BG Essentials tariff on Comparison Sites - Won't recognise

sinbin_72

This is just a word of warning to everyone on British Gas essentials tariff that wants to use comparison sites to switch supplier.

I used Uswitch today and was pleased to find that I could save £172 a year on my bill by switching to Npower.

However, when I looked into what figures were being used as my current prices I noticed that they were much higher than what I was actually paying British Gas.

I went back and looked at the options I was selecting - I thought I had done something wrong. There was no option to select essentials tariff so I could only select standard duel fuel with fixed direct debit. I understood this was the standard price that essentials aimed to match with BG.

Anyhow, after lots of fiddling about I kept getting the same BG prices come up that was supposed to represent what I am curently paying - they did not!

I telephoned U swtich and was in a queue for 30 minutes and eventually I spoke to a representative who told me that U switch do not hold details for social tariffs. I was rather shocked. I told the guy that the essentials tariff is used by hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of people. Why didn't they recognise it?

He told me it was too complicated. I was even more shocked because surely comparison sites would be more useful and needy to the people that were on these social tariffs that it did not recognise. He told me that if I needed to make a comparison against BG essentials then I would have to phone every company individually. Not very good for money saving.

This is just a word to the wise because at first glance it seemed I was making a saving. I would advise everyone to use uswitch as they acutally give you the prices that you are currently supposed to be paying. Using this method you can check that they are using the correct price comparison...in my case they were not.

I am still no clearer on price comparison than when I started this 2 hours ago.

Antispam

Its probably best waiting for a while to switch due to prices coming down

sinbin_72

I do understand that but the problem that I describe would exist at any time of the year.

KimYeovil

With ALL comparisons, even with ones that are listed, you should enter your consumption in kWh and compare the prices that are suggested with what YOU have calculated you will spend on your current tariff. The order in which the suggestions are thrown up are (half-)reliable - it is the savings that should be dismissed.

The sites do list some social tariffs.

elektra

I agree with you Sinbin_72 but you can't expect the switch sites to have the tariffs when BG themselves don't even put it on their own website.

At one point the essential tariff was supposed to match as if your were paying by direct debit but that has probably changed as the essential tariff did not go up when standard tariff did.

sinbin_72

elektra wrote: »

I agree with you Sinbin_72 but you can't expect the switch sites to have the tariffs when BG themselves don't even put it on their own website.

At one point the essential tariff was supposed to match as if your were paying by direct debit but that has probably changed as the essential tariff did not go up when standard tariff did.

I take your point Elektra - it is frustrating though.

annie2005

We've had this same run around with other sites. Used less gas. Are on the essentials tariff and still got a bill today which was nearly £120 up on last year. There just doesn't seem to be an easy way to compare deals for the subsidised tariffs. I would also warn people that the qualifying terms for different companies tariffs used to be different as well as the rates they charged. It's well worth checking with each company individually.:mad:

ricky9

He told me it was too complicated. I was even more shocked because surely comparison sites would be more useful and needy to the people that were on these social tariffs that it did not recognise. He told me that if I needed to make a comparison against BG essentials then I would have to phone every company individually. Not very good for money saving

Why do you think they stated that it was to complicated?
In the real world the Comparison Sites dont get paid from the suppliers for essential tariffs.

SwanJon

sinbin_72 wrote: »

There was no option to select essentials tariff so I could only select standard duel fuel with fixed direct debit. I understood this was the standard price that essentials aimed to match with BG.

As elektra said, the price did not rise for essentials tarif customers last July (which also means they won't get the 10% reduction).
Think the plan is to realign in April.