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Finally got through to British Gas, but what to do now? Advice pls.

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  • SwanJon
    SwanJon Posts: 2,340 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    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:
    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.
    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.
  • I have to dash out now, but very quickly i'll reply to the following & get the rest tonight...
    SwanJon wrote: »
    My interpretation is that you have taken over responsibility but are not living there yet?
    Correct. We own the house but are living at my mums while we decorate & look at sorting the damp out
    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.
    Good idea although it wont be terribly accurate as when there we use no gas & very little electric as opposed to how it'll be when we properly move in. Will still do the monthly read though.


    As for the meters, hope this helps...

    IMG_1711_zpsd807b168.jpg
    IMG_1712_zpsd078279d.jpg

    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.
  • pooch
    pooch Posts: 828 Forumite
    edited 12 November 2013 at 11:23AM
    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.
    :cool:
  • SwanJon
    SwanJon Posts: 2,340 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    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.
  • pooch wrote: »
    A quick qoogle of "British Gas New Customer" shows the second entry that comes up says:

    :cool:
    Thanks anyway, but that side of the problem (contacting them) has been sorted a few posts before yours.

    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.
    SwanJon wrote: »

    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.
    I've no idea if we'll be below, at or above the average. We're not really wasters & we'll only be home from 6pm onwards on weekdays, leaving at 7:30am. The wife will be home all weekend & i'll be home from 4:30pm Saturday & all day Sunday.
    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.
  • Just did a few comparisons.

    COMPARETHEMARKET:
    comparethemarket_zpsa33e80ec.jpg

    MONEYSUPERMARKET:
    moneysupermarket_zps322f03d6.jpg

    CONFUSEDDOTCOM:
    confuseddotcom_zps58af3d1d.jpg

    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.
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