Vent: MSE Energy Club

PasturesNew

Always being told we need to switch, you must switch, compare, switch. Only morons don't switch, it's not hard.

OH YES IT FARQIN IS!!

So, finally, after many years, I decide to switch, using the MSE Energy Club.

What a faff.

Had to give up in the end and abandon the idea.

Chose/clicked - and then the interrogation started. The Spanish Inquisition had nothing on this lot!

What's your MPAN number? Well, I was out there at the gas meter, nothing on it. So I phoned BG to ask. It turns out that the MPAN is the electric meter, I was looking at the gas (it never said on the page!).

They give me both numbers I need.

Back to the website... filled it all in, blah blah ... DO IT.

FAIL: As you've not lived there for 3 years, where did you live before?

My last address is not in their drop down list. Therefore I can't pick it. I also can't randomly pick any other random address that is present because this doesn't seem like it'd be the right choice to make.

So I phoned BG ..... she put me on hold .... and there's nothing they can do for me whatsoever.

Because it's in the collective switch I'd have to ask MSE to sort it out.

So, fat hope.

The world's gone utterly mad! Loads of people must have no last address on the list, or no specific last address, or no relevant last address whatsoever.

I pledge to never attempt to switch again. Too hard!!

Energy Club switch was one fat fail for me.

MSE_Dan_L

Hi PasturesNew

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had when switching.

We do try to match up your MPAN and MPRN details to the national database, but unfortunately in your case it sounds like we couldn't find an auto-match and so needed to request the details.

These numbers really are very important as it is what the supplier will use to action a switch.

I agree that MoneySuperMarket's application page could be made easier to complete - we've shared a wide range of feedback from MSE users with it and have requested that it makes changes to make the process a little smoother.

Just in terms of your address history - if you're already with British Gas you don't need to worry about this section too much. Generally this is just used for the credit check, but as an existing customer this isn't as important (as it won't normally credit check you) so you should be ok to just answer that you've been in your current property for three years.

I hope this information helps. Unfortunately as the tariff is part of a collective, British Gas aren't able to switch you to it over the phone.

PasturesNew

The issue was that I had to give a previous address as I've not lived here for three YEARS. Not the MPAN etc numbers.

I couldn't supply any previous address as there is a dropdown and my address is not listed.

I've been with BG since I bought this house over 18 months ago - I was with BG at my previous address and just kept with them when I moved.

But their question couldn't be answered as my address wasn't on the dropdown list.

Why do they care/need to know? Surely my customer number would show if I am a problem customer or not.

Without selecting an old address, the application won't move forward to the COMPLETED page.

I've never switched before, it was all alien to me. I hated it. I'd not advise anybody do it, it's unnecessary, long-winded, stressful, hateful, nasty and I'd tell anybody of a nervous disposition to avoid, avoid, avoid.

MSE_Dan_L

I understand your frustration. Ideally MoneySuperMarket wouldn't ask this question on the application form when you're already with the provider you're switching to. However we often get users who accidentally tell us that they're with supplier X, when really they're with supplier Y.

So if this question wasn't asked, it would mean that the supplier would have to fully reject their switch rather than work it as a new switch (as opposed to a tariff change).

I hope the workaround I suggested helps you out on this one. Hopefully the potential saving available balances out the frustration you've had with this.

PasturesNew

Ah, I didn't spot that. So you're saying "lie to them".

That's the workaround is it? Tell fat porkies and lie to them.

I'll give that a go then.

PasturesNew

By the way, clicking on the link in your signature took me to a page that said:

There has been an error (Bad codes): ir/0c8a5f2b

R34GTT

I wish all utilities were just nationalised so we didn't have to even think about switching providers. It's all so unnecessary.

MSE_Dan_L

PasturesNew wrote: »

By the way, clicking on the link in your signature took me to a page that said:

There has been an error (Bad codes): ir/0c8a5f2b

Thanks for letting me know - now fixed!

minimike2

From another perspective, I completed my switch yesterday. First time using the MSE collective switching.

It took me 5 minutes and was easy as pie. MPRN number easy enough to get from my bill, as alluded to by the instructions. Confirmation email received straight away.

ajbell

R34GTT wrote: »

I wish all utilities were just nationalised so we didn't have to even think about switching providers. It's all so unnecessary.

Vote for Jeremy Corbin then.

M271

minimike2 wrote: »

From another perspective, I completed my switch yesterday. First time using the MSE collective switching.

It took me 5 minutes and was easy as pie. MPRN number easy enough to get from my bill, as alluded to by the instructions. Confirmation email received straight away.

I signed up today on MSE via moneysupermarket but it didn't ask for a MPRN number, just asked how long I had been at my present address plus address contact details, date of birth, mothers maiden name and bank account details. Maybe there are different fields to complete depending on circumstances or is there another form to complete which comes from BG?