GB Energy Supply reviews: Give your feedback

geoffW

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Similarly just had an email from GB Energy reminding me my current (and excellent) fixed term (electricity only) expires end July. And inviting me to extend for another year via a tariff (My GB Lite 2018 Elec) that apparently doesn't exist. Either on their website or via my account.

As it's virtually the best on offer (despite the 20% hike) rang them this morning and have been switched across manually.

The GB Lite is usually a dual fuel only but has been opened up to either fuel (existing?) customers. Unfortunately their IT doesn't acknowledge it yet.

Have to say it's the first 'issue' I've had since the takeover by Co-Op in late Nov. So content to stay a further year. And particularly as the slightly better price option is Bristol, whose feedback is as bad as it gets.

My fixed term (also electricity) ends in August and my latest statement says I could save £81 pa by switching to GB Lite 2018 however when I checked the prices I found it was 2.75p per unit dearer and the standing charge was 1.65p per day dearer too.
I believe the savings quoted are based on a completely different tariff which you might go on when the current tariff ends, so beware.

Neil_Jones

Yeah I had the same issue too, never did find out where the savings of the GB Lite 2018 came from, considering I was coming from a dirt cheap tariff with the new tariff giving me supposed savings of £92 a year.

It seemed too good to be true so I decided sod it, I'm off and found another provider with a cheaper standing charge and unit rate than anything listed on GB Energy's site.

Peter004

Has anyone reported GB Energy to the Ombudsman
Ofgem for their practice which seem to be obtaining money under false pretences or out and out fraud?

Peter004

If they are incompetent they should not be in business.

sheff6107

Are you talking about Co-op Energy Ltd trading as GB Energy supply billing people for a separate limited company which has been in Administration since November?

Peter004

The question of who owns what is very interesting. Following the collapse of GB Energy Supply customers were told that Coop Energy had taken over the supply of gas and electricity and would honour the existing Fixed contracts at existing (i.e. contractually agreed) rates. I was a beneficiary of those low rates and was pleased at the time by the rapid response by Ofgem. I have (had?) a contract with GB Energy for duel fuel supply at fixed rates which expires on 9th. August, 2017. I do not know whether that contract has any legal validity any longer or whether it is deemed to be the case that I have now a contract with Coop Energy Ltd even though I have not consented to such and thus consider it to be illegal, or doubtful to say the least. I have never been informed of a transfer - takeover - of ownership of GB Energy to Coop Energy Ltd. I do not know what the legal position is. I have continued to pay the direct debit for the sum agreed with GB Energy in order to pay the estimated annual cost of providing dual fuel. I overestimated my consumption mainly because of a boiler change and improved insulation and as a consequence have always had a credit balance which is currently well in excess of £100 whilst the direct debit is (or was!) £35 per month. I suppose that, theoretically, I was a creditor at the time of GB Energy going into administration. On 25th. April I received notification from a person called Andrew Springall, Head of Customer Experiences ( honestly) that, following a review, my monthly direct debit was to be increased to £48 per month, an increase of 37% approximately. I was not pleased to state it mildly for my consumption of both fuels decreases significantly in the Summer months and even at the existing level of direct debit my credit balance would also increase when, to quote them (GB Energy or Coop Energy?) the point of spreading costs over 12 months of equal payments is to close with a zero balance. I proposed solutions for them to consider which involved reducing the direct debit and/or refunding the credit balance and asked for their proposals. The notification of the increase in direct debit letter of 25th. April listed the points which had been considered which led to the decision which manifestly had not been considered at all and my attempts to obtain clarification and details were met with obfuscation. In principle I object to lending money to an energy company or any other company and I particularly object to being required, not asked, to increase the sum which I am lending for spurious reasons for which no reliable and valid evidence is, or can be, provided.
I do not know which company I am dealing with because it has not been made clear what the legal position is. However, if the demand for more money is representative of many of the customers who contracted a Fixed 12 Crystal agreement with GB Energy in the Summer of 2016 then the increased income for the business could be substantial and the risk taken by the business would be zero. In other words, it is "money for old rope"

sidbee

Peter004 raises some interesting points. The situation is indeed confused - my bills following the transfer of business were stated at the foot to be in the name of "GB Energy Supply Supported by Co-operative Energy Ltd". Andy Springer's letter demanding an increase in Direct Debit which I received by email in April is from "GB Energy Supply, part of Co-operative Energy".

Much of this confusion arises from the use of the name "GB Energy Supply". GB Energy Supply was the trading name of GB Energy Supply Ltd. That limited company is in liquidation, but the trading name of GB Energy Supply was sold to Co-operative Energy (for £1!) as part of the sale of assets of GB Energy Supply Ltd by the Administrators of that company. The sale of assets to the Co-op also included all customer debts and accrued income as at 30th November 2016. All of this is in the formal Statement of Administrator's Proposals as required by the insolvency Act, and you can read it for yourselves in full here:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08500842/filing-history/MzE2NjA2MTgzNmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

If you intend to tranfer to a new supplier when your fixed tariff ends - as I assume you will - and you expect your credit balance to cover the amount of energy you will use until then, then personally I would contact my bank to cancel the direct debit mandate and inform GB Energy Supply that you have done so and why. You could also request an immediate refund of any excess of the credit balance over the estimated cost of energy to that date, but I expect you will be unsuccessful and have to wait until you have transferred and had a Final Bill. That was my experience with them in a very similar situation when my Ruby12 contract ended. To be fair, the Final Bill was produced and the refund paid by GB Energy without undue delay following my transfer date although in my case the new supplier was prompt in giving GB Energy the opening meter read and there was no dispute raised, which have caused issues for other posters on the forum.

sheff6107

It doesn't make sense that all alleged debts have been sold to Co-op Energy Ltd because some debtors are being chased by the Administrators and some by Co-op Energy Ltd?

Hoof_Hearted

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Yeah I had the same issue too, never did find out where the savings of the GB Lite 2018 came from, considering I was coming from a dirt cheap tariff with the new tariff giving me supposed savings of £92 a year.

It seemed too good to be true so I decided sod it, I'm off and found another provider with a cheaper standing charge and unit rate than anything listed on GB Energy's site.

GB Energy are using the same "savings" calculations as the comparison sites. There is a presumption that when you finish your current tariff, you move onto the standard tariff e.g 1 month Crystal + 11 month's SVR.

The "savings" are, of course.illusory as prices have gone up a lot, especially from their very low rate. Their calculations are based on one month Crystal + 11 month's on a fixed tariff, which is cheaper.

Nothing dishonest here.

I wouldn't write off the new September 18 rate as it is only £30 more than the best available on comparison sites for me. However, I am still facing a big increase.

sidbee

sheff6107 wrote: »

It doesn't make sense that all alleged debts have been sold to Co-op Energy Ltd because some debtors are being chased by the Administrators and some by Co-op Energy Ltd?

As far as I know, debit balances accrued by those who opted to transfer from GB Energy before the date of Administration were excluded from the sale and therefore being collected by the Administrator. I don't know if this accounts for all of those who have been approached though.