British Gas: Fix and Fall

Soleil_lune

Just wondered, are there any benefits to this tariff?

Basically, we have had an offer to go onto this tariff - we had it last year, but we were busy and never got around to sending off the form.

Anyway, they say that you can FIX the amount you are paying, so if the price goes up in the next 12 months, yours won't go up, but if it DROPS, they will drop the price for you.

So what's in it for them then?

They protect you so your payment won't rise if the prices go up, but they still allow you to get a reduction, if it goes down.

Sounds too good to be true to me.

So I wonder if there's a catch somewhere along the way: ie; if you use LESS gas one week (than you did the last,) you still end up paying what you 'fixed' your price at.

Or does it mean that you can 'fix' the individual unit price (at say 4.8 pence per unit?) Rather than there being a set/fixed amount that you pay (daily or weekly,) no matter how much you use?

But would would we just be best to leave it? I mean, the price isn't going to go up AGAIN before next November when the tariff ends is it? And these prices are being fixed AFTER the 8.6% rise is added on

Hope this makes sense.

Any help appreciated. This is confusing me a bit. Does this tariff help or make you save money? And if so, how? If gas and electric doesn't go up again before the end?

Soleil_lune

Anybody?

benwarwick123

ive read it as a standard fixed tariff, british gas are probably not going to reduce there prices ( might do if government green levies are reduced), its just a fancy pr stunt to make people switch. Have you compared your energy supplier on uswitch, as most times british gas are one of the more expensive companies. So in theory its a fixed tariff, british gas get to keep your custom for a year and you don't get no rises.

pooch

It's a capped tariff as opposed to a fixed tariff, therfore prices can fall. (Whether or not they will do is another debate)

The 'fix' relates as always to the unit price (and standing charge), not the amount you pay on an all you can consume basis.

Soleil_lune

benwarwick123 wrote: »

ive read it as a standard fixed tariff, british gas are probably not going to reduce there prices ( might do if government green levies are reduced), its just a fancy pr stunt to make people switch.

Have you compared your energy supplier on uswitch, as most times british gas are one of the more expensive companies. So in theory its a fixed tariff, british gas get to keep your custom for a year and you don't get no rises.

Thank you. Yes I have been with several different suppliers and TBH they were much of a muchness - I never notice any one of them being any cheaper than the others over the months/years. The prices are OK (for us,) but I just wondered what the point of Fix and Fall was and if it would benefit me to switch to it?

So I guess what's in it for THEM is that they get to keep you a customer for another year, as if you bail, you have to pay £40 to get out of it.

But what is the benefit to me?

Any at all?

benwarwick123

Soleil_lune wrote: »

Thank you. Yes I have been with several different suppliers and TBH they were much of a muchness - I never notice any one of them being any cheaper than the others over the months/years. The prices are OK (for us,) but I just wondered what the point of Fix and Fall was and if it would benefit me to switch to it?

So I guess what's in it for THEM is that they get to keep you a customer for another year, as if you bail, you have to pay £40 to get out of it.

But what is the benefit to me?

Any at all?

The benefit is you remain a british gas customer and they will fix your prices, so yes it would benefit you to switch to it and avoid any future price rises for the duration of the tariff and if charges come down you benefit so really its a win win situation for you :T

macman

People seem obsessed with fixing after the price rise round, when what really matters is the price at which you fix.
Why not just put your kWh figures into any comp site and it will show you where that tariff comes up? It certainly won't be high on the list.
This tariff offers no real benefit over Standard, unless you expect prices to rise again before next November. If they fall, Standard will fall too. It also locks you in with an ETC.

[Deleted User]

what are BG s kwhr rates for gas and electric on this tariff ? thats the important thing.. First Utility are doing a 2015 fix at the moment ( they were 2 weeks ago anyway ) at 3.7p per kwhr gas and 11.4 p per kwhr elecrtic with a 21 p a day standing charge for both.

benwarwick123

macman wrote: »

People seem obsessed with fixing after the price rise round, when what really matters is the price at which you fix.
Why not just put your kWh figures into any comp site and it will show you where that tariff comes up? It certainly won't be high on the list.
This tariff offers no real benefit over Standard, unless you expect prices to rise again before next November. If they fall, Standard will fall too. It also locks you in with an ETC.

Your right macman I didn't know it was only till next November the price rise month anyway, you may as well stay on standard or move to another more competitive supplier. British gas for my area Kent is the most expensive after Scottish power.

Hank_Marvin

Do you get any DD discount with this or any of BG tariff's nowdays. Used to get 6% with the discount variable 2013. From what i've read on this tariff it's just the standard tariff without the penaly charge..

[Deleted User]

Hank_Marvin wrote: »

Do you get any DD discount with this or any of BG tariff's nowdays. Used to get 6% with the discount variable 2013. From what i've read on this tariff it's just the standard tariff without the penaly charge..

All BGs tariffs are cheaper on direct debit, eg heres their latest tariff due on 23 Nov.. Gas dd is 4.73 kwhr, cash/cheque is 5.05 kwhr
electric dd 12.82 kwhr cash/cheque 13.75 kwhr