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MSE Collective Switch Dec 2014
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Rhys's_Dad
Posts: 7 Forumite
in Energy
Hello,
This week I received my first Gas and Electricity bill from British gas having switched from Sainsburys Energy AKA British Gas in December via the MSE Collective Switch. During the switching process I gave BG the predicted gas and electricity consumption figures for 2016 provided by Sainsburys in October last year. They calculated my direct debit to be £72/month, a £10/month saving on what I was paying SE.
However, my bill says that they now want to increase my direct debit to £87/month ( almost a 20% increase ) because I have a debit of £60.00. Having made the switch in December, it's hardly surprising that we have this debit, if we hadn't, it would indicate we were paying too much.
When I called BG they said that their billing year runs from September one year to August the following year and any debit, as we have, should be cleared by the end of August, hence the increase. I argued the point that it is misleading to give a customer a monthly cost at the start of the switching process, then to increase it at the first opportunity because their billing year ends in August. The system particularly affects people who switch at the start of the winter period.
They agreed to let me pay off any debit which might current in August. I wonder if any anyone else has had a similar experience?
This week I received my first Gas and Electricity bill from British gas having switched from Sainsburys Energy AKA British Gas in December via the MSE Collective Switch. During the switching process I gave BG the predicted gas and electricity consumption figures for 2016 provided by Sainsburys in October last year. They calculated my direct debit to be £72/month, a £10/month saving on what I was paying SE.
However, my bill says that they now want to increase my direct debit to £87/month ( almost a 20% increase ) because I have a debit of £60.00. Having made the switch in December, it's hardly surprising that we have this debit, if we hadn't, it would indicate we were paying too much.
When I called BG they said that their billing year runs from September one year to August the following year and any debit, as we have, should be cleared by the end of August, hence the increase. I argued the point that it is misleading to give a customer a monthly cost at the start of the switching process, then to increase it at the first opportunity because their billing year ends in August. The system particularly affects people who switch at the start of the winter period.
They agreed to let me pay off any debit which might current in August. I wonder if any anyone else has had a similar experience?
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Posting was a reference to the December 2015 collective switch. Sorry if this caused confusion0
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