We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
British Gas electricty prices - a warning.
At the moment BG is showing up on all the comparison sites as cheapest for Electricity. However their unit prices for electricty is listed on their website as being part of Discounted Electricty which did not increase in September with their standard tariff. According to the T & C this tariff is due to increase at the end of 2005 which might make a big difference to anyone switching just now.
It may be that this is a new tariff altogether but I'd be a bit wary before switching and perhaps check this out.
It may be that this is a new tariff altogether but I'd be a bit wary before switching and perhaps check this out.
0
Comments
-
Just an update to this. I had an email from BG today advisibg that that the discount for Discounted Electricty is 8.6% below their standard electricty prices. This will be held until 2006 ( January or December - it doesn't say).
Therefore it means that this tariff will rise by the 14.5% already applied to the standard tariff in September.0 -
This will be held until 2006 ( January or December - it doesn't say).
Therefore it means that this tariff will rise by the 14.5% already applied to the standard tariff in September.
As you have an ongoing conversation with them at the moment. Could you please email them back and demand to know the precise date of this increase.
When I signed up to a BG contract a couple of days ago I too noticed this in the terms and conditions but I remember reading something about a 2007 date.
Incidently this is false avertising on the part of who I'm not sure (as we were using comparison sites). The price quoted was the price of electricity for the whole year. Yes this can change as per the terms and conditions above however, it's still very misleading.
I guess the reason no date during 2006 is given is so that up to the 31st of December they are able to state huge savings over a 12 month period and not be in breach of their terms.
If the above is what they intended this is very sly cunning move by british gas.0 -
Phonix wrote:As you have an ongoing conversation with them at the moment. Could you please email them back and demand to know the precise date of this increase.
I'll do my best but if previous emails are anything to go by, it could be weeks before I get a reply. I've been trying to switch to this tariff for 5 weeks! First they registered me for the Price Freeze 2010, which is not what I appled for, and then it took 2 weeks to get it changed to the correct tariff. In fact last Wednesday I told them not to bother as I had decide to move supplier. True to form they have ignored that and today, surprise surprise, they confirm that they have finally done what I requested 5 weeks ago.When I signed up to a BG contract a couple of days ago I too noticed this in the terms and conditions but I remember reading something about a 2007 date.
Incidently this is false avertising on the part of who I'm not sure (as we were using comparison sites). The price quoted was the price of electricity for the whole year. Yes this can change as per the terms and conditions above however, it's still very misleading.
I guess the reason no date during 2006 is given is so that up to the 31st of December they are able to state huge savings over a 12 month period and not be in breach of their terms.
If the above is what they intended this is very sly cunning move by british gas.
If it's of any help this was their email to me.
"Thank you for registering for our 8.6% discount on your electricity bills
from Scottish Gas. As you are aware this means that as of *********
you will receive a 8.6% discount on our standard electricity prices
regardless of whether electricity prices go up, down or stay the same for
the next 2 years**.
Enclosed is a table which details the new prices you will be paying with the
8.6% discount***.
The good news is that your electricity prices are being frozen until 2006.
As one of our most valued customers, we've made sure your electricity prices
won't change until 2006. That way you'll continue to enjoy some of the
lowest electricity prices anywhere in the UK.
More good news - and you don't have to do a thing. We will write to you
again to advise you when your prices will change. Of course, even at the
new prices, you'll still get a fixed discount on your electricity until 1
April 2007. Which means you'll carry on paying less than British Gas
customers pay on standard prices. As I write, we are actively investing
millions of pounds to help secure your future energy supply at the best
possible price in a volatile wholesale market.
Please read the terms and conditions of this offer and keep them for your
future reference.
Remember that if you wish to withdraw from this offer between 17 January
2005 and
1 April 2007 you may be subject to termination charges**. "0 -
jem16 wrote:At the moment BG is showing up on all the comparison sites as cheapest for Electricity. However their unit prices for electricty is listed on their website as being part of Discounted Electricty which did not increase in September with their standard tariff. According to the T & C this tariff is due to increase at the end of 2005 which might make a big difference to anyone switching just now.
