Energy prices creeping up depite fix.

Border_Reiver2

Two and a half years ago we negotiated with British Gas a 3 year fix for both gas and electricity and despite the so-called fix, the unit costs and standing charges have continued to creep up. Can they legally do this?
Another problem is that although we and Brit Gas know fairly accurately what our annual usage is they give us a monthly payment amount which is inconsistent with our monthly usage. Therefore, when we are using very little in the summer, they say we are in credit and reduce our payments at the start of winter, with the obvious result that with increased usage, we become in debit by the time it's spring. So then they say "you are in debit, so we will be taking increased payments" . Surely, it would make sense to charge us the same monthly payment throughout the year and if then we come into credit or debit, refund us or take extra for that month. It drives us mad the stupidity of it.

Neil_Jones

Your direct debit amount means nothing, its the amount of energy you use that matters. The direct debit figure is only ever an estimate and it can and will change over the life of the contract.

If you are truely on a 3 year fix the unit rates and standing charge will not change. If they are regulary changing then you are not a on a fix, because the whole point of a fix is you stay on those unit rates for the rest of it. Its far more likely your fix has actually ended and you've rolled onto the standard tariff which costs a fortune and then some more, plus the unit rates can and will change.

Border_Reiver2

Hi. Thank you for the reply. As you say, the amount we pay is related to our usage in kw/h, it's just that our usage doesn't vary by much each year and it seems insane to drop the monthly DD price when we are about to enter a period of high usage and the reverse for the summer, when it could be averaged out over a year and adjusted at the end of each year. I queried this last spring when the DD increased a lot and was told that they expected that it would take 4 months to clear the shortfall. In fact it was cleared in half that time because of the very low summer usage we always have.
We are definitely on a fixed tariff, our online account and emails from Brit Gas constantly remind us that it ends on 31st August this year. We entered into the agreement in Aug 2016.

Neil_Jones

What tariff are you on?
Have you some examples of some bills you can share, obviously blot out your name, address, contact details and account numbers before posting anything.

Hasbeen

Neil_Jones wrote: »

What tariff are you on?
Have you some examples of some bills you can share, obviously blot out your name, address, contact details and account numbers before posting anything.

As above interesting to see, as did not know BG did 3 year fixes.

And fixed prices should not alter.

Is it a business tariff you are on?

elsien

What explanation do BG give when you enquire why your fixed rate doesn't appear to be fixed?

macman

Was it a fix or a cap? Entirely different things, and caps were still around 3 years ago.
Please give us proper info and post the actual name of your tariff.