Joining British Gas - Couple of questions

Credit_Newbie_2

Hi all,

I am currently thinking of joining British Gas and had a couple of questions I hope you may be able to help me with.

I am hoping to joining British Gas for 2 key reasons, firstly because searches online have indicated the WebSaver4 package will offer me the cheapest electricity, and secondly because I have heard that British Gas now report to Credit Report agencies and I am keen to use British Gas to improve my Credit Report (there currently isn’t much on it).

My questions are:

1) When I apply for a WebSaver4 package will any Credit Searches be involved? I ask as I am currently trying to minimise the number of searches on my reports.

2) Do British Gas report to the credit agencies on all accounts regardless of the payment method or do I have to adopt any particular payment method in order for them to report on my account?

Many thanks for any help

littletommytucker

Yes, an initial credit search would be carried out. If you do not satisfy their requirements they will ask for a security deposit, approximately £120 on gas and £90 on elec (not sure if they are correct figures). This would be paid back after 12 months with Bank of England rate of interest on top providing you have paid on time.

They will report to Experian each month to show how up to date with your payments you are, regardless of your payment method. If you choose monthly payments, and pay on time each they report a 0 each month, if you become one month behind they would report a 1, 2 months a 2 etc etc. This is the same regardless of quarterly billing or monthly payments.

Credit_Newbie_2

Thanks for the detailed response.

Just to confirm then, would British Gas ever reject you based on a credit score or is the worst case scenario that they will take the security deposit? I don't intend to miss any payments so happy to provide a £90 security deposit.

Also is there a minimum term when joining british gas? For example if I move out of the flat after 6 months can I simply cancel without any penalty?

Thanks again for any info

fullstop

Might be worth joining BG through a cashback site or from Energyhelpline who are offering £30 if you switch through their site.

http://ww.energyhelpline.com/

Perelandra

Can't help with the credit score side- it's still new to BG- but I suspect the security deposit would work.

Some tariffs have cancellation fees if you leave early, others don't.

The Websaver 4 tariff that you refer to does- if you leave before 28 Feb 2010, you face a cancellation fee of £30/fuel. It applies to both switching to another supplier, and switching to another BG tariff. However, it doesn't apply if you're leaving because you're moving house.

iscrimger

While British Gas's new technique of reporting your status to Experian I have already queried them because I have had a number of issues in the past with them and my bill.

For example, I moved 4 months ago and transferred the dual fuel I had with Scottish Gas to the new address. I paid a bill for the previous supplier at the new address who provided Scottish Gas with a final reading for both Gas & Electricity. They told me my bill would be set to zero consumption until the meter reading reached the actual reading. (The previous supplier has given the wrong reading to Scottish Gas).

However I was then issued a gas bill for £60, I queried it and told it would be set at zero but they couldn't do it yet as there was a technical problem so it's being dealt with. I can already tell that this will go as a late payment on my credit file. Be wary of what they are doing.

SwanJon

iscrimger wrote: »

However I was then issued a gas bill for £60, I queried it and told it would be set at zero but they couldn't do it yet as there was a technical problem so it's being dealt with. I can already tell that this will go as a late payment on my credit file. Be wary of what they are doing.

I appreciate your concern over your credit file, and the desire for an accurate bill, but how long was the £60 bill for? Was it an estimate? Could it be in the right ballpark?
Would it be worth paying now for this estiamte of what you have used, and then paying the difference/less on the next bill?
I don't have all the info, so it would be perfectly understandable if you said no.

If SG the previous supplier gave the reading to British Gas, did they also use this wrong reading? If so, your final bill with them will be recalculated when SG recalculate your first bill.

I work for Scottish Gas.

Gerrard_8_lfc

Scottish gas and British gas are the same company.

Just need to change your accent when your talking to the english.

was it Scottish Power ? if so maybe they gave a incorrect meter reading at the time causing a small quarter bill before the new quarter ?