tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342528022617501525.post433370900457939824..comments2024-03-28T15:05:33.781+13:00Comments on Economics New Zealand: Have we got the same problems?Donal Curtinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687495556590450225noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342528022617501525.post-9682555563232115122018-08-31T17:04:16.727+12:002018-08-31T17:04:16.727+12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06259434374841216906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342528022617501525.post-87914499915030417742018-08-07T09:29:29.518+12:002018-08-07T09:29:29.518+12:00Thanks for the comment - interesting, if rather di...Thanks for the comment - interesting, if rather dispiriting!<br /><br />Incumbents generally have incentives to make the switching process difficult. It's not the only thing going on - if they make switching very hard, they'll lose less customers but they won't be able to attract any switching customers either - but generally an uphill process (or even one that is just perceived to be uphill but actually isn't too bad, which may be the case in the UK) leaves them with people who can safely be charged high prices.<br /><br />The way you ended up going - the threat (even if not carried through) of leaving was enough in the end to induce Meridian to offer you a better deal - is one way that you get some real competition happening despite the obstacles. The picture of the UK that Martin Cave gave still leaves me wondering why so few people (apparently) just sit there and don't do anything, especially when it's such a big cost for less well-off households.<br /><br />My own experience was a big different. When the retailers started competing, all I ever got, compared to my existing supplier, was an offer that had a lower per unit rate and a higher fixed rate, or a higher per unit rate and a lower fixed rate. I never once got an offer that had a lower per unit rate AND a lower fixed rate. I think in the end I ended up where you got to - getting a discount from my existing supplier by threatening to move - but that was some time ago, and I've flagged away looking again.<br /><br />Thanks again for the comment - it's good to hear real life evidence.Donal Curtinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687495556590450225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342528022617501525.post-48240571972119786092018-08-06T21:16:51.575+12:002018-08-06T21:16:51.575+12:00The one time I tried to move power suppliers (from...The one time I tried to move power suppliers (from Meridian to Contact) some weeks after making the switch I arrived home to the flat I was renting and the landlord came out to meet me (who lived in the rear property) to tell me that an electricity worker had been by to shut down our power earlier in the day. It was only when the landlord intervened that prevented me arriving home to a house with no power and the landlord had only negotiated a temporary reprieve. <br /><br />Upon investigation it transpired that the left hand of Contact had sent through a disconnection request to Meridian (which had been received as the house was now vacant so power supply could be disconnected) and the right hand of Contact - I assume - had never found out I was a new customer or didn't onboard me correctly. I rang Contact who told me who were less than helpful but suggested they could get it sorted in the next 72 hours or so. Meanwhile Meridian informed me that there was only a 24 hour 'temporary' connection on the address.<br /><br />The Meridian person however offered to put me on a more competitive tariff and was extremely helpful and given the incompetence of Contact I elected to stay with Meridian in the end and have been with them ever since. <br /><br />If my experience is anything like 'normal' then no wonder people don't bother with switching. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com