Collective Switch

grahamn

I've just tried to switch from Sainsbury's to the British Gas December 2016 collective switch.


After the initial communication from BG about my switch date and meter readings, I heard nothing.

I rang them up the day after the switch was meant to happen to ask when they wanted readings, only to be told they had them. The trouble is, they were not actuals and were in fact over estimates!!!


After half an hr on the phone with BG the correct actuals were entered on their system (I think!).

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 have sent me a bill, but no mention of it being final, or mentioning any switch.

This is not very efficient so far and I sincerely hope I'm not going to be double billed here by what is effectively the same organisation!

I hope the savings made, make the hassle worthwhile. If I knew what was going to happen, I wouldn't have bothered.


MSE - Getting a good deal on these collectives is only good if the switch actually works and is trouble-free. So far mine has needed intervention and repeat requests for the same information. If that was not enough, the billing estimation / error (for what should be the final bill) from the outgoing supplier made it more troublesome....and there's no reason why any of these issues should have arisen.

SusanHG

I am also in the process of switching from Sainsbury's to the British Gas December 2016 collective switch. All seems to be going smoothly except that I was paying £75.50 a month with Sainsbury's and British Gas have told me I will be paying £81.50 a month. Not quite the result I was expecting after doing the price comparison. I was supposed to be saving £6 a month not paying an extra £6!!! Any suggestions?

kirtsypoos

I initiated the switch to British Gas in November for the collective fix Dec 16 and have had nothing but trouble since - I received emails regarding the switch going ahead but then started receiving letters regarding being put on a standard tariff instead of the collective switch tariff.
When I called to discuss I was told the collective switch tariff was no longer available and so I couldn't be put on this. I explained that I had the email confirmations and was asked to forward them which I did, and a very helpful lady said the change had to be made manually and I should get confirmation within the next 2 weeks.

Fast forward to today and I've received confirmation of a switch to a fixed price until July 16 (which is more expensive than the December switch I chose :mad:)

I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone! Absolute nightmare it has been

Civvy21

Hi,

I'm switching energy suppliers for the first time. At present i get my gas from British Gas and my electricity from EDF.

I'm switching via MSE British Gas Collective 4. I opted fordual fuel. I have just received an email from British Gas but it only mentions electricity. Is gas dealt with seperately?

Thanks

Garf

I have switched from SSE to British Gas. Then British Gas to British Gas!

First of all I switched from SSE to British Gas Collective December 2015 Fix - Dual Fuel. Process took 3 weeks from start to finish. No problems. Received my cash back by the end of January (Switched end of November).

Secondly, I switched from British Gas Collective December 2015 to British Gas Collective February 2016. Was very quick. Just awaiting Cash back.

Im now in the process of switching my rental flat to British Gas Collective February 2016 from EDF. Its started smoothly!

I have got the Smart Meter installed from British Gas installed. The actual meter looks much tidier than the bit of history that was there before! I hope to get the Smart Meter installed at the Flat too!

Cheers,
Garf

M3lon

I switched on the first day, received the confirmation email from MSE Club saying switch was on, but have heard nothing. Guess that's not a good sign and will now have to chase

bobstheboy

I switched on the first day, had several emails since then and switch date is Monday 22nd, all good so far and should save about £150 plus £30 cash back.

MSE_Dan_L

M3lon wrote: »

I switched on the first day, received the confirmation email from MSE Club saying switch was on, but have heard nothing. Guess that's not a good sign and will now have to chase

Hi there - worth giving BG's specialist collective team a call on 0800 975 9712 to check that it is all in order.

DebbieR

I switched on 4th Feb, got an an email on 16 Feb to say welcome to British Gas. I should apparently have got an email with the terms & conditions which I didn't. I also had two gas accounts set up and one electric account. I emailed them to query it and apparently the first gas account was opened and closed in error. Sounds like this has happened to a few people. I've just got two emails today, both from Sainsbury's(my previous supplier) the first giving me my final balance - £10.00 in credit which it says is going towards my next bill. The second one is thanking me for my new direct debit details. I'm a bit confused. I had to sign into my Sainsbury's online account using my new British Gas login details. I know it's basically the same company but I'm a bit worried I'm going to end up on a different tariff to what I signed up for.

Update - just signed into my BG account and everything appears to be as it should, hopefully I'll be saving about £120 a year by switching, against a rise of about £300 if I'd stayed with Sainsbury's.

karenccs67

DebbieR wrote: »

I switched on 4th Feb, got an an email on 16 Feb to say welcome to British Gas. I should apparently have got an email with the terms & conditions which I didn't. I also had two gas accounts set up and one electric account. I emailed them to query it and apparently the first gas account was opened and closed in error. Sounds like this has happened to a few people. I've just got two emails today, both from Sainsbury's(my previous supplier) the first giving me my final balance - £10.00 in credit which it says is going towards my next bill. The second one is thanking me for my new direct debit details. I'm a bit confused. I had to sign into my Sainsbury's online account using my new British Gas login details. I know it's basically the same company but I'm a bit worried I'm going to end up on a different tariff to what I signed up for.

Update - just signed into my BG account and everything appears to be as it should, hopefully I'll be saving about £120 a year by switching, against a rise of about £300 if I'd stayed with Sainsbury's.

I've made the switch too and was with Sainsburys Energy. SE have refunded me the credit I had, I've also had a email from BG with new DD amounts and dates. I'm saving approx £150 plus £30 cash back. :T

Civvy21

Hope it all goes well for everybody.

Some more queries. Hope someone can advise.

I had another email this morning. It stated my personal projection for gas use over next is approx. £410 (ie £35 per month). It then says my direct debit has been set up for £57 per month. Should it be that high?

There is no mention of electricity. Does electricity have a separate direct debit?

Also notice on my BG account page there are two separate electricity accounts - although they do have the same account number.

Hopefully everything will progress smoothly, although I am starting to have some doubts. Feel slightly more reassured doing this switch through money saving expert.

Good luck to all.