Electricity, gas and charity

[watervole]

I've been with Southern Electic for a while via a tariff that gives money to the RSPB.  However, I had a salesman round this morning from Scottish Power who reckoned he could undercut them.

Being a regular reader of Money Saving Expert, I was instantly suspicious, especially as Martin Lewis had been complaining about salesmen saying that he recommended them when in fact he doesn't.  And indeed, they were quick to cite him as an authority, although the price comparison site they suggested wasn't his favourite (though it was one he does mention).

I got them to wait while I did some checking online.

Turns out they were partly correct.  Energyhelpline, Martin's top comparison site, confirmed that they were cheaper than my existing supplier.  Unfortunately, Ovo's all green tafiff undercut even further... (and the rate is fixed for the first year - as was Scottish Power's, to be fair to them)

So,  I've just signed up with Ovo.  I reckon the RSPB were probably getting a tenner a year from my previous supplier.  I'm saving over a tenner a month with Ovo, so I've just increased my monthly direct debit to the Charities Aid Foundation by a tenner  a month and both the RSPB and I will end up with more money!  And I have a green supplier into the bargain.

And becasue I used the link from Money Saving Expert to energyhelpline, I should get an extra £15 cashback...

I should add that the Charities Aid Foundation have quick, efficient and helpful staff on their telephones.  If only my bank was that easy to use! 

For those who don't know about it, the CAF allows me to have a direct debit every month from my bank account, which will have gift aid added automatically.  Whenever I get the urge, I can log onto their web site and give money from my account  (by name or anonymously) to any registered charity of my choice.  It keeps a list of my favourite charities: Marine conservation Society, Durrell Foundation, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, etc. and I can add new favourites at any time.

Comments

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

I don't buy from door to door salesmen on principle.

[the-gardener.livejournal.com]

I'm rather suspicious of the cashback and similar offers that energy suppliers throw around. Generally speaking, these are only triggered when one switches suppliers, and in the longer-term one makes little if any saving.

(headgardener makes occasional noises to me about switching to somebody-or-other's green tariff, but neither of us ever does anything about it. In our opinion, life is too short to spend time on price comparison websites!)

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I wish we had something trustworthy like that here instead of the students or scouts hunting people in the streats or strange people collection money for vague and strange organisations...