GB Energy Supply reviews: Give your feedback

Snooze

Robin9 wrote: »

I still have an online meter reading facility.

My billing cycle has changed from monthly to quarterly and the next is due at the end of April.

quietness wrote: »

I can still enter meter readings online as I did it this morning, My online account looks exactly the same as it did when it was GB, I'm also still on monthly billing so for me nothing has changed since the Co op have taken over.

That's odd how you guys have it and I don't. I only have the option to view old bills or contact them on their form. No area to input readings anymore. I wonder if it's because I cancelled the DD when they fell apart. :huh:

Grey_Critic

Email today informing me that they would be increasing my DD from £59 to £72.

I then had an interesting telephone conversation with them. Seems I have Electric on Crystal and Gas on Topaz. You can't do that for a dual fuel tariff - they have made the mistake.

I have rejected the increase in the DD as I am (a) In credit and we are moving into the lower usage period and (b) even if I accept their figures of my projected usage/cost over the next 12 months it still only comes out at £60 per month an increase of £1.00.

MarkYork

Despite being only £42.36 in debit after the winter period I have been informed that my monthly payments will increase from £49.00 to £87.00....!
I called the customer support line and was told that the increased charge was to cover my anticipated use over the next 12 months. My fixed price tariff ends in August but they said that the figure was calculated assuming that I would move to their standard tariff in August and remain on it for the balance of the 12 month period. I said that this was ridiculous as I would be shopping around for a better deal when the fixed price deal ends.
I was told that the increase was calculated automatically and that I was free to leave GB energy (now owned by Co-op Energy) at any time if I was unhappy.
I asked to speak to a manager but was told that they would say exactly the same as that was how their systems worked.
I am beyond gobsmacked that they would treat a customer in this way. I can only assume that they are trying to offload the unprofitable business they acquired from GB Energy.

Appletini

MarkYork, this is how the vast majority (if not all) energy companies calculate their costs. Your personal projection is based on the remaining months of your tariff (so April to August) and then the remaining months on the SVR. It could be that your fixed direct debit was lowered at some point, and then because of the debit on the account after winter, plus the current personal projection being higher than your current fixed direct debit amount, your direct debit has had to be increased.

Grey_Critic

I would suggest that the problem is due to the Co-op changing things round and trying to get more money in the coffers. Previously when it was GB Energy you would receive a monthly email asking for your meter reading. I am told that the new policy is not to do so. They are also stopping monthly billing. Actually not sure if they can do this as it is a change to the terms and conditions when we signed up. There are also problems with their computer data and forecasts. My latest bill says I used 43kwh gas against 2kwh in the same period last year. Total fiction which they admit, they also said that the forecast figures are wrong.

One suggestion for anyone who finds themselves with a debit balance is to make a one off payment bringing the account to zero or a slight credit.
I have said I will not authorise an increase in my DD as I am in credit and will review it when the fixed deal ends when I think I will be moving elsewhere. Methinks come August when the fixed deals expire they will lose a lot of customers.

hollie.weimeraner

Received a letter from GB energy today informing me my DD was increasing from £29 to £37 from next month. I'm £75 in credit, have solar panels (although they don't know that) so why increase it by nearly 30%?
Anyway I called them and they have agreed to keep the DD at £29.
Don't think I'll be staying after August when my fix finishes

MCGONIS

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Received a letter from GB energy today informing me my DD was increasing from £29 to £37 from next month. I'm £75 in credit, have solar panels (although they don't know that) so why increase it by nearly 30%?
Anyway I called them and they have agreed to keep the DD at £29.
Don't think I'll be staying after August when my fix finishes

I have today got an email saying payments are changing from £28 to £38. I am £15 in debit. Based on what happened to you, I have contacted them and said I agree only to £4 of an increase and not £10. My contract ends mid October and will probs move then to cheapest supplier. Thanks for sharing and will post back if things change.

Pickle_Lily

Same here... informed of an increase from £45 to £57 per month despite being £60 in credit after winter and them forgetting to bill me in January. They also increased my annual estimated gas consumption by 65%. They blamed the tariff ending in August (fair enough) when I called them, but were not able to address the increase in estimated gas consumption without me providing additional meter readings (I'm at work so couldn't do that). I asked them to just review the data they had as I've been a customer for over a year so there's enough information. Apparently they couldn't so I've already switched to another provider.


I recommend everybody check the deals they're on as mine (Crystal Fixed) doesn't have any early exit fees.

locky123

Recently received email informing DD was increasing with no justification.

Replied stating this was incorrect as usage had not increased and account always in credit and asked for justification.

GB Energy/Co-op reply agreed increase was incorrect and was fault of the system but no reason. They will amend DD to original amount next month.

I then asked for my credit to be refunded but was advised that I couldnt as my DD should only be altered once per month..."Please be advised that if your credit balance is low your direct debit amount can bee increased again, since the system regularly reviews direct debit amount for the customers who have low credit balance".

I asked what the system considered to be a minimum credit amount..."We advise all customers to retain two direct debit payments on their account to allow for any fluctuations of your usage during the course of the year"

Neil_Jones

The original GB requirement was to have at least one month's credit on the account which could be quite significant in the winter months, so you'd have two payments going out in the same month.

IIRC the Direct Debit system went totally up the shoot a few months ago and many people, me included, had their direct debits increased by anything up to double. I ended up £400 in credit because of this but never had a bill over £30, and unsurprisingly nobody noticed this until I phoned them up and claimed three quarters of it back.

Still it was an excellent tariff (Topaz electric) while it lasted, mine ends next month. Nothing else came cheap at the time and nothing else now can touch it, sadly.