Essentials Tarrif - Essentially a rip off!

Cardew

Dreamnine wrote: »

I'm in favour of having them all re-nationalised into 1 or 2 companies- but this will never happen.

Much as I hate the idea of the Government selling off 'our' assets, it has to be said that the old Gas and Electricity Boards were a byword for inefficiency. Over-staffed by thousands and like all monopolies they had no incentive to cut costs.

Too much 'pressure' applied to the workforce and they threatened strike!

1carminestocky

Dreamnine wrote: »

I'm in favour of having them all re-nationalised into 1 or 2 companies- but this will never happen.

The ironic aspect about all this is that the only party who would do this (i.e. a 'real' Socialist Govt. led by people like Tony Benn and his ilk) would NEVER be voted in by the British public. Weird country, this.

Dreamnine

I remember the power cuts of 74- quite exciting as a child in Edinburgh, but my parents weren't too happy.:cool:

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

Much as I hate the idea of the Government selling off 'our' assets, it has to be said that the old Gas and Electricity Boards were a byword for inefficiency. Over-staffed by thousands and like all monopolies they had no incentive to cut costs.

Too much 'pressure' applied to the workforce and they threatened strike!

At least 'we' owned our own national resources and had (almost) full employment. Granted, not ideal but IMO far more 'ideal' than the situation we have now.

Smartmart

Coming back to the Essentials tariff, I see today on the Power Lunch BBC2 that they stated that this was not BG's best rate. What is the point of a social tariff that is not the best rate!

It appears that many of us have been tucked up by the look of it. The last two big providers have now hiked their prices, so we can now do a comparison. I would expect the Click Energy 5 tariff to catch up within a few days. I will keep my powder dry until I can see how much I have lost due to being moved from Click to Essentials a few weeks ago.

SwanJon

Smartmart wrote: »

Coming back to the Essentials tariff, I see today on the Power Lunch BBC2 that they stated that this was not BG's best rate. What is the point of a social tariff that is not the best rate!

British Gas (as a company, not a few misinformed advisors) have never claimed that it is their best rate, only that it matches their cheapest Standard tariff.

If they matched it to their cheapest tariff (do we include fixed tariffs?) then they would have to restrict the number of customers they can offer it to even further. Or they could do as Cardew suggests and offer free energy, but they's have some incredibly difficult hurdles to jump to get on the plan.

If you can do it, as a rule, online tariffs are cheaper, if you can't see what social tariff your supplier offers and if you are eligible.

1carminestocky

SwanJon wrote: »

British Gas (as a company, not a few misinformed advisors) have never claimed that it is their best rate, only that it matches their cheapest Standard tariff.

If they matched it to their cheapest tariff (do we include fixed tariffs?) then they would have to restrict the number of customers they can offer it to even further. Or they could do as Cardew suggests and offer free energy, but they's have some incredibly difficult hurdles to jump to get on the plan.

If you can do it, as a rule, online tariffs are cheaper, if you can't see what social tariff your supplier offers and if you are eligible.

No disrespect intended but these 'few misinformed advisors' (incidentally, how can you quantify it so assuredly? ) ARE British Gas to the people who ring up and put their trust in them. Genuinely curious and not trying to be obtuse, but do you work for BG, SwanJon?

SwanJon

I've never hid the fact that I work for British Gas, and would like to think that in doing so I have been able to help a couple of people on here.
I fully understand that the person you speak to on the phone is the image of the company, and that is why I said we need to *cough* give them constructive feedback, but I'm sure there isn't a company out there (ok, ones with employees) that is totally confident that all staff & subcontractors are word perfect on policies and procedures all the time.
All calls to British Gas are recorded so if you want to challenge anything ask for someone to listen to a call. They should have a very good reason if they can't.

neil9313

SwanJon wrote: »

I've never hid the fact that I work for British Gas, and would like to think that in doing so I have been able to help a couple of people on here.
I fully understand that the person you speak to on the phone is the image of the company, and that is why I said we need to *cough* give them constructive feedback, but I'm sure there isn't a company out there (ok, ones with employees) that is totally confident that all staff & subcontractors are word perfect on policies and procedures all the time.
All calls to British Gas are recorded so if you want to challenge anything ask for someone to listen to a call. They should have a very good reason if they can't.

Well you really need to put this on yr profile, ie you work for BG. :rolleyes:

SwanJon

neil9313 wrote: »

Well you really need to put this on yr profile, ie you work for BG. :rolleyes:

Any particular reason? I'm not selling to anyone, nor can I gain in anyway if anyone follows my advice.

Don't see your employer in your profile though...