British Gas - Advance Payment

Funkyfreddy

Howdo folks

Just wondering if anybody might know if BG still offer an "Advance Payment" rate of any current gas tariffs - if so they seem well burried away from easy viewing

Currently on the Advance Payment Rate on WebSaver 3 but with the WebSaver 7 tariff from April 9th the Tier 2 rate is now slightly better - the Tier 1 price is still better on existing Websaver 3 rate but that's not where most cost arises. Using the current Websaver 7 tariff my last bill (Nov - Feb) would have been about £5 cheaper.

WebSaver 7 just shows a "Direct Debit" rate - no "Advance Payment" !

Doubt it will make too much difference in the coming Summer months but later in the year I could do with something else in place perhaps.

Thanks for any info.

FF

smidgey

What supply region are you in?

Funkyfreddy

Hi Smidgey,

Thanks for the reply....

smidgey wrote: »

What supply region are you in?

....curious though - would that make a difference ?

FF

kjsmith7

The advanced payment discount is 6% I think and is for gas only.

Unit Rates from their web site (all regions are on there):
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/unit%20rates/Gas%20ONLINE%20Rates%20Tables%20-%20Standard.pdf

Funkyfreddy

Howdo,

kjsmith7 wrote: »

The advanced payment discount is 6% I think and is for gas only.

Yes, it was/is for Gas Only.

kjsmith7 wrote: »

Unit Rates from their web site (all regions are on there):
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/unit%20rates/Gas%20ONLINE%20Rates%20Tables%20-%20Standard.pdf

Aha....thanks for that. Never thought of looking at the Standard Tariff - doh !

....Mmmm...still not great.

The Advanced payment rate on the WebSaver 3 Tariff is better than the rate on the current Standard Tariiff above - I was hoping it would be available on the recent WebSaver Tariffs too.

Websaver 3 runs through to 1 Aug 2010 at whch point I assume I will return to Standard or whetever BG choose to move me to unless I specify otherwise as they did when my last "Price Protection April 2009" finished


FF

kjsmith7

Funkyfreddy wrote: »

The Advanced payment rate on the WebSaver 3 Tariff is better than the rate on the current Standard Tariiff above - I was hoping it would be available on the recent WebSaver Tariffs too.

Websaver 3 runs through to 1 Aug 2010 at whch point I assume I will return to Standard or whetever BG choose to move me to unless I specify otherwise as they did when my last "Price Protection April 2009" finished


FF

The newest WebSaver's all have monthly fixed direct debit as a prerequisite so this is probably why no Advanced Payment discount can be had. WebSaver1 has ended, and this has gone back to Standard so I presume you will also.

yellowmoon

I had a fixed price for my gas and electric from 2005 until now. They're now offering me a new fixed price until 2012 and one of my options for the gas is advance payment. I've never heard of it before! It doesn't say how to pay in advance never mind how much I'd have to pay. But obviously they still do it as my letter arrived today.

kjsmith7

yellowmoon wrote: »

I had a fixed price for my gas and electric from 2005 until now. They're now offering me a new fixed price until 2012 and one of my options for the gas is advance payment. I've never heard of it before! It doesn't say how to pay in advance never mind how much I'd have to pay. But obviously they still do it as my letter arrived today.

It's calculated in the same way as your direct debit - yearly spend, but instead of monthly, it's all in one go. You pay it via debit or credit card over the phone.

Funkyfreddy

kjsmith7 wrote: »

The newest WebSaver's all have monthly fixed direct debit as a prerequisite so this is probably why no Advanced Payment discount can be had. WebSaver1 has ended, and this has gone back to Standard so I presume you will also.

Thanks - looks that way.

I'll try speaking to BG but suspect as it seems nothing is available (other than Standard Tariff) I'll have to change to monthly DD.

Might even take a few goes to find somebody who knows that there was an Advance Payment option on some tariffs !

FF

Funkyfreddy

yellowmoon wrote: »

I had a fixed price for my gas and electric from 2005 until now. They're now offering me a new fixed price until 2012 and one of my options for the gas is advance payment. I've never heard of it before! It doesn't say how to pay in advance never mind how much I'd have to pay. But obviously they still do it as my letter arrived today.

As KJ mentions its calculated pretty much as monthly DD are - looking back at your previous years consumption an estimated usage for the forthcoming year is used.

You pay a lump sum up front which gives you a Credit Balance - as each quarterly bill is issued your Credit balance is just reduced. In theory the balance should last you around a year at which point pay another lump sum up front for the following year based on estimated usage/tariff rate is required.

Make sure you do your own calculation too comparing the Tier 1 and Tier 2 rates. If you speak to somebody as BG it might take a few attempts to find somebody who knows Advance Payment is an option on some tariffs. Anything other than monthly DD seems to confuse some of them !

The Advance Payment rates on my Websaver 3 and the current Standard tariff are about 7% lower than the rate offered for monthly DD on the same tariff so if you can afford to pay in advance its better than having money in the bank.

My current credit after my last bill in Febriary is just over £60 - I will have used more than £60 of gas when the next one arrives so really I need to make a payment to increase my credit balance.

Do you have the specific rates for this 2012 fixed price tariff they are offering you please ?

FF

smidgey

Funkyfreddy wrote: »

Hi Smidgey,

Thanks for the reply....

....curious though - would that make a difference ?

FF

The rates charged for gas and electricity differ in whichever supply region you are in. There are APT rates for WS7, I just wanted to give you the correct ones for your area. If you post your area then i'll post the rate on Monday