British Gas - how do existing customers access their better tariffs?

MWT

Do take care as even if you do manage to switch her to one of the tariffs they offer which include 12 months free Homecare, as an existing Homecare customer she will not get the free Homecare offer.

Roy1234

She has the most expensive (gulp) BG Homecare package and wants to keep it, so the removal/invalidation of boiler cover from this fuel tariff doesn't affect her.  Just wish there was a way to obtain the tariff itself or else that they'd clearly say it was not for existing customers.

MWT

Roy1234 said:

Just wish there was a way to obtain the tariff itself or else that they'd clearly say it was not for existing customers.

Isn't that exactly what it says in the description of that particular tariff on the BG website?

Roy1234

No it isn't.  It's pointing out that the Cover element will be void if overlapping an existing BG service agreement.  It was the same with last year's HomeEnergy Fix Green May 2020; the T&C made it clear the boiler cover element was voided by her exiting cover, which didn't matter as you can hardly be covered twice.  But last year I could simply select the 2020 deal from her BG account, this year the 2021 isn't offered from within BG and not by switching sites either as there's no referral fee if you're not changing energy Company.

mac.d

It doesn't state anywhere in the terms & conditions that you need to be a new customer, and doesn't state this on the MSE CEC either. But it's only available via certain switching websites, and if you are already an existing British Gas customer it doesn't appear in the results. I know someone who has switched from one BG tariff to another BG tariff via MSE CEC previously, so it's not like it can't ever be done, it can. Unfortunately, not in this case though, so looks like you'll need to encourage her to switch to another supplier. Nothing to stop her keeping her BG HomeCare cover, and she'll save some cash on her energy bill for the next year and then you can look to see if she can switch back to British Gas then.

Roy1234

mac.d said:

It doesn't state anywhere in the terms & conditions that you need to be a new customer, and doesn't state this on the MSE CEC either. But it's only available via certain switching websites, and if you are already an existing British Gas customer it doesn't appear in the results. I know someone who has switched from one BG tariff to another BG tariff via MSE CEC previously, so it's not like it can't ever be done, it can. Unfortunately, not in this case though, so looks like you'll need to encourage her to switch to another supplier. Nothing to stop her keeping her BG HomeCare cover, and she'll save some cash on her energy bill for the next year and then you can look to see if she can switch back to British Gas then.

Well at least you've reached the same conclusion I had.  Yes I will try again persuading her to move.

MWT

I agree it is worded badly, but the opening words in that paragraph I quoted are 'This tariff is not available to...' ... but in any event BG list the tariff in the section designated as: "Our collective switch and exclusive tariffs", so that would suggest it isn't generally available unless you are switching or otherwise accessing it from an exclusive source...