Contract by default with British Gas

Cardew

spiro wrote: »

As get says in numerous post about numerous products/services the T&Cs told you about this lock in clause but you 'forgot' about it.

As Martin says for those on 0% credit card deals, put an entry in your calendar (ideally electronic) to remind you to take the required action, in your case it would have been to contact BG to agree a new contract.

I think the OP has accepted that he should have been aware of that roll-over clause; however that really isn't the point.

To have a condition where a small business can be inadvertently committed to a 2 year contract at double the previous price is simply sharp practice and not something to be expected of a reputable firm.

The protection offered to micro-businesses(see post above) should be offered to all firms.

Mr_Trick

I am indeed a 'micro-business' and it does look like British Gas are operating outside the T&Cs of Ofgem (surprise!). It becomes rather more plausible that these boys and girls are sending out invisible letters.

In recognition of the fact that the ordinary has become exceptional I propose renaming May Day as Cardew Day.

Cardew

Even if letters went 'missing' they can only roll over to a 12 month contract.

Mr_Trick

Cardew wrote: »

Even if letters went 'missing' they can only roll over to a 12 month contract.

Unfortunately our 'contract'* pre-dates the (somewhat cosmetic) Ofgem ruling by 15 days. They certainly worked it for as long as they could.

* Funny sort of 'contract' - certainly not an agreement on my side.

An agreement may be verbal or written. Anything else is 'whatever you think you can get away with'.

Mr_Trick

You need to cancel a British Gas contract within the first six months* (giving 90 days notice BEFORE the 90 day renewal period) otherwise you get one (or more) years at a rate chosen by British Gas. <faint praise to Ofgem>

*How many British Gas salesman make this clear? ANY? Could that be NONE?

Premier_2

Mr_Trick wrote: »

...
*How many British Gas salesman make this clear? ANY? Could that be NONE?

As a b2b supply, they don't need to.

As a businessman, you should ensure you fully understand the terms of any contract before agreeing to it, and if that is too much for you, employ someone to advise you. That's how business works, I'm afraid.

manutd68*99*08

Hi,

As a small business owner I switched to British Gas over 4 years ago and i am still tied in.

I have tried to switch to others over the past few months but British gas keep refusing it.

They are claiming to have sent me a contract twice over the past 2 years. I have never recieved this from them. They say because i didnt reply to the contracts i am tied in to a 2 year roll over each time. Now the rate is a very high rate compared to others. Standing charge is 5 times more than anyone else and unit price is double other companies.

Has anyone else had the same experience with british gas and the invisible contracts??
So called due contracts.

In my opinion they are conning small businesses this cannot carry on.


Many thanks

Mr_Trick

I think you will find Ofgem "unhelpful" - what else would you expect from an "independant" representative of an industry that is most profitable when conning old ladies?

undaunted

Mr_Trick wrote: »

Clearly the 'Default Contract' technique is profitable and legal .. but is it moral?

No it's not & it shouldn't be legal either.

Mr_Trick wrote: »

I think you will find Ofgem "unhelpful" - what else would you expect from an "independant" representative of an industry that is most profitable when conning old ladies?

By "unhelpful" would you by any chance actually mean disinterested in mere consumers (business or domestic) & utterly useless ? (or maybe that's just my take on them!)

Mr_Trick

Rachel Vincent
Head of Account Management
British Gas Business
Spinneyside
Penman Way
Grove Park
Leicester
LE19 1SZ

Dear Rachel,

Confidence trick (from http://www.answers.com/topic/confidence-trick )

"[a]ny scheme whereby a swindler wins the confidence of his victim and then cheats him out of his money by taking advantage of the confidence reposed in him."


"A confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle or bamboozle) is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. The victim is known as the mark, the trickster is called a confidence man, con man, confidence trickster, or con artist, and any accomplices are known as shills. Confidence men or women exploit human characteristics such as greed and dishonesty, and have victimized individuals from all walks of life."

We thought British Gas (which used to be a reputable company) would be the safest company to give our bank account details to - your salesman chose his mark well - and how many more are there just like us?

Is it legal? If Lisa (British Gas contracts) claims it is legal then it must be so (I'm sure you've done your homework) - select (again) from good [bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle or bamboozle].

So my congratulations to all the legal shills* at your end. AND you have support from Ofgem - a QUANGO? aka jobs for the boys.

As an earlier post indicates - the victim may NEVER be able to escape from this - (can we agree?) - con.

IF you have ANY integrity - you will post "How to end these contracts".

Yours sincerely,


Mr Trick.

*'Shill' is not a word I am familiar with - I use it because it fits the definition quoted - you may wish to argue that a 'legal department' cannot be part of a con - and I may wish to disagree with you.