm smart meter ev tariff and 15% is all they will offer. Contract is up next week.

Keep trying Energia, I got 20% discount to stay with them a couple of months ago

I'm pretty sure you'll only get that 20% deal if you actually sign with another provider. At that point Energia will ring you and offer you the 20% discount to return to them.

So you signed on with another company every year and Energia made you a better offer each time?!?

Had a similar experience myself. I used to have a chat with a gravely sounding lady whose name escapes me once a year. She was head of retentions and the conversation would last less than 30 seconds. I think I got up to 38% discount at one stage at a time when the unit rates between suppliers were quite even. She didn't believe in beating around the bush and would say straight out what her max offer was. The year I left Airtricity had a very generous cashback offer coupled with low unit rates. That conversation lasted less than 10 seconds.

What do people think is a good discount? I recently switched providers and getting 10% off Gas and 10% off Electricity. That's duel fuel. Reading this thread it dosen't seem all that great.

Next year I will make more effort to compare prices as I've been with the same providers for 18 years out of pure laziness. Now I know the changeover is so easy I'll definitely do it every year.

Im with EI and im looking to switch .

When was this? I’ve had 2 representatives in Energia retention tell me in the last week that the most they can offer an out-of-contract customer who is still with them is 15% but that 20% offers are made to those who jump ship.

Right. But the 20% discount is only offered if you actually sign up with a competitor.

2 months ago, don’t believe everything your told by a call centre employee

No it isn't, they're seeing if you're a tyre kicker or actually serious about moving, a bit like a 14 year old leaving home😊

Alternative description: they're making customers needlessly jump through extra hoops. In a context where their competitors are likely to match or exceed their announced price drops, it's exceedingly foolish, since some of those who jump might just end up staying with the competitors.

Whatever sense it made a week ago, once you're the first company to announce price cuts, it ceases to make any sense. You want to leverage those price cuts to lock people in, not encourage them to go elsewhere to "prove they're serious." It's like asking your partner to go cheat on you to prove she really isn't happy. Or something.

Angry? Mildly annoyed, more like. And I think their practice is objectively stupid from a pure business standpoint. They are selling a commodity. They don't give it away or, generally sell it at a loss (Energia's EV tariffs last year were an exception: more proof that whoever is running that business isn't the sharpest business mind on earth). A 15% or 20% discount isn't a "bonus" or some sort of gift. It's what, as you point out, discerning consumers are willing to pay and a price at which the company still makes money.

Yesterday an Energia rep had me on the phone, ready to sign up for a year's contract right then and there provided he gave me the 20% discount that the company is giving to others. He says he couldn't do it and made clear I could get the 20% if I signed with another company. He had me in the door, chequebook (metaphorically) in hand and his response was to invite me to not only check a competitor's prices but to actually go and sign up with one.

Anyone who knows anything about business knows that getting the customer in the door and ready to part with their money is the entire game, especially when you're selling a commodity that is no different than what everyone else is selling. The boffins at Energia, however, don't see it that way. They think the best way to do business is to hold firm on the extra 5% and send those customers to their competitors. Genius!

So, no, not angry. Simply slack-jawed with amazement at the stupidity.