If you value time dont use British Gas

Markw

Unfortunately I have just purchased a property using British Gas for Electricity supply. I have just spent 20 minutes waiting in the queue to speak to an advisor at British Gas to address an issue on my account and a further 15 minutes trying to sort it out. They havent sorted it and SAY they will call me back.
They dont have sufficient staff to deal with customer calls. Dont use them if you value your time!

duchy

Get a hands free phone so you can do other things whilst waiting for companies to answer.

Not sure if this is a April fool, a first world problem or a first time buyer

paulsad

or any other energy, utilities, media, ..........., company, they will all keep you waiting on the phone when you could be washing the dog or typing stupid answers to people on MSE.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

35 whole minutes during the house buying process.

Crivens!

[Deleted User]

When you buy a property you don't need to go with the current supplier attached to it. Just take the meter readings and go and sign up with your own chosen supplier. No need to contact the old home owners supplier.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Deleted_User wrote: »

When you buy a property you don't need to go with the current supplier attached to it. Just take the meter readings and go and sign up with your own chosen supplier. No need to contact the old home owners supplier.

This, of course, is rubbish.

Changing suppliers still takes weeks. Exactly who supplies you during this period?

spiro

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

This, of course, is rubbish.

Changing suppliers still takes weeks. Exactly who supplies you during this period?

Two points, a Change of Supplier effective date is now 2 weeks and 3 working days after you apply. However for a Change of Supplier where there is also a Change of Tenant your chosen supplier can set the effective date as the day after you apply.

[Deleted User]

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

This, of course, is rubbish.

Changing suppliers still takes weeks. Exactly who supplies you during this period?

Not rubbish at all. You give the meter reading to your own chosen supplier and they bill you from that meter reading. The ex-occupier will have supplied their closing reading to their old supplier upon leaving/selling the property.

In the mean time the leccy still comes down the same pipes from the same national grid.

JJ_Egan

So as above if true then a Deemed Contract no longer exists ??

energyworker

Deleted_User wrote: »

Not rubbish at all. You give the meter reading to your own chosen supplier and they bill you from that meter reading. The ex-occupier will have supplied their closing reading to their old supplier upon leaving/selling the property.

In the mean time the leccy still comes down the same pipes from the same national grid.

No, it is rubbish. You enter in to a deemed contract with the incumbent supplier when you move in to a property and begin to use the supplies.

You are of course free to make applications to your preferred supplier from the moment you assume responsibility but you must pay for any usage up to the point of the switch (17 days assuming that the switch goes through without any delay). A CAB article about this can be found here.