AF and Haven power

[Exfarmer]

Just a heads up to anyone sourcing electricity from Haven through AF
My billing has had an enormous cock up, which I failed to notice and resulted in a large bill quite a way down the line, which I did!
It seems Haven are trying to go back several years but I believe the cock up was last summer when the first reading was substantially down on the previous bill.
then the estimated second reading was also way below the first so I actually got a bill when in theory they should have issued a credit.
Now have been sent a spread sheet going back several years, it is nonsense but has taken me several hours to sort out.
In the normal way I would probably have paid up and not noticed this glitch.

 

[Spear]

Puzzles me how AF expect to get us best prices when they sign a deal with a supplier BEFORE they start talking prices.

 

[Princess Pooper]

We gave up on AF for electricity a few years ago, endless hassle and as we are not 'the customer' of the electricity supplier, we are not allowed to speak to them direct. SSE sent us estimated readings via AF for 8 months and would not admit they were estimated, we knew they were.

When the wind is blowing well we don't expect to import electricity as we are using it from our wind turbine and then exporting as well. On windy days they were showing us as much useage as on a still day. Took hours of my time to prove and Justine who I believe has now left, kept being nice on the phone but not sorting it out.

 

[robbie]

AF electricity has been an absolute pain in the arse and to this day despite having had countless discussions about it with them I still don't really know weather I've been credited correctly.

SSE just seem to make it up as they go along.

My accountant flagged it up again last year that our farm electric had jumped from 6k the year before to 16k. I have quired it again and after lots of waffle I'm still not really any wiser as to weather it's correct or not, they send me a lovely spreadsheet like @Exfarmer but it made no sense. I don't think the energy department have anymore idea with what's going on than we do.

Every month I get bills, re bills and credits and neither me or my accountant can make head nor tails out of them.

Justine left a good while ago and the girl who took over and was incharge of that department was a dam sight worse at sorting it out.

 

[Exfarmer]

Funny thing I left another byying group locally because of an issue with electric bills where I eventually paid just to avoid a bitter taste in the mouth, I wont do it a second time!
I gave long championed on here using buying groups to keep bills down, now I feel a bit of a fool.

 

[Exfarmer]

AF electricity has been an absolute pain in the arse and to this day despite having had countless discussions about it with them I still don't really know weather I've been credited correctly.

SSE just seem to make it up as they go along.

My accountant flagged it up again last year that our farm electric had jumped from 6k the year before to 16k. I have quired it again and after lots of waffle I'm still not really any wiser as to weather it's correct or not, they send me a lovely spreadsheet like @Exfarmer but it made no sense. I don't think the energy department have anymore idea with what's going on than we do.

Every month I get bills, re bills and credits and neither me or my accountant can make head nor tails out of them.

Justine left a good while ago and the girl who took over and was incharge of that department was a dam sight worse at sorting it out.

When you use a buying group with their expertise and accountancy , you expect them to sort these issues. Sadly I wonder if they are capable, we shall see.

 

[robbie]

I'm rapidly loosing faith in them and this year I'm actively setting up or reactivating old accounts so I can start doing my own buying and then ditch the group if nessessary!!!

 

[robbie]

When you use a buying group with their expertise and accountancy , you expect them to sort these issues. Sadly I wonder if they are capable, we shall see.

I think over the last year or so a lot of the "experitise" has left or been pushed and been replaced with phone answering bums on seats.

 

[Drakey]

I'm rapidly loosing faith in them and this year I'm actively setting up or reactivating old accounts so I can start doing my own buying and then ditch the group if nessessary!!!

I’ve been thinking the same , nothing is really any cheaper!

 

[FarmerFinn]

Anyone out there know anything about the new AF group electricity contract? The rates are eye-watering and the standing charge is robbery. I don’t know any farmer who’s paying as much. Is a buying group not supposed to get cheaper prices?
AF say they will be negotiating a new price each month.

 

[Spear]

Can’t see how they’ll ever have a good price as they’ve signed a deal to buy “x” amount of units a year from EDF before they even started negotiations on price.

 

[Exfarmer]

Unfortunately it is just not possible to get good rates at the moment for business use. Companies are not allowed to charge domestic consumers the full price of power so they have to make good on business. Blame successive governments for not supporting investment in base generation and introducing price controls on domestic which has also driven out the competition in the industry

 

[T C]

I did a quick Google and can match AF prices.

New price contract is variable pricing, ours with £2 standing charge.
AF in a letter state they have taken advice to go variable pricing.
No bills seem to arrive either. Think I will have to take it back in hand in Jan 23.

 

[T C]

AF also decided to only go with a 6 month contract from October 21.
In the autumn I was buying / fixing prices for anything I could as inflation was very evident.

 

[FarmerFinn]

I did a quick Google and can match AF prices.

New price contract is variable pricing, ours with £2 standing charge.
AF in a letter state they have taken advice to go variable pricing.
No bills seem to arrive either. Think I will have to take it back in hand in Jan 23.

Me too. I got a better deal after just 30 minutes with a supplier. The standing charge of £2 is ridiculous. Do AF have a duty to be “competent” in out contract with them?

 

[robbie]

Can’t see how they’ll ever have a good price as they’ve signed a deal to buy “x” amount of units a year from EDF before they even started negotiations on price.

If it's like fuel in AF theyll have contracts in place with certain suppliers for set volumes with big rebates(for AF) aslong as volumes are fulfilled, even if this is at the detriment to the member!!!

Since the new head man has been incharge a LOT of good knowledgable staff from all departments have gone to be replaced with glorified call centre staff.

 

[Spear]

I actually got a deal which is half the price AF at and fixed for 3 years back in Sept. Only problem is the brokers who were told to contact AF and said they would deal with everything didn’t and now I’m stuck paying silly prices while trying to sort out with brokers how they intend to compensate me.

 

[T C]

Problem I have is AF had signed the contract before agreeing the price.
Left their telecoms when many high street deals were considerably better.

Me too. I got a better deal after just 30 minutes with a supplier. The standing charge of £2 is ridiculous. Do AF have a duty to be “competent” in out contract with them?

 

[norfolk'n'good]

AF have gone down hill rapidly this last year or so. I used to get most things through them but becoming less and less as time goes on. Unfortunately electric is with them.
Won't be buying fertiliser with them anymore as how do they justify charging the same percentage commission on these prices?
Only brought one load of them last year and their prices are no better than buying direct, in fact more expensive by the time they take their cut.

 

[robbie]

AF have gone down hill rapidly this last year or so. I used to get most things through them but becoming less and less as time goes on. Unfortunately electric is with them.
Won't be buying fertiliser with them anymore as how do they justify charging the same percentage commission on these prices?
Only brought one load of them last year and their prices are no better than buying direct, in fact more expensive by the time they take their cut.

Glad you've said that. I had a chat with them about how they had become uncompetitive on fert. I was buying it last autumn and this spring direct for the exact same price and terms. I also highlighted the fact that a 0.95% levy on a £700 ton load of fert comes to a hell of a lot more than a £200/t load.
I was told they would take it to the board but just the other day I had a chat with them about new season prices and nothing has been done about it, so I won't be bothering to buy fert through them anymore.

This spring I also re activated my direct accounts with chem companies, my first spring order AF were just cheaper but only by a few quid. My T1 sprays were ordered through them but some how were invoiced direct to me, when I compared prices and added the levy buying direct was marginally cheaper!!!!!!

I keep hearing they're improving there bottom line and returning more to members but I'm yet to see it!!!!!!
As far as I can see at the minute they're just another layer creaming yet another bit out of the farmer!!!!