Please Help - Bizz Energy

spiro

Bizz Energy has been taken over by British Gas, they went into administration on 31/10/08.

fatlad1971

Colin_Mc wrote: »

A very interesting and enlightening response from the ex-adviser. Thank you.
I have stumbled onto this subject as an E4B(now in administration) business user. Despite the fact that I find myself without the supplier I was contracted to, as a result of their inability to operate a profitable business model, I have been shoehorned into a deemed contract with the reliably ever expensive British Gas. BG have been selected from almost every other cheaper supplier by the geniuses at Ofgem, as the Supplier of Last Resort (how apt). If they are on our side, God help us all.
Having received an email from UK Power, the comparison website, I acted as suggested and chose an alternative supplier. At no time, did UKP mention the subject of deemed contracts and I have today received a call from BG informing me that I will be subjected to this rip-off. It was a short call due to the manner of my response. I assume my operator has not been on the 'how to deal with a hostile customer' course, yet.
I have challenged UKP by email on their short term profit vs. disregard for the consumer tactic and will post their response, though I am not expecting them to admit any failing. I will try once again to report their behaviour to Consumer Direct (they're supposed to be on our side as well) although having called them today regarding the E4B/deemed contract debacle, I'm not particularly hopeful on that front either.
Is it just me, or does this whole process have to be so fraught with difficulty? It's hard enough running a small business day to day, without being subjected to all manner of arcane rules and regulations. If the deregulation of energy supply was supposed to open up a wealth of choice and make life easier for the user to select the most appropriate bespoke deal, the train left without me.
You really must excuse me, I feel a gin&tonic beckoning...

Its not an ideal situation , what Ive found disturbing as a energy consultant is some of the downright lies some of British gas businesses "advisers" have been telling people as well as the unmasked aggression when the customer tells them they will not be staying with British gas .
The deemed rates you are being charged are not normal British gas deemed rates. These deemed rates were negotiated with the regulator . In fact the deemed rates your are on if a single rate non MD are properly cheaper than the rates offered by British gas for a 12 month contract.

Premier_2

spiro wrote: »

Bizz Energy has been taken over by British Gas, they went into administration on 31/10/08.

Do you have a source for that, please?

Only todays Sunday Times is reporting it is currently looking for a buyer, else it may have to go into administration in the coming week.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article5062771.ece

marzipan23

fatlad1971 wrote: »

Its not an ideal situation , what Ive found disturbing as a energy consultant is some of the downright lies some of British gas businesses "advisers" have been telling people as well as the unmasked aggression when the customer tells them they will not be staying with British gas .
The deemed rates you are being charged are not normal British gas deemed rates. These deemed rates were negotiated with the regulator . In fact the deemed rates your are on if a single rate non MD are properly cheaper than the rates offered by British gas for a 12 month contract.

We're ex E4B and we've had a steady stream of calls "on behalf of" British Gas, all of them scaremongering with up to 35p per unit so the sooner we sign with them the better, and all of them stroppy and persistent. The official BGBiz call was very brusque as well, saying that they'll backdate the contract rate to day one but if we were stupid enough (not actually said but certainly implied) to sign with someone else then it could take two months to switch and it will all be at 26p.

Well, we've now had the official letter from BG and in the small print their deemed rate is quoted as 11.58 (ex vat) for our profile versus the 10.94 contract rate they're quoting us. The standing charge is not too different to the contract rate either. So it does seem to be the case what you say about specially negotiated deemed rates fatlad1971.

Premier_2

Details of the administrative receivership of Bizz Energy now confirmed here:
http://energylinx.co.uk/news/2008/11/bizz_energy_now.html

From a customer viewpoint British Gas Business will maintain existing contract terms and conditions.

brianw1956

If your bizz energy contract is up, the best idea is to give BG a call and make sure you negotiate better rates. worked for me.

ex-energywatch_adviser

Just to clarify for any Bizzenergy customers who may have also been following the thread regarding e4b going into administration, there is a major difference between what has happened to the two companies.

e4b could not find a buyer so BG was nominated as supplier of last resort. e4b customers could decide whether or not to stay with BG irrespective of how long there was left on their e4b contract.

Bizzenergy's customer base was purchased by BG so your Bizzenergy contract with it's existing prices and terms and conditions remain in place until the contract expires so Bizzenergy customers do not have the option to transfer to another supplier mid contract.