It may be that this is a new tariff altogether but I'd be a bit wary before switching and perhaps check this out.
Just an update to this. I had an email from BG today advisibg that that the discount for Discounted Electricty is 8.6% below their standard electricty prices. This will be held until 2006 ( January or December - it doesn't say).
Therefore it means that this tariff will rise by the 14.5% already applied to the standard tariff in September.
Jem16,
Your 2 posts are confusing and I am afraid incorrect in some respects.
BG new prices for both Gas and electricity came into effect on 19 Sept 05. They were sent to BG customers and contrary to what you say these prices are published on their web site - https://www.house.co.uk They do point out that if you are on one of their capped or discounted deals, these prices do not come into effect until the period of the capped/discounted deal expires; which is quite reasonable is it not? Their exact quote from the web site is :
" Domestic Electricity Charges
If you are a capped electricity customer, you will not be affected by this price rise until the end of the capped period
If you are a discounted electicity customer, you will not be affected by this price rise until next year
Prices effective from 19th September 2005 Includes VAT @ 5%"
Secondly you say in your first post BG's T & C state that the discounted electricity "According to the T & C this tariff is due to increase at the end of 2005" Yet in your second post you say "This will be held until 2006 ( January or December - it doesn't say)."
Not hard to guess when it ends I suggest!!
For Phonix:
BG , along with other suppliers, have had a number of deals over the past couple of years as shown on their website. It is hardly their fault if you don't know which one you signed for or "remember reading about"; and I fail to see how Jem16 can "demand" to know either.
If you care to look at the website, whilst I accept the many deals can make things complicated, I suggest there is no "false advertising" and your accusations don't hold up.
Again I quote from their website:
"Capped Price Electricity Customers
If you are a capped electricity customer, your prices will remain at the existing rates until your agreement expires on March 31 2006.
Electricity Price Protection Customers
If you have protected your electricity prices you will continue to pay 2.25% above our 20th September 2004
standard electricity prices. Remember that if our standard variable prices fall below September 2004 prices so will yours.
Gas Price Protection Customers
If you have protected your gas prices you will continue to pay 3.5% above our 20th September 2004 standard gas prices. Remember that if our standard variable prices fall below September 2004 prices so will yours.
Discounted Electricity and British Gas Online Customers
You will continue to pay a discounted rate on our 20th September 2004 standard electricity prices until 2006
Please note: For your re-assurance we will be writing to you very shortly confirming how you are effected by the recent price changes.
Please note, because of regional variations, you should refer to the area in which you live when looking at the electricity prices."
BG have also published the prices for the tariff fixed until April 2010 which come into effect on 29 Nov 05. These reduce the Sept 19 electricity tariff by 4.8% and increase the gas tariff by 2.8%
Hard as it might be for a lot of those who knock BG at every opportunity to accept, their electricity prices are very competitive; their gas prices are not.
As Jem16 said you simply need to check things out.0 -
Cardew wrote:Jem16,
Your 2 posts are confusing and I am afraid incorrect in some respects.
BG new prices for both Gas and electricity came into effect on 19 Sept 05. They were sent to BG customers and contrary to what you say these prices are published on their web site - https://www.house.co.uk They do point out that if you are on one of their capped or discounted deals, these prices do not come into effect until the period of the capped/discounted deal expires; which is quite reasonable is it not? Their exact quote from the web site is :
" Domestic Electricity Charges
If you are a capped electricity customer, you will not be affected by this price rise until the end of the capped period
If you are a discounted electicity customer, you will not be affected by this price rise until next year
Prices effective from 19th September 2005 Includes VAT @ 5%"
Secondly you say in your first post BG's T & C state that the discounted electricity "According to the T & C this tariff is due to increase at the end of 2005" Yet in your second post you say "This will be held until 2006 ( January or December - it doesn't say)."
Not hard to guess when it ends I suggest!!
