Deceptive tariff comparison by British Gas

Hasbeen

nigelbb said:

Thanks for “grandmother sucking eggs” advice. I am perfectly aware that I can get a better deal that’s how I became a customer of British Gas in the first plane by switching from EDF for a better deal.

My point is that the naive customer could be deceived by this email into firstly assuming the annual cost of the proposed new tariff is almost identical to the old when in fact it’s 33% more expensive & even more expensive if duped into switching before the current fix ends.

Car insurance renewal is a good comparison. Renewal letters are obliged to include details of the previous year’s premium along with the renewal premium plus must tell customers that they may find a better deal by shopping around with other companies . There is no mention in the email I received that there is even the possibility of switching to another cheaper supplier.

It would be a simple matter for OFCOM to mandate similar information is conveyed in an energy supplier renewal proposal. 

No one here knows what experience you have. Re granny sucking eggs

OPs who post here get what I hope is helpful advice.

But at the risk of another granny/eggs comment.

Perhaps OFCOM would not be the ideal choice?

Perhaps OFGEM would be be the one more advisable?

But I defer to your more experience in these matters.

[Deleted User]

I have been looking at my old bills as far back as 2015 and under what used to be known as 'Could You Pay Less?' they all show a rolling 12 months cost projection based on the Ofgem methodology AND they all have a statement similar to ' Remember - it might be worth thinking about switching your tariff and supplier'.  

nigelbb

Tallerdave said:

nigelbb said:

It would be a simple matter for OFCOM to mandate similar information is conveyed in an energy supplier renewal proposal. 

Ofcom (Office for Coronavirus Obeyance in Mainstream media) are only interested in broadcasters who aren't playing along with Project Fear. 

I had already edited the typo in my post before I read this ludicrous paranoia.

Don't the anti-vaxxers & COVID Deniers realise how bonkers they are? Presumably not or they wouldn't post such bollox.

nigelbb

Hasbeen said:

nigelbb said:

Thanks for “grandmother sucking eggs” advice. I am perfectly aware that I can get a better deal that’s how I became a customer of British Gas in the first plane by switching from EDF for a better deal.

My point is that the naive customer could be deceived by this email into firstly assuming the annual cost of the proposed new tariff is almost identical to the old when in fact it’s 33% more expensive & even more expensive if duped into switching before the current fix ends.

Car insurance renewal is a good comparison. Renewal letters are obliged to include details of the previous year’s premium along with the renewal premium plus must tell customers that they may find a better deal by shopping around with other companies . There is no mention in the email I received that there is even the possibility of switching to another cheaper supplier.

It would be a simple matter for OFCOM to mandate similar information is conveyed in an energy supplier renewal proposal. 

No one here knows what experience you have. Re granny sucking eggs

OPs who post here get what I hope is helpful advice.

But at the risk of another granny/eggs comment.

Perhaps OFCOM would not be the ideal choice?

Perhaps OFGEM would be be the one more advisable?

But I defer to your more experience in these matters.

I had already corrected my typo before I read your sarcastic post which doesn't seem like very helpful advice but at least it's not COVID-19 denying nonsense like @Tallerdave's post.

rp1974

Isn't this getting a little out of hand here?.
Short version,quotes could and should be clearer yes,thats down to the regulations as to why they are not.
I wouldn't just assume figures "claimed" added up without checking myself first,it's really not that difficult.
Shouldn't be necessary but as it's within the regulations it's therefore hardly deceptive,imho.
Being on line and blindly clicking any save loads of cash buttons would be extreme naivety though.

milgo

Buy this! It will make your (currently bald) head grow hair!  I wouldn't buy it without 1st doing my own research?!

Cardew

I think what many people are missing is the misleading phrasing of British Gas letters on this subject which IMO are clearly designed to deceive customers.

I received a similar lengthy email and letter. I complained in early March to Ofwat Ofcom Ofgem!, copied to BG, with my annual consumption figures and the prices given in their letter: Some extracts below:

'My current tariff is  Energy Plus Protection Mar 2021v2. They make it very convenient for me to ‘switch with one click’ to their Exclusive Energy Mar 2022 tariff which is  ‘our cheapest fixed tariff’. Presumably this tariff is Exclusive’as I am a ‘loyal’ customer of many years standing.

However those who understand these matters will be aware of the significance of this statement which is towards the end of a lengthy letter:

‘Prices are accurate at the time of send and are calculated using your current payment method. The current tariff box includes the prices that will apply, should you default onto the Standard Variable tariff, when the Energy Plus Protection Mar 2021v2 ends.’

I wonder how many of my fellow pensioners, or indeed those of any age, understand the implications of that statement.

It would have been quite easy, and far more relevant, to state at the beginning that instead of paying £624/£689 on my current tariff I will be paying £840/£855 for gas/electricity on the Exclusive’tariff; an increase of £382(29.1%) instead of the rather more modest increase of £122(7.8%) that is shown at the beginning of the letter for the Exclusive tariff

To put it bluntly the layout and content of this letter is a deliberate attempt to confuse and undoubtedly will persuade many to switch to a much more expensive tariff.

It is pertinent to point out another misleading statement. It states this Exclusive tariff is ‘our cheapest fixed tariff’. Except that isn’t true!

British Gas have adopted the dreadful practice of offering a cheaper fixed tariff for non-British Gas customers. (i.e. New customers only). I wonder how many British Gas customers who have been with the company for many years are aware that their loyalty counts for nothing!'

Needless to say I haven’t had a reply from Ofgem or BG.

It is also pertinent to add that I received a phone call from BG retentions department offering me 1 year and 2 year fixed tariffs considerably cheaper than the ‘Exclusive’ tariff in the letter; but still not really competitive.  

st999

BG keep sending me emails to change to their new tariff immediately, which is of course more than my present tariff which ends in 31 days.

Why on earth would I switch to a higher tariff before my lower tariff ends? (this is a rhetorical question)

They are beginning to pea me off.

I will be going elsewhere.

Hasbeen

st999 said:

BG keep sending me emails to change to their new tariff immediately, which is of course more than my present tariff which ends in 31 days.

Why on earth would I switch to a higher tariff before my lower tariff ends? (this is a rhetorical question)

They are beginning to pea me off.

I will be going elsewhere.

Personally I would start a switch about 14 days before old tariff ends.


I would prefer to pay a minimum amount against the expensive standard tariff that I may be put on. Until new supplier accepts.


You already probably know this. But compare Switch with Which and the CAB switch site.


I was ridiculed by a poster once for giving above advice to them. As per do not teach your granny to suck eggs type reply.


So ignore above if you already know this or are experienced at switching. 

rp1974

Hasbeen said:
I was ridiculed by a poster once for giving above advice to them. As per do not teach your granny to suck eggs type reply.

I'd leave such a poster to rely upon their own devices due to their entirely unnecessary attitude.
If whomever doesn't agree with the advice offered fair enough,could at least retain a degree of civility though.