British Gas Hidden Charges

Domino71

Don't move to a new tariff before the old one ends, because you'll be put onto the new tariff on the day that you ask for the move, and you'll be charged the new tariff rate before the old one ends.
Read my letter to BG below:

"On or around 5 March 2019, I telephoned British Gas (BG) to arrange to transfer to a new HomeEnergy Secure Mar 2021 tariff, which ends on 31 March 2021. My current tariff ends on 31 March 2019.
On 24 March 2019 on return from holiday, I examined my latest gas statement dated 15 March 2019. I was surprised to see that the new tariff had been applied from 6 March 2019.
On 24 March 2019, I telephoned BG to query why the new tariff started on 6 March 2019 instead of 31 March 2019, the day after the old tariff ends.
I was told that new tariffs start on from the day that a customer agrees to change to a new tariff, regardless of when the existing tariff ends. I disputed this, but was told that this condition was stated in my Terms and Conditions (T&Cs), and that it was my responsibility to comply with the T&Cs.
I have read BGs terms and conditions on the official British Gas website and there is no statement about new tariffs starting on the day that a customer agrees to change to a new tariff.
Furthermore, BGs letter to me, reference XXXXXXXX dated 5 March 2019 contains the terms and conditions of my new tariff and there is no mention of tariffs starting on the day that a customer agrees to change to a new tariff. In fact the tariff information contained in BGs letter does not specify any tariff start date. It must specify a tariff start date.
Because no start date has been specified for the new tariff, it is fair and reasonable to assume and expect that the new tariff will start on completion of the old tariff.
During the telephone call of 24 March 2019, I made a verbal complaint about this issue. BG’s representative said she would talk to her supervisor about this, and said she would call me back within 2 hours. To date, I have not received a return call in response to my verbal complaint, nor have I received a written response to my verbal complaint.
Starting a new tariff before the old one expires and not telling the customer of a likely hidden charge, is a casual and cynical attempt to mislead and exploit the customer. In my case, this has resulted in an additional “hidden” charge of £0.77, which does not appear in my gas statement of 15 March 2017. I have not received any additional goods, services or benefit from this additional “hidden charge”.
A “hidden” charge of £0.77 every time a customer changes to a new tariff may seem trivial to BG, but it could add up to several million pounds of unearned revenue for BG every year. These “hidden” charges do not appear on any customers gas statements, so would not appear in any BG audit, and HMRC would not be aware of this unearned revenue.

JJ_Egan

Rules are you switch providers free of charge 42 days before end .
Changing tariffs in house no idea.


This 77p will be shown on the books if its real.
You should report to OFGEM amd HMRC .

bonus2010

Seems BG are being unreasonable here because I’d think that when a customer calls about their fixed term contract coming to an end, they’re speaking about what tariffs are available commencing the end of the current tariff. Hence the reason for the phone call.

It would be different starting a new contract immediately if that new contract was cheaper than the current contract. In this case it’s not so surely it would be expected for at the very least a good supplier to make their customer aware of this.

Hasbeen

Op you are complaining and phoning, writing letters etc over 77 pence?

You asked to change tariffs they changed it.

Perhaps waiting until your old one ran out then change or specify that you want to change on a specific day would be better?