BG Zero Fix October 22

ivanleo

lisyloo said:

You are misunderstanding what I meant (apologies if that was my fault).
if a call center operative says “yes you can have it, I’ll request a switch” and the switch does not get implemented because the tariff is not available, then I don’t believe you have any grounds to have that tariff. You have grounds for £30-£50 for them not informing you.

if you actually get switched to the tariff then I agree with you - I would expect them to honour it.

I was referring to the first scenario.

I suppose it's down to where you think they can draw the line. What makes one error oh so different from the other? After all, hasn't the person who applied the tariff to your account also not made an "error"?

ivanleo

MWT said:

Ultimately they should be making it impossible to actually put people onto that tariff if they really want to end this, so you have to assume that either they lack the technical ability to shut it down, not they just don't care enough to do it...

I suspect that with all the customers they've taken on due to all the failed suppliers, nobody at BG has the bandwidth to event think about this. They can't even fix their chat to work when you're logged into your account!

ftb_21

Foodie_Monster said:

I went through their chat on my account page and requested Exclusive Fix Nov 2023 - they initially said fine, then they said "that's not the one we offered you though, right?" and I said "no, it definitely was" so they said "Fine no worries, we'll get that sorted for you" - and they said it was successful.

The account page still shows that I'm on the Variable Tariff right now, but I'm guessing it takes a few days to update? I do have the chat transcript as "evidence" for future contacts should it not go through.

How quickly was the change reflected in your account pages, guys?

I had mine reflected in my account instantly and got an email next day confirming the switch. Estimated payment change (based on new tarrif) reflected 2 days later.

ftb_21

Foodie_Monster said:

lisyloo said:

Foodie_Monster said:

Kivanleo said:

Tempting as the Nov Fix might be, I'm sticking with Zero Fixed as it works out cheaper for now. Come the end of October, I might just jump onto the chat and ask to be moved to Exclusive Fix Nov 2023.

Foodie_Monster the account pages update can take 24 hours or several weeks, seems to be luck of the draw. If nothing has happened in two weeks, I suggest you just try again. The experience of others seems to be that if you try over and over again they will switch you eventually. The longer it takes the better the odds of a bit of compensation, I got £30 but someone else on here got £50.

Cheers for that. I have written confirmation from the chat that they have switched me, though. Once you get that, does the switch usually go through or it might still not do it?

I don’t know exactly what they said to you, but IME what they have done is requested the switch, they haven’t actually done it. What often happens (again IME) it gets rejected and they don’t inform you.
I tried about 8 times and got it eventually.
I wouldn’t wait too long before chasing it especially as you can multitask whilst in their chat queue.
I spoke to the person about my complaint and he said they would not be bound by an agent giving you incorrect information and ombudsman would not hold them to it (I’m reporting what BG person dealing with my complaint said, not stating a legal fact), but FWiW I believe him, companies can not be bound by genuine errors.
I’d leave it a few days and then try again.

Got it. How does it get rejected? In the transcript I have, the person on the other end said "the tariff is now applied effective immediatly, it will take 48 hours to reflect on your account page". It wasn't a "we'll process your request" type of deal. Also, FWIW, I was already with a BG fix that ended Jan 2022, am now on SVT with them. Seems most issues tend to happen when switching from another provider to BG, right?

Gerry1 said:

Foodie_Monster said:

How quickly was the change reflected in your account pages, guys?

Welcome to the forum.

TL;DR: Managed to get Zero Fixed Oct 22 but you have to be mega-persistent and it was slow.  May still be possible, some have reported success recently.  You'll probably be successful because you have the transcript, but don't expect it to be a pushover.

It took quite a while to get Zero Fixed Oct 22 for electricity, and the goalposts kept moving.  It seems if you get lucky the Chat people submit a request to people elsewhere and it doesn't get actioned.  When I complained, I was told that I would be switched to BG (I'd been with Symbio and jumped ship before being SoLR'd to E.On Next) but that I'd start on the SVT.  I was transferred to BG and requested Zero Fixed Oct 22 and was told it would take 25 days.  Didn't happen so I escalated it, threatened the Ombudsman.  Eventually it went through and it was backdated to the start.

