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Co-operative Energy to pay customers' switching penalties

Simon Ward
by Lovemoney Staff Simon Ward on 23 January 2012  |  Comments 7 comments

Offer open to first 10,000 customers who switch from another supplier's fixed price tariff.

Co-operative Energy to pay customers' switching penalties

Co-operative Energy has announced that it will pay the cancellation fee of the first 10,000 customers who switch from a fixed price tariff to its energy.

It has also called on other energy suppliers to waive exit penalties on fixed price tariffs so more people can benefit from price cuts.

The Co-op’s offer applies to anyone on a fixed price tariff with another supplier. If you want to switch, you just need to provide proof of your exit penalty and you’ll be credit on your first bill.

It claims that the Big Six energy companies charge up to £100 for leaving a fixed price deal early.

Many people signed up to fixed price tariffs last year as the cost of energy started to rise. It's now starting come down again, off the back of falling wholesale costs, although none of the so-called 'Big Six' suppliers cut the cost of both gas and electricity.

Co-op was the first energy provider to cut both its gas and electricity prices this winter.

Elsewhere, a survey by business technology company Avanade found that 70% of people were unhappy with the cost of their energy bills. Yet less than a third had switched supplier. Only 12% of people said they felt any sort of loyalty to their supplier.

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More: The phoney gas and electricity 'price war' | The best and worst energy suppliers

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Comments (7)

  • cowbutt
    Love rating 5
    cowbutt said

    I should think so too, given their cheapest tariff looks like it'll be at least £109 more expensive than my nPower Go Fix 8 contract!

    Report on 23 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • Mike10613
    Love rating 599
    Mike10613 said

    Are they only hoping to pick up 10,000 new customers? Can't be a very good deal!

    Report on 23 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • OorWullie
    Love rating 38
    OorWullie said

    I am with Scottish Power and have a contract that guarantees that over the period of the contract that my charges will not rise with the rising cost of fuel but it will reduce if the cost of fuel drops; this sounds okay to me and I have never been able to understand why there is any need to change supplier. The SP's customer service department are very customer friendly and it has a human at the other end of the phone who speaks English with a British dialect; can't be bettered!

    Report on 24 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • pegetha
    Love rating 0
    pegetha said

    If only 'up to £100' were the case with EDF. Their cancellation fee is £500 and they say theirs is the cheapest. Hard to swallow when actual consumption of 2 low energy bulbs on a timer for communal lighting of a staircase used to cost between £3 - 9 per year, depending on season. This on top of a new standing charge of 26p per day. This is one contract that will not be renewed.

    Report on 24 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • pegetha
    Love rating 0
    pegetha said

    Apologies. £3 - 9 per quarter, not per year.

    Report on 24 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • oldhenry
    Love rating 265
    oldhenry said

    Ovo charge £30 per fuel to change, but who does from them as they seem to provide a good service and reasonable cost

    Report on 25 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • hopefultom
    Love rating 43
    hopefultom said

    Got a call from Npower yesterday & they are offering to credit your cancellation fees if you switch to them.

    Report on 25 January 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves

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