My guess is that it ends December 2005 but it's not entirely clear. It states, as you say, that it will be held until 2006 but it does not say that it will definitely increase in 2006 either. Nor does it make it clear when exactly the increase, if any, will take place. Therefore I agree when you say that my two posts are a bit confusing. However I can't see where they are incorrect.For Phonix:
BG , along with other suppliers, have had a number of deals over the past couple of years as shown on their website. It is hardly their fault if you don't know which one you signed for or "remember reading about"; and I fail to see how Jem16 can "demand" to know either.
If you care to look at the website, whilst I accept the many deals can make things complicated, I suggest there is no "false advertising" and your accusations don't hold up.
Again I quote from their website:
"Capped Price Electricity Customers
If you are a capped electricity customer, your prices will remain at the existing rates until your agreement expires on March 31 2006.
Electricity Price Protection Customers
If you have protected your electricity prices you will continue to pay 2.25% above our 20th September 2004
standard electricity prices. Remember that if our standard variable prices fall below September 2004 prices so will yours.
Gas Price Protection Customers
If you have protected your gas prices you will continue to pay 3.5% above our 20th September 2004 standard gas prices. Remember that if our standard variable prices fall below September 2004 prices so will yours.
Discounted Electricity and British Gas Online Customers
You will continue to pay a discounted rate on our 20th September 2004 standard electricity prices until 2006
Please note: For your re-assurance we will be writing to you very shortly confirming how you are effected by the recent price changes.
Please note, because of regional variations, you should refer to the area in which you live when looking at the electricity prices."
BG have also published the prices for the tariff fixed until April 2010 which come into effect on 29 Nov 05. These reduce the Sept 19 electricity tariff by 4.8% and increase the gas tariff by 2.8%
Hard as it might be for a lot of those who knock BG at every opportunity to accept, their electricity prices are very competitive; their gas prices are not.
As Jem16 said you simply need to check things out.
I agree that their electricty prices are competitive at the moment. However the tariff that is most competitive seems to be based on the Discounted Electricty tariff which looks as if it will increase by 14.5% at the end of the year - for some this may make it uncompetitive.
As for knocking BG, this was not my intention. To be honest most companies have problems of one sort or another. Until recently I have never had any problems with BG either. However lately emails to house.co.uk have been taking at least two weeks to get answered whereas before I would get an answer within a day or two.
As I said before, check out the tariff but it may still be the best for you.0 -
Jem16,
I appreciate you were not 'knocking' BG and your posts were balanced and intended to make people look at all aspects before switching.; as of course they should.
I thought the incorrect statement was "However their unit prices for electricty is listed on their website as being part of Discounted Electricty which did not increase in September" Their website clearly shows the 19 Sept tariff which is not the Discounted Electricity tariff.
As the T & C's state the "end of 2005" I really think there is no ambiguity.
I have no connection with BG other than as a customer. I do get fed up however with posts like those from Phonix who apparently does not understand what he/she has signed -and seems not to have read the website - yet is prepared to post accusations on a forum where people come for advice.0 -
I have no connection with BG other than as a customer. I do get fed up however with posts like those from Phonix who apparently does not understand what he/she has signed -and seems not to have read the website - yet is prepared to post accusations on a forum where people come for advice.
Cardew I have every reason to be annoyed with both you and as I pointed out earlier who's ever fault this is (for the observant among us you may notice I didn't say British gas) because If you read some of the other posts I made this week you will notice that according to simplyswitch, British gas will save me 170+ pounds on my electricy bill for the next twelve months in comparison to what other providers will 'save' me. You will also discover that this is my first electricy.
If you were then to go on and read the sticky above about price comparison sites like I did before I made the switch you will realise that the "false advertising" on the comparison sites I was referring to earlier is the fault of the regulator'knocking' BG and your posts were balanced and intended to make people look at all aspects before switching.;
You're clearly not as observent as you make out because I wasn't "knocking on BG's door either" You seem to compliment one user in some sort of vain attempt to garner support against your supposed foes. This is quite frankly sad but shall I do it too? there is little difference between my post and the OP, I'm sure he'd agree, he would not have reacted as you have toward me. You also seem to disregard the sensational title of the thread again not very observentIf the above is what they intended this is very sly cunning move by british gas.
