wanting to switch from Origin for a better deal, and just wondering what energy companies to avoid, due to bad service, dodgy dealings etc etc? (we have only used Origin…..switched to AGL last year and Origin came back with a much better offer, so I stayed……the person told me to contact them when this deal ends this month and in future ask for a dedicated energy specialist member instead of moving to another company….rang them today and they say they can't put me onto one as they are outbound calls only??? WTF, why bother telling me that info if it is useless?) We are on flat rate, no solar with analogue metre (don't want them to change us to a smart meter and not giving us a choice)….. switching to a smart meter will hugely increase our costs
Energy Companies to Avoid (NSW Endeavour Network)
Comments
Why will switching to a smart meter increase your costs?
because we are home during the day, so most of our usage is during the day
Does a smart meter mean that they place you on a TOU tariff? I have a smart meter and am on single rate tariff
I am not sure, I think some energy providers shove you onto a TOU whether you like it or not
@souths123: Well it’s worth looking into as a smart meter makes it a lot easier to change, atleast in Vic.
All done remotely and no need for meter reads, when i got solar installed they automatically changed me from single rate to TOU plan but i was able to change back
Imo all energy providers are the same, wouldn’t stress which one you are with. I don’t ever really need to contact them, just pay your bill and don’t need to contact them when you move to another company. Bet you have issues with meter reads etc. with the analogue meter or perceived high usage
@Brick50: I had just heard from others that some of them either don't honour their discounts etc, or change terms after their first bill
Prices increase will be happening on 1st July, keep that in mind with the rates your seeing today on the energy company websites
yes, I realise that. I will review the plan I get after the price increases then. I just don't want to go with someone that doesn't honour their discount offerings etc once you sign up. I was thinking of going with Energy Australia with their $200 off the first bill deal and then seeing the best deal after that, unless Origin come back with a better counter offer that at the least matches that sort of deal overall.
Do your comparison on the website link they send you (or another comparison website).
Contact Origin. Ask them if they'll match the best deal. They say, "no".
Sign up with another company. They will contact Origin about the switch. Origin will then phone you with a better rate than the one they indicated was their best (when I question, the guy said, "that was another department").
By the time I reached that point, I didn't bother checking Origin's 'customer is leaving' offer, but told them I was a loyal customer and did not like that they were offering their best rate to attract new customers instead of to hold onto loyal customers.
I am now with Kogan. No comment about them. I only switched this month. I will say you need to check that they give you the offer that attracted you. Mine had $50 credit to spend at Kogan (but I can't work out how to do that) plus 12 months free First membership. I had to follow up on the First membership. That was a quick email, but it should not be necessary. Will I use it? Probably not, but I will use up the $50 if I can work out how.
EDIT: I did my Origin haggling via email