British Gas Collective Fix December 2016

British_Gas_Rep_Matt

saxonman wrote: »

Thankfully no problems with my switch, I was already with BG and £180 in credit,they refunded my credit and my monthly payments have gone down by £25.
Who pays my £30 cash back ? And when

Hi Saxonman, your cash back payment will be made by MSE & it's usually within 3 months of your switch. Cheers, Matt

British_Gas_Rep_Matt

grahamn wrote: »

I've just tried to switch from Sainsbury's to the BG Dec 2016 collective switch. After the initial communication from BG about my switch date and meter readings, I heard nothing.


Rang them up the day after it was meant to happen to ask when they wanted readings, only to be told they had them (they were not actuals and they were over estimates)!!! After half an hr on the phone with BG the correct actuals were entered.


Then today I get an email from BG saying they want my readings for my switch over, quoting the switch date that was 3 days earlier than the email; they go on to say, otherwise an estimated read will be used!! So have now gone online and supplied the same reading yet again.


If that wasn't enough, Sainsbury's send me a bill, but no mention of it being final, or mentioning any switch.


This is not very slick so far. I sincerely hope I'm not double billed here by what is effectively the same organisation!


I hope the savings made, make the hassle worthwhile.

Hi Grahamn, that's not the start we'd want you to have but I'm sure it'll all be worth it. Please email your details to talktous@britishgas.co.uk , including MSE Forums in the subject line & I'll be keep an eye on things to make sure the switch goes smoothly. Cheers, Matt

British_Gas_Rep_Matt

That_Bloke wrote: »

I'm moving into a new house on 4th December so, annoyingly, just after this deal closes. However, I notice that the application is initially just a form and then you're contacted by British Gas, so would I be ok if I just apply before it closes and then, hopefully, I'll be able to just provide the details once I move in (if I do it next Wednesday night then I doubt they'd actually be contacting me before the Friday anyway).

The main thing I'm not sure about here is how to handle the period between moving in on the Friday and British Gas being up and running. Would it work OK if I just give them the opening meter readings when they request them and not worry too much about the exact dates?

Yet another of the many things I'm having to sort out at the moment

Hi That Bloke, I hope the move's going well as I know how hectic a time it can be and I'll be happy to help you sign up to the new deal, please just email talktous@britishgas.co.uk, including MSE Forums in the subject line. Cheers, Matt

AndyJ52

Have just switched from Scottish Power to the BG Collective Dec 2016 deal via MSE's CEC and called SP yesterday to enquire about the refund of my account balance after the final bill has been settled. I was surprised, and not a little disappointed, to be told by the customer service agent that it could take up to TWO months to get the refund to me!
Is this usual? Does anyone else have any experience of getting a credit balance refunded from SP - or is two months the industry norm? I'd be interested - and grateful - to hear from others about their experience with this part of the switching process.
Thanks in advance to anyone who'd care to share their insights on this subject!

hieveryone

I am so tempted to do this as I currently pay £36 in electricity and £54 in gas - but having moved into this house in June and spending approx 100 hours (ok, an exaggeration) on he phone to BG to sort out problem after problem, I am a littler reluctant to change things just when they seem to be going semi-smoothly.

Should I risk it considering the previous problems I've had in the past? I'm not sure the 'savings' are accurate as not been in this house long enough to get 'real' readings per month (i.e summer when we moved in, now going into winter).

b33r

hieveryone wrote: »

I am so tempted to do this as I currently pay £36 in electricity and £54 in gas - but having moved into this house in June and spending approx 100 hours (ok, an exaggeration) on he phone to BG to sort out problem after problem, I am a littler reluctant to change things just when they seem to be going semi-smoothly.

Should I risk it considering the previous problems I've had in the past? I'm not sure the 'savings' are accurate as not been in this house long enough to get 'real' readings per month (i.e summer when we moved in, now going into winter).

What tariff you currently on? My advice would be to do it and get the rate locked in. Sort any billing problems later!

hieveryone

I'm on the Fix & Reward September 16.

I know I currently overpay on gas as I have a large credit balance, but was happy with his as it meant building up a credit for the winter months.

In a real quandary as to what to do now though.

b33r

I helped my Mum switch to this deal and she was already with British Gas (on standard tariff for both), literally the only thing that has changed for her is the price per unit she pays, the frequency of meter reading submits and when/how the money is collected has stayed exactly the same.

Using some back of fag packet maths I reckon you'd save £293 over the next year by switching to this tariff, see assumptions below*. Plus then the £30 in a few months from Cheap energy club

Obviously I could offer no guarantee you wouldn't have any billing problems by switching (especially with the BG computer system which I'm not convinced even they know how it works sometimes) but for me that would be worth it.

*Assumptions used for calculations:
-How much you are currently paying would cover your usage exactly for the year
-The unit rates for your area of country are the same as mine (tend not to differ that much)

hieveryone

Thanks b33r,

Can you tell me why it looks like I have to go through a credit search/setting up an account again though on the cheap energy club page? It seems to want a lot of information just to switch tariff, plus there are two lots of £30 early exit fees listed, although I am already with BG.

Thanks again

rgk

The fact that this Forum exists and has had over 200 posts in under a month surely gives the reason why people are still wary of switching energy suppliers! OK, not all of the posts are about switching problems, but a lot of them are, and some of the posters having problems are existing BG customers or are switching from Sainsbury's, effectively the same company.
I have just made the switch to this, this will be my 4th switch and am keeping my fingers crossed! My last switch via CEC didn't go well, despite the assurances made previously, so lets hope things are better this time.