I admit that I was a little loose in my wording there because when I said "they" I was referring to BG. It's a very nuanced choice of words and is certainly not as harsh and blunt as you make out.Phonix who apparently does not understand what he/she has signed -and seems not to have read the website - yet is prepared to post accusations on a forum where people come for advice.
WHere people come for advice? Do you not read this forum? I asked for advice three days ago and got !!!!!! all replies. Again you disregard the sensational headline and the very fact it's aimed at these "people you get most annoyed with" ie- people like me who supposedly don't understand this. It's a case of informity not understanding, and that's the whole point of this site. Your hateful comments toward what are the majority of electricy and gas customers (those who seek advice as they aren't informed or unsure) and which this whole thread is aimed toward do absolutely nothing to help matters.
To be quite honest, I would put money on most of British gas's new customers not being aware of much of the information contained in this thread. As the sticky makes clear there is a need for the price comparison sites to be regulated in the same manner in which financial product comparison sites are regulated to avoid things like this occuring. It's not just me calling for this, I'm only reitterating energyhelpline's calls as I think this is an instance of the misleading nature of comparison sites.
I've already had a few brushes with your vindictive personality in the past, where you suggested that we silence people who er "campaign (apparently one post = campaign) against the BBC for reporting 'facts: ahem...' is reprehensible and has no part in this forum"
I tell you what is reprehensible for a public forum
people who,
a) think people should be silenced for having an opinion against an organisation
b) show hatred toward people who lack a level of informity, (because that's all I was lacking here I was not having a go at BG, even so your response is heavy handed and unwelcome)0 -
Cardew wrote:Jem16,
I appreciate you were not 'knocking' BG and your posts were balanced and intended to make people look at all aspects before switching.; as of course they should.
This was all I ever intended.I thought the incorrect statement was "However their unit prices for electricty is listed on their website as being part of Discounted Electricty which did not increase in September" Their website clearly shows the 19 Sept tariff which is not the Discounted Electricity tariff.
Ah now I see where the problem lies. My fault for not being clear. I really meant that the tariff neing offered on all the comparison sites seems to point to it being the Discounted Electricity tariff - in fact even energyhelpline.com uses the words "Discounted Electricty" in the Electricty only section. For my region the prices are very different. Tier 1 - 14.493(Standard 19th Sept) against 11.6(Discounted), Tier 2 - 10.102(Standard 19th Sept) against 6.452(Discounted). These discounted prices are due to rise.
However energyhelpline.com also mention an Online tariff which quotes the same rates but gives an extra £5 discount for online billing. Again these prices are due to rise but will be 8.6% below the standard tariff. This isn't guesswork - house.co.uk reps have confirmed this.As the T & C's state the "end of 2005" I really think there is no ambiguity.
Actually the T & C state
Our standard prices change on 19 September 2005, however the Discounted Electricity prices have been frozen until 2006. We will write to you to advise you when your prices will change.
I think it means when 2006 begins but I might be wrong.0 -
Phonix wrote:
You're clearly not as observent as you make out because I wasn't "knocking on BG's door either" You seem to compliment one user in some sort of vain attempt to garner support against your supposed foes. This is quite frankly sad but shall I do it too? there is little difference between my post and the OP, I'm sure he'd agree, he would not have reacted as you have toward me. You also seem to disregard the sensational title of the thread again not very observent
Phonix
I understand your annoyance - it's not as clear as it should be on the comparison sites although it would be difficult to point out everything.
Hence my title - "a warning". Not a warning to avoid BG but a warning to check out the tariff.
I hope I'm wrong with the increases.0 -
Trying to find the cheapest electricity supplier I used 3 different comparison services and got three different answers regarding the savings I could expect.
I have recently moved from British gas as an economy 7 user for electricty only to atlantic electric and gas an now find from the comparison charts, had I changed to British Gas click energy tarriff my savings would be anywhere between £103 and £371 ( depending on which price comparison service one used) against Atlantic. What a minefield!!0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards