British Gas cashback

DebtFreedom_2

Hi everyone

I've been with BG for a couple of years, and went onto uSwitch on Friday. nPower came out as marginally cheaper for me on dual fuel. And, uSwitch give cashback. However, I called BG because I didn't want the hassle of changing. They put me onto their new cheapest tariff, and offered me £50 to stay with them! They'll credit my bill in 6 months time.

So, don't forget to call your current supplier if you're thinking of changing...:D

Good luck!

2010

I`m a bit puzzled here about BG new cheapest tariff.
Why didn`t that show on USwitch making it cheaper than Npower?

I`ve been with BG for a couple of years on a DF tariff but BG increased their prices on 10th Dec last year.

When I searched on https://www.energyhelpline.com recently (which is probably the most reliable switching site) it came up with Scottish Power energy online 12 tariff saving me £97 a year.

BG was a long way down the list with their websaver 10 df tariff which would actually cost me even more than my current tariff with them.

Having just searched energyhelpline again I can see no new cheapest BG tariff only websaver df 10 which would loose me £31 a year.

Having decided to switch to SP I did this through https://www.topcashback.co.uk where they will give me £62 cashback for a df switch.

macman

'Hassle of switching'? It usually takes about 20 mns...unless you've signed up for EDF Online Saver v7-but that's another story.

MillicentBystander

macman wrote: »

'Hassle of switching'? It usually takes about 20 mns...unless you've signed up for EDF Online Saver v7-but that's another story.

LOL. I agree, *normally* switching is a total breeze, all you need to do is keep a record of your opening reading and give that to your new supplier who will in turn give that to your old supplier. Simples. I have to say I've been switching 3-4 times a year for several years now and this EDF switch has easily been the most problematic, they really are a joke. But I'm comforted by the fact they are paying me £185.60 total cash back to use them for a few months. OK, I will need to pay £60 in exit fees when I switch but that's still £125.60 net. Normally, switching takes way less than an hour of my time, this EDF switch has taken a little longer but still CEO-type hourly rates*

* £125.60 per hour pay works out at £261,248 annualised with a 40 hour working week!!

Joyful

I have to say that the people on here that say it is easy to switch suppliers should be correct and may be in their own cases. What you don't see is the problem caused to the industry by serial switchers. For a period of time it was my job to sort out the problems.

If any one wishes to switch suppliers they need to make sure that they have received bills with the correct MPAN / MPRN / Meter serial number and readings from their currant supplier. NEVER switch to another supplier until you have these. Once you switch again check that all the information is correct. Even if you have given readings the industry may not agree to them and will deem another instead.

Also if you switch too quickly the last supplier does not get the closing read, the new supplier does not get the opening read and then you may have a third company in the mix. Add to that any meter exchanges done by any of the companies and you can guess the problems that get created.

savemoney

Surely if you switch regularly you may also incur exit fees

MillicentBystander

Joyful wrote: »

I have to say that the people on here that say it is easy to switch suppliers should be correct and may be in their own cases. What you don't see is the problem caused to the industry by serial switchers. For a period of time it was my job to sort out the problems.

If any one wishes to switch suppliers they need to make sure that they have received bills with the correct MPAN / MPRN / Meter serial number and readings from their currant supplier. NEVER switch to another supplier until you have these. Once you switch again check that all the information is correct. Even if you have given readings the industry may not agree to them and will deem another instead.

Also if you switch too quickly the last supplier does not get the closing read, the new supplier does not get the opening read and then you may have a third company in the mix. Add to that any meter exchanges done by any of the companies and you can guess the problems that get created.

It's a very simple 'problem' to solve - don't give cash back incentives to switchers! The cash back 'problem' is yet another reason why this industry has been destroyed by selling it off in the first place. Now we have at least 6 separate sales forces, at least 6 separate 'door knockers' depts (or as i like to call them bare-faced liars), we have 6 separate hugely expensive IT systems, 6 separate CS depts etc etc etc.

worried_jim

I've just switched from BG click 6 to Npower websaver as it is 18% cheaper so a £50 golden handcuff would still not cover the difference so my changeover takes place on 28th. Never switched before as BG had always been the most competitive fro the last 8 years but as it has been so simple I will shop around every 6 months now for the best deal.

MillicentBystander

savemoney wrote: »

Surely if you switch regularly you may also incur exit fees

It's sort of being negated by the increasing cash back amounts that suppliers are offering! The latest EDF offering was £80 cash back (I got £85.60 as a regular TCB customer) plus a £100 'welcome bonus' but the exit fee is £60. A net £125.60 for me. Multiply this sort of transaction by 3 or 4 (depends how many switches you can get in per year) and it's still a substantial 'discount' off your annual G&E bill.

savemoney

Okay thanks I see what you mean. You also have to factor in in some cases you may pay more per kWh and it may be more inconvenience if you pay by direct debt rather than just pay the bill

I haven't heard of companies giving welcome bonuses although £80 cashback is common, I thought with exit fees its hardly worth switching regularly but the welcome bonuses sweeten the deal

MillicentBystander

savemoney wrote: »

Okay thanks I see what you mean. You also have to factor in in some cases you may pay more per kWh and it may be more inconvenience if you pay by direct debt rather than just pay the bill

I haven't heard of companies giving welcome bonuses although £80 cashback is common, I thought with exit fees its hardly worth switching regularly but the welcome bonuses sweeten the deal

My previous switch was to SP and that cashback was £120, exit fee of £50 IIRC. The tariff was the cheapest for me at the time so effectively £70 net for 20 mins 'work'. £210 per hour. If only I could earn that sort of hourly rate in my regular employment!