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Brixton news, rumours and general chat: Autumn - Winter 2018-19

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discobastard said:
The market is a clusterfuck yes and switching can be difficult and impenetrable for people that haven't done it before. Far more so than it should be and it puts a lot of people at a disadvantage. Once you get in the habit it becomes easier, when you switch each year you know the process and you also have an idea of how many units you use in a year because you'll have an opening and closing balance. But if you don't switch and are on a variable rate (SVR) then you *are* getting rinsed most likely. Best case keep switching, worst case, make sure you keep moving on to the best fixed deal for a year that your current supplier can offer you, which means you do sadly have to contact them.

Uswitch is easy once you know how. If you keep your bills, you should be able to work out how many units approx you have used over the past year, by looking at the bill a year ago compared to your most recent one. Or you can ring your supplier and ask them how many you have used in a year if you don't have your bills. There is also a QR code that you can scan on your most recent bill using the Uswitch (or another comparison site's app). I have never used this as I'd rather be most accurate with readings) but it is data that gives you a mean usage, or something like that over the year). Chuck all that in Uswitch and it will list you the deals, with the cheapest one at the top. Pick one and the Uswitch will send all those details to the new supplier who will email you from there and sort the switch.

The challenge you might have from there is that because so many residences have been carved up into flats in recent years, the central metering database isn't necessarily accurate, and so when you switch you may end up arguing about your address and which meter supplies your property - which can be a real pain. But there are reference numbers on the meter which should correspond to what is on the bill. If you know which one your meter is that should be easy to sort out. It doesn't happen for everybody but it does occasionally though once corrected it should remain that way on the database.

So, the first time it may take a bit of effort, but is definitely worth it. And then Uswitch (or whomever) will email you when the year's contract is nearly up and remind you to plug in your details again and see if you can get a cheaper deal (well cheapest) because the price keeps going up.

It is a really messed up system and it *is* intimidating for a lot of people but worth an hour of your time. IMO.
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You've just confirmed why I loathe this state of affairs.

I was looking for green supplier. Didnt trust comparison sites so looked for more info. As you say its a merry go round. A company thst had good customer service one year is crap the next.

Plus a lot of these deals are DD only. I realised my ancient account with British Gas meant I still get paper bills I can pay in cash at paypoint. Suits me.

A friend of mine had issue with utility supplier. Rang them up and they offered discount over phone. As she said she just wants to have heating and electrics and not be expected to argue over cost.

Its post Thatcher world I live in. Your taken for a mug if you dont haggle. One is exepcted to behave as clued up individual in the market place. Makes everyone a part of the competitative capitalist society.

Reminds me of doc I saw Power Trip.In this society its assumed as normal that people use price comparison sites etc. Things dont have to be like this.

This documentary offers evidence that the transition from communism to free-market capitalism has proven rocky for many Eastern European countries. A huge American energy corporation assumes control of the now privatized electric company in the capital of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The company tries to help the Georgian people grow accustomed to paying for their electricity. But the Georgians, like many who were formerly under Soviet rule, are used to a different way of life.
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Under Communism electricity was free. Then with fall of communism the new privatised electric company tried to put meters into peoples flats. And make them pay. Didnt go down well with ordinary Georgians.

Power Trip (2003) - Plot Summary - IMDb
 
Gramsci said:
Why do u think a website wants my postcode?

Its data gathering.

Im now much more wary of handing over personal data.
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They want your postcode to see what power providers operate in your area, use the postcode of your nearest pub.

All you need is the number of units you used last year, if you ring up British Gas they’ll tell you.

If you keep your bills, I think they have they send you an annual statement it’ll be on there too

They do https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/annual-energy-statements/amp/

Alex
 
alex_ said:
They want your postcode to see what power providers operate in your area, use the postcode of your nearest pub.

All you need is the number of units you used last year, if you ring up British Gas they’ll tell you.

If you keep your bills, I think they have they send you an annual statement it’ll be on there too

Alex
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I worked that out previously. Confirms my point this is data gathering.
 
Some pics from last night. It's even colder out now!

brixton-rain-nov-2018-01.jpg


brixton-rain-nov-2018-07.jpg


brixton-rain-nov-2018-15.jpg


brixton-rain-nov-2018-19.jpg


In photos: Early evening rain in Brixton, November 2018
 
editor said:
If you give them the wrong postcode you're likely to get an inaccurate quote.
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Yes, If you use a quote in Edinburgh you might get a quote from a gas company who cannot supply you in Brixton.

If you use one for the other end of your road it’s likely to make no difference.

Alex
 
alex_ said:
Yes, If you use a quote in Edinburgh you might get a quote from a gas company who cannot supply you in Brixton.

If you use one for the other end of your road it’s likely to make no difference.

Alex
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How about you try respecting the fact that Gramsci doesn't want to hand over his postcode?
 
editor said:
How about you try respecting the fact that Gramsci doesn't want to hand over his postcode?
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By suggesting he uses a different one, I don’t really see how I could be more respectful of his wishes.

I’m not asking him to hand over his postcode, if he enters any postcode in central London and his energy usage - he will see a valid price comparison and hand over no personal data.

Alex
 
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Gramsci said:
I worked that out previously. Confirms my point this is data gathering.
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Tbf they’ve got data on you anyway. Including your postcode. And your energy consumption. And you can opt out of it being used for any marketing purposes. As well as GDPR regs.

