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Finally got through to British Gas, but what to do now? Advice pls.
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If you sign up with another supplier you have a cooling off period, before the process begins in earnest.
You can technically sign up with another providor without telling the incumbent when you move in, but it increases the chance of things getting held up.
You've now told British Gas, so look around.
A bit confused about this though:JustAnotherSaver wrote: »When i asked if it makes any difference that we've not actually moved IN to the address yet they advised not to set up a direct debit & to call after the 23rd Nov when we move in with our THEN meter readings & we can go from there.JustAnotherSaver wrote: »they took the meter readings that i photo'd on the day we moved in.
My interpretation is that you have taken over responsibility but are not living there yet?
If so it is the reads when you took responsibility that count, not when you physically start living there.
Where ever you end up, I'd take regular readings (at least monthly). This means that both you and your supplier have an accurate picture of how much you are using in your new home.0 -
I have to dash out now, but very quickly i'll reply to the following & get the rest tonight...My interpretation is that you have taken over responsibility but are not living there yet?Where ever you end up, I'd take regular readings (at least monthly). This means that both you and your supplier have an accurate picture of how much you are using in your new home.
As for the meters, hope this helps...
As far as i'm aware they're not prepaid.
Also, thanks for that - i'm sure "standard variable tarriff" is what the woman said.0 -
JustAnotherSaver wrote: »The jist:
* We completed last Friday & picked up the key
* Took meter readings as soon as we got in.
* According to the info provided to us by solicitor, filled out by previous owner, the supplier for both gas & electric is British Gas.
* I call them tonight from here http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/contactus-personal-details/contact-us.html on 0800 048 0202 with view to setting up payment instruction & giving them the meter readings.
* Not able to speak to another human as i don't know (as don't have) customer reference number or land line number.
* I tried ignoring the request to enter in these numbers as sometimes that just puts you through to a human anyway, but not in this case.
* I've sent them an email tonight from https://www.britishgas.co.uk/Help_Advice/ContactUs/ telling them our situation & what we're wanting to do, so i await their reply, but no doubt this could take anything from 5 minutes to 5 weeks. I'd like to speak to a person.
A quick qoogle of "British Gas New Customer" shows the second entry that comes up says:If you're a new customer to British Gas and don't yet have a customer reference number, please give us a call on 0800 048 0505 or live chat with us.0 -
Those are both normal/credit/dry meters (plenty of names, all mean the same thing).
If you are not living there, it is probably more important to have readings as they will be expecting normal consumption.
Standard variable tariff does what it says - it is the default with no exit fees, but can change.
Use a comparison site, take a guess at consumption (average is 16500 gor gas, 3300 foe ele) and it'll give you an idea of the tariffs available and the order they fall in.
If it is going to be empty for a while it might be worth putting in really low consumption and seeing what difference it makes.
Good luck.0 -
A quick qoogle of "British Gas New Customer" shows the second entry that comes up says:
:cool:
Interested in that live chat though. I've gone onto their website, i've searched "British Gas live chat" i've searched live chat ON their website & i still can't find any live chat. I wouldn't mind setting up an online account so i can see my details.
Use a comparison site, take a guess at consumption (average is 16500 gor gas, 3300 foe ele) and it'll give you an idea of the tariffs available and the order they fall in.
If it is going to be empty for a while it might be worth putting in really low consumption and seeing what difference it makes.
Good luck.
So on the back of that i imagine our usage wont be high.
I'm happy enough to lump with whatever the comparison site estimates for us though. I can't see us underpaying so as i suspect we will end up overpaying - i would rather be in credit than in debt.
So anyway, i'll get some comparisons going & then look at switching.0 -
Just did a few comparisons.
COMPARETHEMARKET:
MONEYSUPERMARKET:
CONFUSEDDOTCOM:
I found that compare the market actually seemed to be more accommodating to first timers such as myself. The other two were more geared towards people already paying a bill.
So it seems that the nPower deal is the best/cheapest for me, fixed until April 2015.
So on this would YOU begin proceedings to sign up with them NOW?
Or would you leave it until the paperwork comes from British Gas in the next few days?
Or would you leave it until you moved in (which could be December, could be January, could be February)? EDIT: Though to be fair, i think January is a realistic aim. December could be actually, depending on whether we can get this damp sorted soon.0
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