What would it take to get you to join an energy mailing list? Business/Domestic

[NickGrogan]

We run a few mailing lists, but we are potentially looking at something bigger.

If there was a mailing list that told you the best suppliers and when to renew your contract, what would it take for you to join?

Financial incentives - money off other services for example - what value would be enough? £50 for domestic/£500 for business? More?
SME Business information - tax tips, internet tips, etc
Home information - as above for domestic focus
Endorsement - Direct line or Martin Lewis says its good

Something else?

Are you signed up to any similar mailing lists? What made you sign up

 

[Paul Carmen]

I do this for home, as it already exists: MSE's Cheap Energy Club comparison - put your own tariff & term expiry in & it tells you what/when to switch.

Probably take money, and have to be properly independent; e.g. not affiliated type recommendations and needs to be whole of market.

 

[NickGrogan]

Whole of market is an interesting one.

If I know a supplier is a crap, bad at billing, won't let you leave at the end of the contract, it will take months to process any change of address, but they're cheap. Would you want me to recommend them?

Or is it better to say, no they're useless, we wont cause people trouble and not include them?

 

[fisicx]

We review our domestic supplier and the alternatives regularly and in most cases the difference is minimal. So we don’t bother to switch. Our energy bill is only about £100 per month so the savings are sometimes pennies.

 

[Paul Carmen]

If I know a supplier is a crap, bad at billing, won't let you leave at the end of the contract, it will take months to process any change of address, but they're cheap. Would you want me to recommend them?

Or is it better to say, no they're useless, we wont cause people trouble and not include them?

The MSE setup gives a customer rating; basically it includes them and says if they're crap, with an overarching reason why, so you can make an informed decision.

 

[UKSBD]

If there was a mailing list that told you the best suppliers and when to renew your contract, what would it take for you to join?

Trust, trust, trust

As a domestic low user, I would rather pay more to a broker/supplier I trust rather than someone I don't know.

If I was a business using a larger amount I might look at cheaper options, but even then, trust would be a big factor

 

[wayzgoose]

Already with MSE's Cheap Energy Club so probably wouldn't bother with another one. You feel like you know them as Martin is all over the place !

 

[Ozzy]

Personally I wouldn't need any gift or 'incentive' but it would have to be functional. As @Paul Carmen says, give me the right information at the right time as he suggests.

I generally would not sign up for something like this though, same reason I opt out emails when doing insurance quotes.

 

[Paul Carmen]

As others have said, trust is key. Everyone has heard of Martin Lewis, plus the MSE setup makes it easy to filter out terrible suppliers.

The money part I mentioned is based on the fact that if this already exists, it works well and it's from a trusted source, why change? How do you steal some of their thunder, if you can't do it better, for most people to switch to something else that means being more lucrative.

 

[fisicx]

I can’t stand Martin Lewis. I’d rather use a list from @NickGrogan than anything from MSE.

What i really want is for the whole process to be automated. Nick tells me what the best deal is this month and switches for me. Then does the same next month.

Or even better, all suppliers have the same low tariffs. You then just choose the one with the best service.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

500 quid upfront and a pack of Stella

I just don't have the energy myself to put the effort into savings on the electric bill
FFS There is more to life than having a hobby that requires you to spend all week end checking deals and studying your credit rating.

I would rather make a bit more money during the week and take care of life

Enjoy it

 

[Frimley111R]

For domestic I'd say all the main consumer comparison sites do a good enough job. For commercial I'd just contact a broker.