Really strange how BG can show tariffs with such indeterminate status, it can't be hard to state 'Not available for new supply'.  Presumably it's intentional, to prevent people from saying 'your website shows that the SVT is definitely available so I insist on having it', with the welcome side effect that moneysavers may still be able to get some favourable old tariffs.

Good luck, tell us how you get on !

Thank you for the welcome! Been lurking for a bit

It seems to me that most people have issues when switching from different providers, and when going for that Zero Fixed Oct 22 golden rate - hence why I went with a different one. In my case, I was also with BG already, just my current fix ended and am now on SVT - but I just can't deal with price uncertainty, I'm too anxious!

As I mentioned above, the person on the chat confirmed to me that the tariff switch was sucessful, effective immediatly, and that it would be reflected on my account page within 48hrs. Is this the usual messaging that then gets backpedalled later? Or were most people getting a "we received your request and we'll process it" and then they never do? Trying to figure out if I'm on firmer ground or not haha

Had my changes reflect immidiately in my Account and an email next day confirming same.

Ignite

I just thought I would give it a go with the Exclusive Fix Nov 2023.  I went onto the chat and finally got through to an agent.  I asked to go onto the fix and after a 5 minute wait while they checked if it was available to me, they have now transferred me onto it, backdated to the 15th Jan.  I've just checked my online account and it is shown on there.  It's cheaper than the current SVT so I've already come out better.  At least when the increase in the cap hits, it won't impact me for over 18 months.

Thank you to all of you who have found these cheaper fixed tariffs.

Foodie_Monster

ftb_21 said:

Foodie_Monster said:

I went through their chat on my account page and requested Exclusive Fix Nov 2023 - they initially said fine, then they said "that's not the one we offered you though, right?" and I said "no, it definitely was" so they said "Fine no worries, we'll get that sorted for you" - and they said it was successful.

The account page still shows that I'm on the Variable Tariff right now, but I'm guessing it takes a few days to update? I do have the chat transcript as "evidence" for future contacts should it not go through.

How quickly was the change reflected in your account pages, guys?

I had mine reflected in my account instantly and got an email next day confirming the switch. Estimated payment change (based on new tarrif) reflected 2 days later.

ftb_21 said:

Foodie_Monster said:

lisyloo said:

Foodie_Monster said:

Kivanleo said:

Tempting as the Nov Fix might be, I'm sticking with Zero Fixed as it works out cheaper for now. Come the end of October, I might just jump onto the chat and ask to be moved to Exclusive Fix Nov 2023.

Foodie_Monster the account pages update can take 24 hours or several weeks, seems to be luck of the draw. If nothing has happened in two weeks, I suggest you just try again. The experience of others seems to be that if you try over and over again they will switch you eventually. The longer it takes the better the odds of a bit of compensation, I got £30 but someone else on here got £50.

Cheers for that. I have written confirmation from the chat that they have switched me, though. Once you get that, does the switch usually go through or it might still not do it?

I don’t know exactly what they said to you, but IME what they have done is requested the switch, they haven’t actually done it. What often happens (again IME) it gets rejected and they don’t inform you.
I tried about 8 times and got it eventually.
I wouldn’t wait too long before chasing it especially as you can multitask whilst in their chat queue.
I spoke to the person about my complaint and he said they would not be bound by an agent giving you incorrect information and ombudsman would not hold them to it (I’m reporting what BG person dealing with my complaint said, not stating a legal fact), but FWiW I believe him, companies can not be bound by genuine errors.
I’d leave it a few days and then try again.

Got it. How does it get rejected? In the transcript I have, the person on the other end said "the tariff is now applied effective immediatly, it will take 48 hours to reflect on your account page". It wasn't a "we'll process your request" type of deal. Also, FWIW, I was already with a BG fix that ended Jan 2022, am now on SVT with them. Seems most issues tend to happen when switching from another provider to BG, right?

Gerry1 said:

Foodie_Monster said:

How quickly was the change reflected in your account pages, guys?

Welcome to the forum.

TL;DR: Managed to get Zero Fixed Oct 22 but you have to be mega-persistent and it was slow.  May still be possible, some have reported success recently.  You'll probably be successful because you have the transcript, but don't expect it to be a pushover.

