Leaving British Gas, but they want me to call 0845

BigDunc

Good afternoon all,

I decided to leave BG for Atlantic Energy and the changeover date has now passed. I received a letter from AE asking for meter readings which I have now supplied to them. BG did call at the time to see why I was leaving and had to agree that they couldn't match AE on price.

I have now received two letters from BG, one each for gas and electricity. They are asking me to ring them on an 0845 number "to talk about closing your account." I thought that AE were supposed to pass on my meter readings to BG. Has anyone else had these letters? I suppose I am wondering if BG want me to pay for a phone call to them so that they can dissuade me from leaving or whether this call does in fact serve a useful purpose?

Many thanks,

Duncan

Money_Cub

Hey Duncan

I haven't had a similar letter, I'm in a different situation to you but I wonder if you could try the saynoto0870 website - if you haven't used it before it provides standard rate telephone numbers in place of the 0845 you are being asked to call.

Alternatively you could always send them a letter back asking them to call you instead, explain that you don't want to pay the ghastly cost involved in calling their premium rate line.

Just a thought.

x

espresso

No need to use an 0845 number if you decide to ring them. 0800 0281028

tripled

It's almost definately the 'Save' line, which delivers you straight into the energy sales department who will try to convince you to switch back. Atlantic should pass the readings onto BG, if they don't you will receive an estimated bill even if you phone the readings into BG as well.

benjimoron_2

Money_Cub wrote:

Hey Duncan

I haven't had a similar letter, I'm in a different situation to you but I wonder if you could try the saynoto0870 website - if you haven't used it before it provides standard rate telephone numbers in place of the 0845 you are being asked to call.

Alternatively you could always send them a letter back asking them to call you instead, explain that you don't want to pay the ghastly cost involved in calling their premium rate line.

Just a thought.

x

Isn't 0845 local rate anyway, much cheaper than 0870? I would call them and make a fuss about having to pay to phone them, it usually makes me feel a bit better!

sammyjammy

A common misconception, I believe it used to be local rate but there isn't such a thing these days, it costs the same to ring from whereever you are in the UK, I believe. The cost for 0845 is 3p per min during the day, so yes it is nothing compared to 0870 and the same as ringing a normal landline.

Sam

masonic

BigDunc wrote:

I have now received two letters from BG, one each for gas and electricity. They are asking me to ring them on an 0845 number "to talk about closing your account." I thought that AE were supposed to pass on my meter readings to BG. Has anyone else had these letters? I suppose I am wondering if BG want me to pay for a phone call to them so that they can dissuade me from leaving or whether this call does in fact serve a useful purpose?

It serves a useful purpose if you have a credit balance with BG as they will confirm where to send the refund. They might try a salespitch on you, but they didn't with me when I did this a couple of months ago.

BigDunc

Well I have spoken to them and there was no sales pitch, just a request for the final meter readings. Apparently I can expect a letter in the next couple of weeks setting out the final bill and any credit left in my account. If there is, I CAN RING UP AND REQUEST IT TO BE PAID BACK! What do they expect customers to do? Say "no thanks, you keep it.":mad: How much thought would be required to include any refund with the last letter?