Sign the Downing St Petition against retrospective charges!

notbritishgas

If every customer received the letter on the day the price rise happened they would have 2 options, either accept the increase or switch supplier.
If they receive the letter 65 days after the increase they still have 2 options either accept it or switch, and they can still switch and only pay the pre increase prices until the switch day.
As far as I can see it makes no difference when the letter is received.

superstylin

notbritishgas wrote: »

If they receive the letter 65 days after the increase they still have 2 options either accept it or switch, and they can still switch and only pay the pre increase prices until the switch day.
As far as I can see it makes no difference when the letter is received.

I don't think it does make a difference, as long as the customers know that they have to register a complaint and refuse to pay, and then switch.

I suspect many will simply panic and switch thereby still be charged for the increased rates applied to their previous usage. If the notice came before the increase, then to simply switch would be fine because they would not have had the increase applied to their usage yet. Or if there are people who haven't the confidence to to know how to switch suppliers, then to receive due notice of price increases, they could at least alter their energy usage to mitigate some of the cost. (I'm thinking of my Nan here who has no idea where to start on such things, thankfully she has my brother and I to help steer her in, hopefully, the right direction)

But, yes, I do concede that the implication of a forewarning system would be a logistical nightmare!

moonrakerz

superstylin wrote: »

Sorry Moon, didn't see your post

I was commenting on Cardew's (pre-edit) comments that my reasons in the petition were wrong. The petition is not mine, it was created by an R. Laing and approved by the team behind the 'Number10' government website.

You miss my point; you are now giving the impression that by saying that this petition was "approved" by No 10 that it has some sort of authority behind it.

brysiewysie

superstylin wrote: »

I don't think it does make a difference, as long as the customers know that they have to register a complaint and refuse to pay, and then switch.....

You don't have to register a complaint - just tell them you want the lower price and you are leaving. It should be simple, although I accept that some call centre staff aren't aware of this process..

superstylin

moonrakerz wrote: »

You miss my point; you are now giving the impression that by saying that this petition was "approved" by No 10 that it has some sort of authority behind it.

That's not the impression I meant to give Moon. Only that the petition is not mine

superstylin

Apparently this is to be covered in the Money Tips email this week which should mean a lot more people than before will get to know of the system process and thereby benefit.

dekh

notbritishgas wrote: »

If every customer received the letter on the day the price rise happened they would have 2 options, either accept the increase or switch supplier.
If they receive the letter 65 days after the increase they still have 2 options either accept it or switch, and they can still switch and only pay the pre increase prices until the switch day.
As far as I can see it makes no difference when the letter is received.

Except ... Atlantic only give you 15 working days to switch and it can take upto 28 days (20 working days) to actually switch. Something unfair in the maths there I think.

JayMT

dekh wrote: »

Except ... Atlantic only give you 15 working days to switch and it can take upto 28 days (20 working days) to actually switch. Something unfair in the maths there I think.

The 15 days applies to the current supplier being told by the new one that a switch is underway. It doesn't mean that the switch has to be complete in 15 days.

The small print says that the actual switch date must then be done in a 'reasonable' time thereafter.

dekh

JayMT wrote: »

The 15 days applies to the current supplier being told by the new one that a switch is underway. It doesn't mean that the switch has to be complete in 15 days.

The small print says that the actual switch date must then be done in a 'reasonable' time thereafter.

And British Gas have just said "2 weeks delay sending out the pack"

I've changed my mind. I'd forgotten how bad BG were. Atlantic have agreed to apply the rise from today, not backdate.

superstylin

superstylin wrote: »

Apparently this is to be covered in the Money Tips email this week which should mean a lot more people than before will get to know of the system process and thereby benefit.

A week later

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1226275