British gas, can you help?

fiddling_flower_petals

Hi Guys

Can anybody remember the timescale for British Gas applying there previous price increase to Click tariff and did it increase by the same percentage increase annouced?

I'm currently with Npower SOL8 and following the recent official price increase notification, I decided to switch, taking advantage of keeping my prices at prior tarfiff rate whilst switching to a new supplier.

I decided to plunge for BG click 5, hoping they would increase this tariff prior to my switch and then I could review my options with a level playing field before completing switch.

The thing is my date for switching is the middle of next month, so unless BG increase click5 on 1st Oct. I've now calculated revised bills for BG using my consumption and increases of 35% and 9% for gas and electricity( As per BG annoucement in June) which results in a slightly larger annual bill than the tariff I'm currently on.

I'm now starting to think I've been a little hasty to switch suppliers but I was so keen to get away from Npower(but that another thread) and should have left it until my annual discount is applied in Dec.

Any help, ideas, opinions would be appreciated

Cardew

I doubt if the percentage increase and timing on previous versions of BG's Click tariff will have any relevance to their(presumably) forthcoming increase for Click 5 and introduction(presumably) of Click 6.

BG traditionally were always the first to announce price increases and lost a lot of custom when people switched to cheaper pre-increase tariffs with other companies.

They are no doubt hoping that the opposite will happen and that people will switch to Click 5 at the pre-increase price(a sort of loss leader!) and then stay - as there will not be any cheaper options with other companies.

1carminestocky

I reckon they can afford to offer Click 5 (and any future Clicks, for that matter) on account of the HUGE number of apathetic people who have been paying their very expensive standard tariff. Many of these people satisfy the criteria for moving over to Click 5, but guess what? The vast majority of people have never heard of it! Unlike their (obviously more profitable) fixed/ capped deals, BG don't seem to want to acknowledge the existence of Click 5...it would appear to be solely for those 'in the know/net savvy' punters and is often offered to people who have 'seen the light' and decided to transfer away from BGs standard rate.

Edit: A fly in the ointment, though. Now the energy companies have been instructed that their 'social tariffs' should be the cheapest tariffs they offer (INCLUDING online accounts), expect to see the price differential between online accounts and standard tariffs quietly/almost secretly eroded. In other words, I think the increase for Click 5 could be larger than previously envisaged (when it comes).

paulonline123

1carminestocky wrote: »

I reckon they can afford to offer Click 5 (and any future Clicks, for that matter) on account of the HUGE number of apathetic people who have been paying their very expensive standard tariff. Many of these people satisfy the criteria for moving over to Click 5, but guess what? The vast majority of people have never heard of it! Unlike their (obviously more profitable) fixed/ capped deals, BG don't seem to want to acknowledge the existence of Click 5...it would appear to be solely for those 'in the know/net savvy' punters and is often offered to people who have 'seen the light' and decided to transfer away from BGs standard rate.

Edit: A fly in the ointment, though. Now the energy companies have been instructed that their 'social tariffs' should be the cheapest tariffs they offer (INCLUDING online accounts), expect to see the price differential between online accounts and standard tariffs quietly/almost secretly eroded. In other words, I think the increase for Click 5 could be larger than previously envisaged (when it comes).

Tbh the only way you've never heard of click 5 if your a bg customer is by not reading your bill - its advertised n every single one and the web site. It should also be noted that its not pushed atm as a fixed price is going to be better for everyone, although now the 2011 deal has gone that may change.

With regards to price increases in fact click five has dropped in price twice in the last 12 months and so expect a rise in the future. There is a click 6, 7 and 8 in the pipeline already but it wont be around for a few months and in the time in between you'll save money.

Click as a product is easily switchable from 5 - 6 for instance and will always be tracked against the other competitors to make it the cheapest for average users and higher.

1carminestocky

paulonline123 wrote: »

Tbh the only way you've never heard of click 5 if your a bg customer is by not reading your bill - its advertised n every single one and the web site. It should also be noted that its not pushed atm as a fixed price is going to be better for everyone, although now the 2011 deal has gone that may change.

With regards to price increases in fact click five has dropped in price twice in the last 12 months and so expect a rise in the future. There is a click 6, 7 and 8 in the pipeline already but it wont be around for a few months and in the time in between you'll save money.

Click as a product is easily switchable from 5 - 6 for instance and will always be tracked against the other competitors to make it the cheapest for average users and higher.

You've disappointed me, Paul . This sort of statement is IMO a rather dangerous one to make no matter where you work. BG are a business with shareholders, are you seriously suggesting that they are advertising their fixed deals so aggressively because they are absolutely convinced they are 'better for everyone'?

bristolleedsfan

1carminestocky wrote: »

. , are you seriously suggesting that they are advertising their fixed deals so aggressively because they are absolutely convinced they are 'better for everyone'?

They must be " absolutely convinced they are better for everyone " because I got a welcome letter for fixed 2011 despite signing up for Click 5. :rotfl: