British Gas - Switching tariffs

UpperLoft

I handled my mother's financial matters, and she got a letter from BG dated 25 October, confirming her present tariff was ending on 30 November, and to contact them before 9 November if she wanted to change to a new 2023 tariff. The letter further added, that if the switch was done online, it could be done inside 24 hours.

Thing is: between her old tariff and the new tariff, I calculated that it would result in her paying approximately, £17 more for the month of November if she effectively, switched early.

As I handle her finances, I contacted BG and pointed this out. Their answer was along the lines of, we do this so customers don't leave it late or not remember to switch before the expiration of their current deal.

However, they also commented that you can in fact change on the day the existing tariff ends.

Why doesn't BG either explain this more clearly and/or in taking instructions from customers to change to new tariffs, make them effective as of the first day after the old tariff ends?

As I live overseas, I cannot submit a complaint/observation through the BG complaints page on their website, so I have contacted the CAB.

dbks

UpperLoft said:

I handled my mother's financial matters, and she got a letter from BG dated 25 October, confirming her present tariff was ending on 30 November, and to contact them before 9 November if she wanted to change to a new 2023 tariff. The letter further added, that if the switch was done online, it could be done inside 24 hours.

Thing is: between her old tariff and the new tariff, I calculated that it would result in her paying approximately, £17 more for the month of November if she effectively, switched early.

As I handle her finances, I contacted BG and pointed this out. Their answer was along the lines of, we do this so customers don't leave it late or not remember to switch before the expiration of their current deal.

However, they also commented that you can in fact change on the day the existing tariff ends.

Why doesn't BG either explain this more clearly and/or in taking instructions from customers to change to new tariffs, make them effective as of the first day after the old tariff ends?

As I live overseas, I cannot submit a complaint/observation through the BG complaints page on their website, so I have contacted the CAB.

What did the CAB advise you?

Presumably the first qusetion was why you are unable to raise a complaint against the supplier online?
Even if you cannot do it online, why can you not raise the complaint using snail mail?

In the letters I've seen from BG about a fixed tariff ending, it says you can actually transfer to another of their tariffs within 20 working days after the existing tariff ends, and if you do, you will remain on the existing/expired tariff.
(similarly, you can start a switch of supplier within 20 working after after the expiry of the fixed tariff, in which case you can remain on the expired tariff until the switch occurs, assuming it is completed in a reasonable time - so you could probably get 6-7 weeks on the expired tariff if you time it right.)

Suppliers are obligated to inform customers that their fixed tariff is coming to an end 49-42 days before it's planned expiry date. This is known as the switching window, when any early exit fee no longer applies.

The obvious question I hope CAB also asked is why you are agreeeing to a new tariff at this time?

Unless of course it's to transfer to British Gas Zero Fixed Oct 22

MWT

UpperLoft said:

I handled my mother's financial matters, and she got a letter from BG dated 25 October, confirming her present tariff was ending on 30 November, and to contact them before 9 November if she wanted to change to a new 2023 tariff. The letter further added, that if the switch was done online, it could be done inside 24 hours.

Thing is: between her old tariff and the new tariff, I calculated that it would result in her paying approximately, £17 more for the month of November if she effectively, switched early.

The better question right now is should she switch to another fixed tariff at all...?

Given current UK prices she may be better off doing nothing and dropping on to their variable tariff when the current one expires, so hopefully you did not actually agree to a new fixed tariff... ?

UpperLoft

MWT said:

UpperLoft said:

I handled my mother's financial matters, and she got a letter from BG dated 25 October, confirming her present tariff was ending on 30 November, and to contact them before 9 November if she wanted to change to a new 2023 tariff. The letter further added, that if the switch was done online, it could be done inside 24 hours.

Thing is: between her old tariff and the new tariff, I calculated that it would result in her paying approximately, £17 more for the month of November if she effectively, switched early.

The better question right now is should she switch to another fixed tariff at all...?

Given current UK prices she may be better off doing nothing and dropping on to their variable tariff when the current one expires, so hopefully you did not actually agree to a new fixed tariff... ?

At the moment I have not done anything. The variable rate is cheaper. so will look for on the comparison site to see if there is a good deal or just keep her locked in for now.

jbuchanangb

The UK energy market is in a mess at the moment. Whereas 6 months ago all suppliers were fighting to get people to switch to them onto fixed rate tariffs LOWER than the Government OFGEM price cap, nowadays no major suppliers are offering any fixed rate tariffs lower than the cap, only HIGHER. The default position when a fixed term comes to an end is that you revert to the supplier's Standard Variable Tariff which cannot exceed the OFGEM price cap. All major suppliers are offering such a tariff, but will not let customers switch to it. Your best action on your mother's behalf is do nothing, and let British Gas put her on their Standard Variable Tariff. That is controlled by OFGEM, and can't change until 1 April 2022.