Breeze Energy: DANGER

Divingnorway

They have stripped £259 more than they should have from my bank account in 2 months.
I switched to this lot using the MSE tool.
Switch process was fine.
They sent an email saying that my estimated usage was too low compared with typical usage of "my type of house". Their est usage was double mine. I emailed them to tell them I have tracked my actual usage for the last 5 years and it has remained about the same. I sent an est annual usage statement from my last supplier that confirmed my estimates.
They agreed to reduce the direct debit to match my estimate.
Despite saying they would reduce the direct debit, they haven't. My account with them, after 2 months is now £447 in credit.
I have demanded immediate refund, and threatened them with OFGEM and the Direct Debit Guarantee scheme.

I thought Extra Energy were bad....these seem to be just as bad from my experience to date.

Simby

So you have a credit.. which means you will not face any big surprises..could the dad be reduced to clear it over time?

Given most people get into the opposite situation , good on you for being on top of your readings and usage.. sadly most are not which is probably the issue the company was trying to protect its customers form having too low a dd , and then having a debt.

I have found British gas more open to setting the dd I want but they are significantly more expensive.

I personally like to overpay and have a credit.. more in case something happens like unemployment and I have difficulty paying but I appreciate most are not like that ( I have about 1000 credit now on both gas and electric which comforts me when I get worried about money). It I appreciate what you have described could be equally frustrating

Gerry1

Simby wrote: »

I have about 1000 credit now on both gas and electric which comforts me when I get worried about money.

If you're worried about a rainy day, it would be far more sensible to keep control of your money by investing it in an interest paying savings account rather than letting it help an energy company's cash flow.

And good luck reclaiming your £2k when your energy company goes bust, as many tales of woe on this forum warn only too clearly.

Farway

Gerry1 wrote: »

And good luck reclaiming your £2k when your energy company goes bust, as many tales of woe on this forum warn only too clearly.

No need to claim
"Your new supplier will pay back the outstanding credit you may have. Once we have appointed the new supplier, they will contact you to explain how this will work. Costs for energy you have used but have not yet been billed for will be deducted from your account balance.
Our advice is to take a meter reading and a note of your account balance if you know it, and to wait for them to get in touch with you."

From https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-help-energy-services/ofgem-safety-net-if-your-energy-supplier-goes-out-business

Gerry1

Farway wrote: »

No need to claim

Oh really?:rotfl:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2019/01/economy-energy-customers-furious-over-credit-refund-delays-/

Talldave

Far better not to have your hard earned cash mounting up in an energy company's bank account though.


Do their T&C's say anything about cancelling the direct debit? If you did that it sounds as if your balance would keep you going for months. Allowing you enough time to organise a switch to another provider to align with your credit expiring.

GuiltyCol

Gerry1 wrote: »

And good luck reclaiming your £2k when your energy company goes bust, as many tales of woe on this forum warn only too clearly.

Considering this post is about Breeze Energy, who have gone bust, that turned out to be quite a prophetic comment! :T

rkc

Hi all
has anyone actually received any credit you had with Breeze energy??
British gas keep telling me that it is safe and will be transferred to them and that was no need to worry!
As for the process with BG as far as I am concerned frustrated is an understatement, I want to change but think best thing I can do is sit it out until the Breeze issues are complete.

Dave_save

rkc said:

Hi all
has anyone actually received any credit you had with Breeze energy??
British gas keep telling me that it is safe and will be transferred to them and that was no need to worry!
As for the process with BG as far as I am concerned frustrated is an understatement, I want to change but think best thing I can do is sit it out until the Breeze issues are complete.

You need to have a look at the other Breeze thread created when Breeze went under. As you'll see there, most people have already switched away from BG. Their tariff is quite high and BG are certainly hard work when trying to deal with billing. The Breeze credit and debits for the period up to administration (22nd December), wont be finalised for at least a couple of weeks and will be a separate exercise from the BG periods of supply.

rkc

Dave_save said:

rkc said:

Hi all
has anyone actually received any credit you had with Breeze energy??
British gas keep telling me that it is safe and will be transferred to them and that was no need to worry!
As for the process with BG as far as I am concerned frustrated is an understatement, I want to change but think best thing I can do is sit it out until the Breeze issues are complete.

You need to have a look at the other Breeze thread created when Breeze went under. As you'll see there, most people have already switched away from BG. Their tariff is quite high and BG are certainly hard work when trying to deal with billing. The Breeze credit and debits for the period up to administration (22nd December), wont be finalised for at least a couple of weeks and will be a separate exercise from the BG periods of supply.

Thank you Dave, found it

masontom

Has anybody else had the misfortune of dealing with British Gas following there appointment as Energy Provider of last resort. We were advised by Ofgem not to transfer from Breeze, but to wait for BG to contact us, existing terms would be maintained until we had negotiated new terms with BG. They never did, as I was about to go on holiday I contacted them, they quoted  extortionate terms and said these were the best terms available, as negotiated with Ofgem. Told them I was leaving having contacted another supplier. New supplier contacted me whilst I was away and advised that application to transfer to them had been rejected, as BG were taking over my account. I would need to re-apply with new readings etc. As I was 12000 miles away little I could do till I returned to the UK. Transfer completed on my return and now received final account from BG - £400 for two months energy, (and I've been away for two months on holiday) only paid just over £800 with Breeze for the last full year. BG have failed to show the correct readings when supply taken over from Breeze and also have incorrect readings for final bill, all readings throughout have been estimated, incorrectly. I do not intend to pay their inflated extortionate energy rates, as had my original transfer request to the new supplier gone through, I would have been on a much cheaper tariff during this period. I have raised a formal complaint with BG. Have any other people received similar treatment, is there any form of action group or has anyone reported this to BBC Watchdog? British Gas are rubbish and if they were the last energy provider in the land I wouldn't use them, I'd rather use candles!! Has Martin any views on this. Also Ofgem haven't covered themselves in glory with this either - they were the cause of putting a perfectly good energy company out of business.