Zest4 Customers Automatic Transfer to British Gas

mhendo

Following Zest4's administration effective 03/02/06, Zest4's licence has been revoked and OfGem have appointed British Gas as supplier to take all 8500 Zest4 cutomers.

The documentation issued by OfGem can be found here:-
1. Zest4 Electricity Limited: Notice of Revocation of Licence under Section 6 of the Electricity Act 1989
2. Reasons for the decision of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority revoking the licence granted or treated as granted under Section 6(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 1989 to Zest4 Electricity Limited
3. Last Resort Supply Direction made by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority under standard condition 29 of the electricity supply licence granted or treated as granted under Section 6(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 1989 to British Gas Trading Limited
4. British Gas is appointed as the new supplier for customers of Zest4 Electricity Limited

gary38uk

i just now switched to british gas, did not need to then.

mhendo

I have a feeling that I'll be worse off with the transfer to British Gas as I won't get the perks like sign-up cash-back (£15 from simplyswitch), BG first month free (£26) etc.

So, I think once I get the paperwork from British Gas, it could be a case of switching to Atlantic, to get cashback and also the tarrif is cheaper.


I suppose it will be sometime next week that I'll hear from BG.

mhendo

What is everyone else considering? I'm in the London region on Economy7, and to me it seems British Gas or Atlantic will be the cheapest (although more expensive) options.

Is this the same for everyone else, or are other suppliers better for you?

Cardew

mhendo wrote:

What is everyone else considering? I'm in the London region on Economy7, and to me it seems British Gas or Atlantic will be the cheapest (although more expensive) options.

Is this the same for everyone else, or are other suppliers better for you?

I thought I read somewhere that NPower are particularly good for E7 users in the London area. Their daytime rate was particularly low.

It might be worth a check.

mhendo

Just found this news article on EnergyLinx, saying cutomers will go onto the standard British Gas tariff - I've just submitted my transfer to Atlantic.
http://energylinx.co.uk/news/2006/02/zest4_a_energy.html

Thanks for the tip to check npower. Just checked their tariff - Unfortunately, they're more expensive:-
1st Day Rate = 18.48p
2nd Day Rate = 8.60p
Night Rate = 3.35p

With Atlantic I'll be getting:-
1st Day Rate = 13.07p
2nd Day Rate = 7.83p
Night Rate = 3.13p

dave_dph

mhendo wrote:

Just found this news article on EnergyLinx, saying cutomers will go onto the standard British Gas tariff - I've just submitted my transfer to Atlantic.

If British Gas are going to put us straight onto their standard tariff will we not be given the option to go onto the discounted online tariff etc?

Sad news about Zest, they were the most customer focused company I have ever dealt with.

dave_dph

dave_dph wrote:

If British Gas are going to put us straight onto their standard tariff will we not be given the option to go onto the discounted online tariff etc?

I called BG yesterday. They will be transferring Zest customers onto their standard tariff but once you receive your new customer number you can then register for the online tariff. If you want to get onto the cheaper still "Online + one months free electric" you have to switch supplier then come back.

Their online tariff will cost me £460 per year as apposed to £504 with Zest. If I leave and return then with one month free etc the cost will be £407. Good price but I bet it doesn't last!

Ignite

I started the switch to British Gas online with one month free on Sunday after I heard about Zest 4 going into administration. I've now had the welcome letter from BG and spoken to one of their advisors and it seems that I will get the free month. I have it in writing so they will have an arguement on their hands if they try to stop me getting it.

I would say, play dumb and do an online switch anyway ASAP. Nobody has been contacted yet to say who the company taking over the accounts will be, and we only know here by either asking or from reading the threads.

Andy

mhendo

dave_dph wrote:

I called BG yesterday. They will be transferring Zest customers onto their standard tariff but once you receive your new customer number you can then register for the online tariff. If you want to get onto the cheaper still "Online + one months free electric" you have to switch supplier then come back.

Their online tariff will cost me £460 per year as apposed to £504 with Zest. If I leave and return then with one month free etc the cost will be £407. Good price but I bet it doesn't last!

Your tariff must be completely different to mine. I'm in London region, and was on Zest4's online tariff for Economy7 - whoever I move to (even with sign-up discounts etc), I'll be paying at least £30 per annum more than I was.

British Gas was one of the more expensive.

dave_dph

mhendo wrote:

Your tariff must be completely different to mine. I'm in London region, and was on Zest4's online tariff for Economy7 - whoever I move to (even with sign-up discounts etc), I'll be paying at least £30 per annum more than I was.

British Gas was one of the more expensive.

I'm in Birmingham. When Zest put the prices up from the 16th Jan it meant my annual bill increased to £504, I was also on the online tariff for Ec7.

The £407 that I quoted for BG with one month free electric isn't spot on, it was calculated by energyhelpline using my night usage as 75%, my actual usage is around 74%. I guess I'm looking around £430 if I can get on the one month free electric tariff, £460 for standard online.