PfP Energy ceases trading - here's everything you need to know

MWT

QrizB said:

I'm reminded of the Hemingway quote:

“How did you go bankrupt?”
“Two ways. Gradually and then suddenly.”

I was thinking of Yoda ... "Do. Or do not. There is no try"
Too many providers have recently gone for "Try"...

alicef

Not strictly a sad posting on the ongoing saga that is the SOLR PfP to BG transfer, however...

does anyone know how I can switch off the extremely annoying pumping of product/services on my BG account summary? 

I always sign up to 'no marketing' on my dp preferences but for some reason I keep getting ads for BG 'Home Insurance'; signing up for a smart meter (why? I have one)..., and the 'mobile app', which is futile as my aged mobile doesn't support apps... 

I can't find where on my online BG account I can turn this stuff off.  Any assistance, very gratefully received!

Alpha_5

In the app you go to My Account then press the Update button under Contact Details - marketing preferences are at the bottom of the Contact Details page. I'm guessing it'll be the same on the website.

Interesting that BG has automatically opted me into marketing, despite me never giving my consent. So much for GDPR. I wonder what the ICO would make of it... 

alicef

Alpha_5 said:

In the app you go to My Account then press the Update button under Contact Details - marketing preferences are at the bottom of the Contact Details page. I'm guessing it'll be the same on the website.

Interesting that BG has automatically opted me into marketing, despite me never giving my consent. So much for GDPR. I wonder what the ICO would make of it... 

Thank you for posting back.  I haven't got the app unless it's something I can load onto my laptop?  None of my marketing preferences, which I have discovered under my Account Details have been set to send marketing stuff, (they are Email/SMS/Mobile/Landline/Post), so I cannnot understand why I have got this stuff presented on my online account?

Alpha_5

The app will just be for mobile devices. Sorry, I mis-read the part of your post about marketing in your account dashboard. I doubt there's anything you can do the remove that as its not direct marketing - you are visiting the BG website, rather then them sending you communications, so won't be covered by GDPR, hence no opt out. 

alicef

Alpha_5 said:

The app will just be for mobile devices. Sorry, I mis-read the part of your post about marketing in your account dashboard. I doubt there's anything you can do the remove that as its not direct marketing - you are visiting the BG website, rather then them sending you communications, so won't be covered by GDPR, hence no opt out. 

Thank you very much for your reply. 

 I'm not sure why it isn't direct marketing?   Surely it is?  Though there may be semantics I'm not familiar with.

So - I log into my own personal BG account online.... BG then slaps up a load of product/service placement postings. 

I cannot recall any other energy supplier I have had an account with doing this.

Alpha_5

I'm no expert (and it's a very complex area) but direct marketing involves the processing of personal information (name, address, phone number etc) in order to send you marketing. Serving you an advert on the website doesn't.

Unfortunately for us ex-PFP customers, BG have lots of other products to cross-sell. 

MWT

alicef said:

So - I log into my own personal BG account online.... BG then slaps up a load of product/service placement postings. 

Not quite, you willingly choose to log into their system, you don't own the online account, they do, you just get to use it when you want to.

alicef

MWT said:

Not quite, you willingly choose to log into their system, you don't own the online account, they do, you just get to use it when you want to.

That's an  interesting twist.  So, if i chose to operate my account via postal methods, for example, then the DP Act applies but if I opt for an online account it doesn't?  

MWT

Broadly, yes, it would be a bit like walking into their office building and complaining about marketing material in reception...