Urgent Help Pls. Changed to B.Gas. Only 3 days left to cancel.

RealGem

elsien said:

RealGem said:

molerat said:

I might be missing something but the MSE information clearly states it is a smart meter tariff - with a pop up box that tells you precisely what that means - and comes with 12 months BG care worth £144

Plus all of the big 6 fixed tariffs are smart meter.

Thank you
I only just spotted that when I did another quote just now.


I heard it's a lot harder to change suppliers in future if you have a smart meter. Is that still the case?
thanks

No. If you have an older smart meter then  it stops being smart if you change supplier so you’re just back where you are now taking readings yourself. With a smets2 meter, there isn’t an issue.
I wasn’t bothered about a smart meter either way but I wouldn’t cancel a good tariff just because of that. 
The last couple of times I’ve checked single vs dual fuel, there’s been so little difference (once I’ve ruled out the ones with rubbish customer service) that I’ve stayed with the dual fuel for convenience. I don’t think the difference to single tariffs is that big for a lot of people. 

Thank you
I have stayed with dual fuel anyway. I am dyslexic. We have already established I can't cope with ONE lot of small print, let alone two!

Gerry1

Robin9 said:

Gerry1 said:

Makes no difference -  Smart meters can make it easier for you to monitor your costs - providing you read the bills 

Nope.  You won't be eligible for some tariffs if you have an existing smart meter, regardless of whether it's dumb or active.

RealGem was asking if it was harder to change suppliers  - in what way is it harder Gerry ? 

As I said, some tariffs are not available if you already have a smart meter.  It's been highlighted on the forum.  If Ofgem are likely to penalise them for failing to meet their smart meter targets, they're not going to waste time and money recruiting the converted !

Shell didn't accept people with smart meters, nor did Lumo before it closed down.

Streaky_Bacon

RealGem said:

Yes I did thanks, but I can't talk to them before Monday the actual day of the new contract, so I am worried it will be too late. 
But also concerned as my plan with SSE runs out then, and if I don't change to a cheaper plan with them I will get put on Standard, which they tell me is more expensive than I was on last time. 

If you have emailed BG and told them that you want to cancel, then that will be sufficient notice.

I assume that your concern is that the switch will go ahead anyway. That is very likely. My recent electricity switch actually took place at least one day before the specified date (according the records held by the network operator).

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/connections-and-moving-home/who-my-gas-or-electricity-supplier

Even if it does go ahead BG will simply have to reverse it.

If you do then find yourself on a standard variable with SSE, it shouldn't be difficult to move to a different tariff and, of course, you could just switch to someone else (they'll either put you on the standard variable or a fixed term deal with no exit fees)

If you haven't done so, it may be a good time to do some comparisons with individual fuels (rather than dual fuel) to see if you could save more.

MWT

Gerry1 said:

As I said, some tariffs are not available if you already have a smart meter.  It's been highlighted on the forum.  If Ofgem are likely to penalise them for failing to meet their smart meter targets, they're not going to waste time and money recruiting the converted !

Shell didn't accept people with smart meters, nor did Lumo before it closed down.

Slightly missing the full information there, the only tariffs that you couldn't get if you already had a smart meter were tariffs designed for people wanting to have a new smart meter installed...

Shell had no problems accepting people with smart meters, just not onto the one tariff they had for people without smart meters wanting to get a smart meter...