British Gas Web Saver 12 ending options

esutg

Have seen a couple of threads tip toeing about the impending end of WebSaver 12 on the 30th September so wish to flesh out the options.

· Web Saver 12 is a variable tariff from BG thatis not open to new customers anymore.
· Web Saver 12 tariff will end for all customerson 30th September.
· Customers will revert to their Standard variablefrom 1st October which is at least 6% more.
· Terms and conditions state 28 days notice mustbe given to cancel the tariff.
· Should you cancel before the 30th September, acancellation charge will apply (prob £20-30 for each utility).

It seems some people are preparing for the evitable but as you can see it isnot as simple as to switch away. One question is when should I initiate theswitch? Believing the earlier the better as the market is turning an upwardcurve for tariffs available, this is a good question. It is not clear if youinitiate the switch to another service provider (e.g. EDF) during Septemberwhether the cancellation charge will actually apply because the switch will bemade in October (28 days notice needed). But should I wait till 1stOctober, would I have to wait for a number of extra weeks to finally switch andbe stuck on BG standard tariff (as Web Saver will have ended). It seems, thatthere is no way to switch from the Web Saver tariff to another service providerbefore the tariff ends without incurring the cancellation charge.

So the option is wait till 1st October, stay on BG standard tarifffor a few weeks and hope the best fixed tariff have not been removed and thenswitch

Or…

Initiate the switch now, possibly incur the cancellation charge (debatable)but safe in the knowledge you can get a cheap fixed available tariff and notworry about going onto the BG standard tariff.

Wonder if anyone has seen any other options on how to proceed?

Man_Overboard_2

esutg wrote: »

Have seen a couple of threads tip toeing about the impending end of WebSaver 12 on the 30th September so wish to flesh out the options.

· Web Saver 12 is a variable tariff from BG thatis not open to new customers anymore.
· Web Saver 12 tariff will end for all customerson 30th September.
· Customers will revert to their Standard variablefrom 1st October which is at least 6% more.
· Terms and conditions state 28 days notice mustbe given to cancel the tariff.
· Should you cancel before the 30th September, acancellation charge will apply (prob £20-30 for each utility).

It seems some people are preparing for the evitable but as you can see it isnot as simple as to switch away. One question is when should I initiate theswitch? Believing the earlier the better as the market is turning an upwardcurve for tariffs available, this is a good question. It is not clear if youinitiate the switch to another service provider (e.g. EDF) during Septemberwhether the cancellation charge will actually apply because the switch will bemade in October (28 days notice needed). But should I wait till 1stOctober, would I have to wait for a number of extra weeks to finally switch andbe stuck on BG standard tariff (as Web Saver will have ended). It seems, thatthere is no way to switch from the Web Saver tariff to another service providerbefore the tariff ends without incurring the cancellation charge.

So the option is wait till 1st October, stay on BG standard tarifffor a few weeks and hope the best fixed tariff have not been removed and thenswitch

Or…

Initiate the switch now, possibly incur the cancellation charge (debatable)but safe in the knowledge you can get a cheap fixed available tariff and notworry about going onto the BG standard tariff.

Wonder if anyone has seen any other options on how to proceed?

Your best bet is to call British Gas and ask your question directly...

My understanding of BG's small print is that after 30th September, you will be switched to their standard tariff. But if you check out the t&c's of their standard tariff, you will find that it is no longer available to new subscribers!

My guess is that BG's standard tariff has been replaced by their new Clear and Simple tariff (which has no cancellation charge).

The only way to be sure is to ask BG directly, and that is what I shall do tomorrow.

If you sign up to a new provider tomorrow, the switch will not take place before 1st October, so you will incur no cancellation charges on Websaver12. For the brief period between 1st October, and the commencement of your new supply, you will have to pay BG's 'standard' tariff (aka 'Clear and Simple' - I think...), but you will incur no cancellation charge on the Standard/Clear and Simple tariff.

I repeat, the only way to be certain is to ask British Gas - in my experience their call centre staff are better than most.

rogerblack

Totally depends on your usage.
If you can fix onto a lower rate now, and save 40 quid (say) over the future period, then the cancellation fee is quite irrelevant.
You need to go to uswitch, and work out if you can save 40 quid.
And then work out if you are likely to be locked into a higher rate by waiting.

TIMMY85

As Man Overboard says any switch started now will not complete until AFTER 1st October and as such there will be no cancellation charge applied.

No existing BG customers are being forced onto the new standing charge tariffs so WebSaver 12 customers would revert to the Standard tariff (two tier pricing). If they choose another tariff then they would go onto the standing charge structure eg. Online Variable

Man_Overboard_2

TIMMY85 wrote: »

As Man Overboard says any switch started now will not complete until AFTER 1st October and as such there will be no cancellation charge applied.

No existing BG customers are being forced onto the new standing charge tariffs so WebSaver 12 customers would revert to the Standard tariff (two tier pricing). If they choose another tariff then they would go onto the standing charge structure eg. Online Variable

Interestingly, I was assured by a British Gas call centre person earlier last week that there was no way I could avoid going onto one of the new 'Daily Charge' tariffs after the end of Websaver12.

esutg

Thanks for everyones help.

I did phone BG customer service but they were very unhelpful. The person I spoke to did a very good job in avoiding to answer my questions such as the cancellation fees and timing of them. In the end I gave up.

It does sound from everyone that due to the 'switching process' it would take over 4 weeks to transfer over to a new provider therefore the switch would occur after web saver 12 ends and therefore a cancellation charge would not apply. I am a bit worried that the cheapest fix (EDF BLue + price promise) is likely to pulled very soon and need to make that decision now. Should I start the switching now?

macman

A typical switch takes 4-5 weeks, but it can be little more than 3. If you want Blue+, I'd take my chances today, because it's demise is imminent-it's already been pulled from the comp sites.

missindecisive

thanks for posting this, I am in the same position as you and was wondering, Ive read somewhere that the best thing to do is to leave it intil mid september to be completely sure of not incurring the cancellation fees. ofcourse some of the best deals may be gone by then .....

macman

As I said, Blue+ will be long gone by then.
A switch is never less than 3 weeks.

lisa701

Man_Overboard wrote: »

Interestingly, I was assured by a British Gas call centre person earlier last week that there was no way I could avoid going onto one of the new 'Daily Charge' tariffs after the end of Websaver12.

I was told exactly the same - the only option I had was to swap to one of their new tariffs all including a daily standing charge.

TIMMY85

lisa701 wrote: »

I was told exactly the same - the only option I had was to swap to one of their new tariffs all including a daily standing charge.

This is wrong!

The WebSaver 12 terms and conditions say that at the end of the tariff you will revert to the Standard tariff - not to Clear and Simple which is the one with the standing charge.

If you do not want the Standard then you can choose any other tariff which will have a standing charge.