It took quite a while to get Zero Fixed Oct 22 for electricity, and the goalposts kept moving.  It seems if you get lucky the Chat people submit a request to people elsewhere and it doesn't get actioned.  When I complained, I was told that I would be switched to BG (I'd been with Symbio and jumped ship before being SoLR'd to E.On Next) but that I'd start on the SVT.  I was transferred to BG and requested Zero Fixed Oct 22 and was told it would take 25 days.  Didn't happen so I escalated it, threatened the Ombudsman.  Eventually it went through and it was backdated to the start.

Really strange how BG can show tariffs with such indeterminate status, it can't be hard to state 'Not available for new supply'.  Presumably it's intentional, to prevent people from saying 'your website shows that the SVT is definitely available so I insist on having it', with the welcome side effect that moneysavers may still be able to get some favourable old tariffs.

Good luck, tell us how you get on !

Thank you for the welcome! Been lurking for a bit

It seems to me that most people have issues when switching from different providers, and when going for that Zero Fixed Oct 22 golden rate - hence why I went with a different one. In my case, I was also with BG already, just my current fix ended and am now on SVT - but I just can't deal with price uncertainty, I'm too anxious!

As I mentioned above, the person on the chat confirmed to me that the tariff switch was sucessful, effective immediatly, and that it would be reflected on my account page within 48hrs. Is this the usual messaging that then gets backpedalled later? Or were most people getting a "we received your request and we'll process it" and then they never do? Trying to figure out if I'm on firmer ground or not haha

Had my changes reflect immidiately in my Account and an email next day confirming same.

Ignite said:

I just thought I would give it a go with the Exclusive Fix Nov 2023.  I went onto the chat and finally got through to an agent.  I asked to go onto the fix and after a 5 minute wait while they checked if it was available to me, they have now transferred me onto it, backdated to the 15th Jan.  I've just checked my online account and it is shown on there.  It's cheaper than the current SVT so I've already come out better.  At least when the increase in the cap hits, it won't impact me for over 18 months.

Thank you to all of you who have found these cheaper fixed tariffs.

Huh, so the fact that it hasn't updated for me as quickly might be a problem then. Thanks for the info. I'll try to go into their chat again and try to get another confirmation of the switch, see what's going on.

lisyloo

ivanleo said:

lisyloo said:k

You are misunderstanding what I meant (apologies if that was my fault).
if a call center operative says “yes you can have it, I’ll request a switch” and the switch does not get implemented because the tariff is not available, then I don’t believe you have any grounds to have that tariff. You have grounds for £30-£50 for them not informing you.

if you actually get switched to the tariff then I agree with you - I would expect them to honour it.

I was referring to the first scenario.

I suppose it's down to where you think they can draw the line. What makes one error oh so different from the other? After all, hasn't the person who applied the tariff to your account also not made an "error"?

I am not a lawyer, but I see a difference between a “contract” and an “order”.
my understanding is that a contract is legally binding whereas an request or an order has a different standing.
The person who applied the tarrif may well have made an error but I think that’s an error that has legally binding status on the company.
i don’t think drawing the line is that hard.
you either have a contract or you don’t.

lisyloo

Foodie_Monster said:

lisyloo said:

Foodie_Monster said:

Kivanleo said:

Tempting as the Nov Fix might be, I'm sticking with Zero Fixed as it works out cheaper for now. Come the end of October, I might just jump onto the chat and ask to be moved to Exclusive Fix Nov 2023.

Foodie_Monster the account pages update can take 24 hours or several weeks, seems to be luck of the draw. If nothing has happened in two weeks, I suggest you just try again. The experience of others seems to be that if you try over and over again they will switch you eventually. The longer it takes the better the odds of a bit of compensation, I got £30 but someone else on here got £50.

Cheers for that. I have written confirmation from the chat that they have switched me, though. Once you get that, does the switch usually go through or it might still not do it?

I don’t know exactly what they said to you, but IME what they have done is requested the switch, they haven’t actually done it. What often happens (again IME) it gets rejected and they don’t inform you.
I tried about 8 times and got it eventually.
I wouldn’t wait too long before chasing it especially as you can multitask whilst in their chat queue.
I spoke to the person about my complaint and he said they would not be bound by an agent giving you incorrect information and ombudsman would not hold them to it (I’m reporting what BG person dealing with my complaint said, not stating a legal fact), but FWiW I believe him, companies can not be bound by genuine errors.
I’d leave it a few days and then try again.