And you can still pay by cash at the post office if you switch, at least with Eon you can. The rest of the big energy companies are likely to have to offer the same option by law.

Am not sure what your objection is because you haven’t made it clear but I’m also not saying whatever it is isn’t valid. But I don’t think it puts you at a disadvantage.

Though Using the wrong postcode isn’t gonna work as they’ll get your address anyway, cos it’s linked to your meter number.

I’ve never had any unwanted emails from Uswitch.

And if you’re on Facebook you’ve got a lot more to worry about.
 
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discobastard said:
Tbf they’ve got data on you anyway. Including your postcode. And your energy consumption. And you can opt out of it being used for any marketing purposes. As well as GDPR regs.

And you can still pay by cash at the post office if you switch, at least with Eon you can. The rest of the big energy companies are likely to have to offer the same option by law.

Am not sure what your objection is because you haven’t made it clear but I’m also not saying whatever it is isn’t valid. But I don’t think it puts you at a disadvantage.

Though Using the wrong postcode isn’t gonna work as they’ll get your address anyway, cos it’s linked to your meter number.

I’ve never had any unwanted emails from Uswitch.

And if you’re on Facebook you’ve got a lot more to worry about.
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Post 64 makes general point about this issue of utilities people must have clearly.

On marketing industry - its a spivs business.

Hence the need for GDPR.
 
discobastard said:
And if you’re on Facebook you’ve got a lot more to worry about.
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It was claimed Visa could accurately predict divorce based on changes to spending habits (although Visa denied the claims). Unless you live in a cave, you are spilling personal data left, right and centre. Imagine what your ISP or mobile phone company could say about you. Your postcode is probably the least concerning bit of data to give out, its not normally specific to an address, let alone an individual.
 
We pay for lots of things now with our data. It’s a personal choice if we want to do so. I always think to myself is the data I’m requested to give in a given situation proportionate for the benefit I’ll receive from providing it. Is it out there already anyway and with who? What purpose will this data be used for, do I trust them to use it for that purpose only and do I actually care?

Not giving up a postcode that can save you a lot of money when you come on here and divulge loads of personal information is illogical.
 
editor said:
That's a really silly comparison. People can post up stuff here totally anonymously and unlike big firms, we don't harvest/sell any data we're given in any way at all.
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I’m making a different point. You guys don’t harvest or sell. And I trust urban 75 not to, or to ever do it more than any site I put information on.

But an outside source could simply Register and by checking users posts there is a pile of personal information available here from users if somebody wanted to find it and use it.

Gramsci doesn’t want to give a comparison site his postcode. He hasn’t said why but it’s fair enough and his choice. But will divulge on here far more personal information than that. That’s not a logical way to protect your data.
 
Mr Retro said:
I’m making a different point. You guys don’t harvest or sell. And I trust urban 75 not to, or to ever do it more than any site I put information on.

But an outside source could simply Register and by checking users posts there is a pile of personal information available here from users if somebody wanted to find it and use it.
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Unless they could make a solid connection between the poster called Wibbleback or whatever and a real life identity, your point is totally invalid. There is only a very tiny percentage of posters here who have chosen to let people know their real life identity, so any 'outside source' looking to harvest lucrative personal info is going to find very little - if any - to use if they register.
 
editor said:
Unless they could make a solid connection between the poster called Wibbleback or whatever and a real life identity, your point is totally invalid. There is only a very tiny percentage of posters here who have chosen to let people know their real life identity, so any 'outside source' looking to harvest lucrative personal info is going to find very little - if any - to use if they register.
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I’m not talking about data harvesting per se though and in my first post I was only using urban as an example. It could be any site.

I’m saying people will put a lot of information on 1 site and refuse to put it on another. There is no logic to that. You have to manage your data holistically.
 
Mr Retro said:
That’s not a logical way to protect your data.
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upload_2018-11-21_14-31-33.png

there is protection of data and then there is the persona you put forward in your online life. people vary their online identity for all manner of reasons, not all of which you will be aware of. certain aspects of their identity may be concealed and other aspects revealed on different websites, based on how they feel, a whim, which way the wind's blowing etc. logic isn't the guiding force in people's lives you seem to believe
 
Mr Retro said:
I’m not talking about data harvesting per se though and in my first post I was only using urban as an example. It could be any site.

I’m saying people will put a lot of information on 1 site and refuse to put it on another. There is no logic to that. You have to manage your data holistically.
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There is absolute logic if the 'data' they are putting up remains totally anonymous with absolutely no means of connecting any of it to their real life identity.
 
Mr Retro said:
I’m making a different point. You guys don’t harvest or sell. And I trust urban 75 not to, or to ever do it more than any site I put information on.

But an outside source could simply Register and by checking users posts there is a pile of personal information available here from users if somebody wanted to find it and use it.

Gramsci doesn’t want to give a comparison site his postcode. He hasn’t said why but it’s fair enough and his choice. But will divulge on here far more personal information than that. That’s not a logical way to protect your data.
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A user on here posted an image a while back which allowed someone to discover their full name, place of work, job title, company accounts, linked addresses etc. I let them know and they took it down. Basically, personal info is easily and accidentally shared
 
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