The Captain's Blog ™

npower Energy Discount tariff

Captain Consumer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:34:21 +0000

npower Energy Discount – a capped and discounted price plan Gas and electricity supplier npower has just launched a new price plan for UK residential customers. The npower Energy Discount tariff offers capped prices for gas and/or electricity until 31 December 2013. Not only that, but Energy Discount also features prices at least 2% lower than [...]

Are you sure you want to log out?

Captain Consumer — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:49:42 +0000

Why do so many UK consumer websites insist on making you answer the mind-bogglingly annoying follow-up question “are you sure you want to log out / sign out?” when you’ve already clicked on a clearly marked link or button that indicates exactly that? Is it conceit / ego? “Our website is so marvellous and enthralling. We [...]

Could everyone just cheer up a bit?

Captain Consumer — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:15:32 +0000

I’ve had it up to here [holds hand WAY over head] with the constant doom, gloom, pessimism and mass depression regarding the economy that our nation’s media seems intent on promoting, magnifying and intensifying at every possible opportunity. Yes, it’s a competitive world out there in the media. But PLEASE – for the sake of [...]

npower price increase makes it five out of six

Captain Consumer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:20:46 +0000

Earlier today, UK energy supplier npower announced price increases of 15.7% for gas and 7.2% for electricity, coming into effect on 1 October 2011. For the average npower dual fuel customer, that will mean a combined price increase of 12.2% – just in time for winter. Four other of the UK’s big six energy suppliers [...]

Get £100 for switching your current account

Captain Consumer — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:27:17 +0000

I know it can get tiresome when everyone and their dog keeps telling you to consider switching this (utility supplier), that (insurance) or the other (bank account, credit card, etc). But the potential savings from shopping around for such things can often be seriously worthwhile. £100 to switch your current account A great case in [...]

If Carlsberg made pint glasses…

Captain Consumer — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 11:46:18 +0000

Last year, Carlsberg ran an on-pack promotion for a free pair of Carlsberg branded glasses (for drinking out of, not looking through). The glasses were in the European style, but looked pretty nice, so I duly sent in my voucher and waited. And carried on waiting… Finally, I received a letter saying that, due to “unprecedented [...]

British Gas hikes prices – what to do?

Captain Consumer — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:50:41 +0000

A new round of gas & electricity price rises Brace yourselves, fellow British consumers! Our wonderful utility companies are getting stuck into announcing a fresh round of major price increases for home gas and electricity customers. Scottish Power started the ball rolling last month with news of a 19% increase in standard gas prices and [...]

Exaggerated savings – when is enough enough?

Captain Consumer — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:48:37 +0000

It may be the season to be jolly, but I’m getting well and truly fed up with misleading advertising from some retailers. Take the following example: the cover of The Cotswold Company’s latest catalogue boldly proclaims winter sale savings of up to 50%. On the face of it, this seems like a great opportunity to [...]

Energy switching quotes prize draw

Captain Consumer — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:10:55 +0000

If there’s one good thing about the recent cold weather, it’s perhaps the early attention it has drawn to likely household bills for gas and electricity this winter. With central heating systems and gas / electric fires and heaters working overtime to combat the cold, what better time to check whether you could be paying [...]

Last call for 4x Tesco Clubcard rewards

Captain Consumer — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:00:43 +0000

Roll up, roll up – this is officially the LAST WEEK for redeeming existing Tesco Clubcard vouchers for four times their face value with selected Clubcard rewards partners. For partners who currently offer a 4x face value redemption rate, this will end on Sunday 5 December 2010. From 6 December onwards, the redemption rate for [...]