MSE News: GB Energy goes bust, 160,000 customers affected

westv

I still don't really understand the reasoning for being charged higher. They say to cover the "extra risk". Surely the extra risk was GB Energy itself? Their customers would already have been checked.

Batman_100

KGriff wrote: »

As a GBEnergy customer, I have to say I feel sorry for those young people who work for them, who may have lost their jobs in the run up to Christmas.

I can only imagine how they all must be feeling and whether or not they can find new jobs quickly and be able to pay their own bills. I just hope everyone lands on their feet and gets another job soon, particularly those people with young families.

It's more than likely the office in Preston will remain open and the staff will simply have their employment contracts transferred to the new supplier as they're unlikely to have the manpower, IT equipment equipment etc to deal with a sudden influx of new customers.

sillygoose

j73 wrote: »

I've credit with GB Energy but not sure how much! Also can't check my usage as website gone! Didn't keep anything written down..What a cockup by me!! ������

How long ago did you last have a 'your bill is ready' email? they usually say how much your in credit or debit at the time.

Batman_100

westv wrote: »

I still don't really understand the reasoning for being charged higher. They say to cover the "extra risk". Surely the extra risk was GB Energy itself? Their customers would already have been checked.

There's a whole range of factors ofgem will consider when choosing which supplier will take on GB Energy's customers. The most important thing is to make sure the new supplier can handle the switching process quickly and accurately so the current uncertainty for GBEnergy customers can end.

Raging_Bull

I only have £40 or so credit on my last bill but I've cancelled the swap I initiated last week as it could get messy. Still deciding whether to cancel my DD going out on the 1st to GB energy. Will it be recorded on my credit rating?

rozel

Quote from a previous post: -

"Q. Should I cancel my direct debit?
A. Ofgem says you shouldn't. Those in credit with GB Energy won't have any further direct debits taken, while those in debt to GB Energy will have direct debit payments taken as normal, and should allow this to happen.
We know some customers have cancelled their direct debits anyway, and we're clarifying with Ofgem why it's issued this particular advice."

I'm in a massive credit scenario ( >£350 + 1 months supply as I paid in advance) and was told by my Bank too (Santander) that I could claim back as many Direct debits as necessary - but via the Direct Debit Indemnity Scheme - see my earlier posts. However I think this is debateable. I cancelled my DDR yesterday but as expected it went through today as yesterday was a non-working day. I am to ring through tomorrow to get my Direct Debits refunded. We shall see and I will report back once I know more tomorrow evening.

So the above quote is b******s" - of course Direct Debits are still being processed for customers in credit!

roz

millie

sillygoose wrote: »

How long ago did you last have a 'your bill is ready' email? they usually say how much your in credit or debit at the time.

I had 2 emails on Friday saying my bill was available within 2 minutes of each other. My credit was shown but it was a different amount on the second one. When I went online Saturday afternoon before the site went down the credit showing on the latest bill was for an even different amount again, so I had 3 different amounts showing only a few pounds between them all but what a mess up.


Unfortunately I did not download the bill but I could not make any sense of it, There were 3 months on there and I am pretty sure it only went to up 17th October. I was going to look at it closer later but can't get it on now. The only other bill showing on my account was also several months rolled into one, with slightly different readings from the original ones.


They asked me for meter readings in November weeks after they had fitted a smart meter, when I questioned why they needed readings they said it was an automatic email to ignore it. When I looked at the latest bill on Saturday the readings were less than what was showing on the meter they had removed, so I must owe them at least a months usage.

joannasinbox

I have tried to switch back to NPower, my pre-GB Energy supplier ( I had a previous problem that was posted on the other MSE website and I won't bore you with it here). Today, I had it confirmed, twice, that NPower have been told not to touch ex GB Energy clients until Ofgem gets things sorted out. Ofgem says two weeks. Has anyone had their post-GB bust switch CONFIRMED with any other company? Online applications do not count.

fredandwilma

Martin Lewis: 'Why GB Energy customers should do nothing'

Martin Lewis has told BBC 5 live that GB Energy customers "should do nothing" following the collapse of the company.

The firm with 160,000 customers ceased trading, blaming recent rises in energy prices.

Speaking to Adrian Chiles, the Money Saving Expert explained that Ofgem would appoint a new supplier and that outstanding credit balances were protected.

"If you were in credit with GB Energy, you will get your credit back. Take a meter reading as soon as possible, so that you have a reading at the old GB Energy rate."

This clip is from BBC Radio 5 live Daily on Monday 28 November 2016.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04j7xwd


It's unknown territory ultimately, but you still need to be a GB Energy customer?

Peony2016

I've cancelled my direct debit because I don't trust that anyone in credit won't have a DD taken - surely it's an automated system set up through their accounts, so they won't have someone sitting there checking whether each account is in credit?

I had a direct debit of around £30 taken out of my account on 1st November (it should've been the 6th but they took it early!) and my last bill on the 13th November left me in credit of £18.03. My next direct debit was due to come out on the 6th December, and I was due to get my next bill on the 13th. I phoned my bank (TSB) and explained that I pay for electricity in advance, so they've put in an indemnity claim under the direct debit guarantee to refund me the £30 I paid in November.

My question is - will GB know that I have claimed the money back and essentially take that money off my electricity account, thereby leaving me in debit?