MSE Cheap Energy club collective switch - British Gas want £215 upfront!!!

System

jd87 wrote: »

British Gas are now harassing me with text messages and letters demanding I pay the security deposit, even though I've told them to just cancel the whole thing (a total of 6 letters received now).

Sorry - and I appreciate this is no help to you whatsoever - but I can't resist. 'Six letters' - you must be the beneficiary of MSE's carefully negotiated enhanced level of customer service for this particular collective switch. :rotfl:

SamNRG

I had numerous issues when being supplied by British Gas years ago.... They tried to stop me switching my prepayment meter to a standard meter, with phony credit checks. They claimed I failed an experian credit check which I then did myself and had a really high score.

I contacted Ofgem about BG rigging the market by refusing to exchange prepayment meters which are extortionately pricey compared to collective deals on standard meters. According to Ofgem though they are within their rights to do this...

I am tempted to move to their cheap MSE tariff though.

Capyboppy

jd87 wrote: »

Paying the DD upfront is fine. I'm quite low usage. My current DD with Ovo is £35pm and was expected to be £30 with British Gas. That's why this is so obscene. They wanted over 7 months payment in advance, in addition to the direct debit.

I find this unbelievable. I hope a rep from BG or MSE addresses this for you. Nobody needs this kind of stress.

System

Capyboppy wrote: »

I find this unbelievable. I hope a rep from BG or MSE addresses this for you. Nobody needs this kind of stress.

All companies have the right to set a deposit policy as a condition of providing a service. Whether the criteria that they use is fair and reasonable is another matter. It is very much a take or leave it situation. There is no question of a customer losing out in the long term.

I very much doubt whether MSE CEC can get involved in an individual case as any data held by BG following a credit check will protected.

AnotherJoe

The rest of the address is correct though so any well designed IT system
=====


Well there's your problem ...:D

cifpower

Capyboppy wrote: »

I find this unbelievable. I hope a rep from BG or MSE addresses this for you. Nobody needs this kind of stress.

What has MSE got to do with it? There was an auction. BG won. MSE offered the deal to you. MSE does not control or have any influence on BG's credit checking and deposit policies. Your ire has been misdirected.

Capyboppy

Cifpower: I have trawled through many many posts in general and there is often a response from a MSE rep or utility rep. This is particularly obvious when they are trying to keep their good name. As I see it the OP has an excellent credit record and BG has told them they 'know where to go' if they don't like it. There is no proper reasoning on why the OP is being charged so much deposit when in credit. If BG want the custom, it would be in their interest to at least try and be civil and helpful. Also if MSE get money out of folk switching, then their suggestions too. After all, both are quick enough to jump in at other times.

System

Capyboppy wrote: »

Cifpower: I have trawled through many many posts in general and there is often a response from a MSE rep or utility rep. This is particularly obvious when they are trying to keep their good name. As I see it the OP has an excellent credit record and BG has told them they 'know where to go' if they don't like it. There is no proper reasoning on why the OP is being charged so much deposit when in credit. If BG want the custom, it would be in their interest to at least try and be civil and helpful. Also if MSE get money out of folk switching, then their suggestions too. After all, both are quick enough to jump in at other times.

Perhaps BG don't want the custom: this is a limited offer. If the OP feels disadvantaged, then £10 spent on a Subject Access Request might reveal the reason for the deposit request. Personally, I would put it behind me and move on. There are other good energy deals available with cashback if that is important.

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames381.html

oldhenry

The whole deal stank. You can never trust the 'Big Six' at all. I am staying with OVO as their superb admin is worth £20 a year extra. Also they pay me 3% on my largish credit balance.I would only change for £100 less and you do get that as the companies have you all pinned down . We are rooting about for bits here and there whilst the oil price has fallen from $120 to $30. Not much sign of that in the energy prices we are paying.

jd87

Capyboppy wrote: »

As I see it the OP has an excellent credit record and BG has told them they 'know where to go' if they don't like it. There is no proper reasoning on why the OP is being charged so much deposit when in credit. If BG want the custom, it would be in their interest to at least try and be civil and helpful. Also if MSE get money out of folk switching, then their suggestions too. After all, both are quick enough to jump in at other times.

Thank you. Someone who understands.

Anyway I'm not interested in a response from British Gas or MSE now. It's over and done with. I told them to get stuffed and I've signed up for another year with Ovo.