Got it. How does it get rejected? In the transcript I have, the person on the other end said "the tariff is now applied effective immediatly, it will take 48 hours to reflect on your account page". It wasn't a "we'll process your request" type of deal. Also, FWIW, I was already with a BG fix that ended Jan 2022, am now on SVT with them. Seems most issues tend to happen when switching from another provider to BG, right?

Gerry1 said:

Foodie_Monster said:

How quickly was the change reflected in your account pages, guys?

Welcome to the forum.

TL;DR: Managed to get Zero Fixed Oct 22 but you have to be mega-persistent and it was slow.  May still be possible, some have reported success recently.  You'll probably be successful because you have the transcript, but don't expect it to be a pushover.

It took quite a while to get Zero Fixed Oct 22 for electricity, and the goalposts kept moving.  It seems if you get lucky the Chat people submit a request to people elsewhere and it doesn't get actioned.  When I complained, I was told that I would be switched to BG (I'd been with Symbio and jumped ship before being SoLR'd to E.On Next) but that I'd start on the SVT.  I was transferred to BG and requested Zero Fixed Oct 22 and was told it would take 25 days.  Didn't happen so I escalated it, threatened the Ombudsman.  Eventually it went through and it was backdated to the start.

Really strange how BG can show tariffs with such indeterminate status, it can't be hard to state 'Not available for new supply'.  Presumably it's intentional, to prevent people from saying 'your website shows that the SVT is definitely available so I insist on having it', with the welcome side effect that moneysavers may still be able to get some favourable old tariffs.

Good luck, tell us how you get on !

Thank you for the welcome! Been lurking for a bit

It seems to me that most people have issues when switching from different providers, and when going for that Zero Fixed Oct 22 golden rate - hence why I went with a different one. In my case, I was also with BG already, just my current fix ended and am now on SVT - but I just can't deal with price uncertainty, I'm too anxious!

As I mentioned above, the person on the chat confirmed to me that the tariff switch was sucessful, effective immediatly, and that it would be reflected on my account page within 48hrs. Is this the usual messaging that then gets backpedalled later? Or were most people getting a "we received your request and we'll process it" and then they never do? Trying to figure out if I'm on firmer ground or not haha

It’s possible you have gotten through to different teams to me (hence IME - in my experience).
it gets rejected by someone not completing it and not telling you - IME.
I had similar messages that got back pedalled but not exactly those words.
no it was not clear mine was simply being requested, this information has come with the experience of doing it 8 times and putting in a complaint.
the wording on my transcripts has been misleading e.g. “effective immediately” might mean that’s the start date they’ve requested.
but even if they’ve told you definitely then yes that could still be back pedalled if turns out to be a request for a switch and not a switch.

this has been formally “back pedalled” in my case
i.e. I lost a formal complaint.

mine (and others) were already with BG so not another provider.

I wish you luck and I hope I’m wrong in your case.
it is possible you got through to the “switching/tarriff ” team but others haven’t.

if I was in your shoes I’d check again in a few days. It’s not too bad if you get on with the washing up or watching tv.

ivanleo

lisyloo said:

ivanleo said:

lisyloo said:k

You are misunderstanding what I meant (apologies if that was my fault).
if a call center operative says “yes you can have it, I’ll request a switch” and the switch does not get implemented because the tariff is not available, then I don’t believe you have any grounds to have that tariff. You have grounds for £30-£50 for them not informing you.

if you actually get switched to the tariff then I agree with you - I would expect them to honour it.

I was referring to the first scenario.

I suppose it's down to where you think they can draw the line. What makes one error oh so different from the other? After all, hasn't the person who applied the tariff to your account also not made an "error"?

I am not a lawyer, but I see a difference between a “contract” and an “order”.
my understanding is that a contract is legally binding whereas an request or an order has a different standing.
The person who applied the tarrif may well have made an error but I think that’s an error that has legally binding status on the company.
i don’t think drawing the line is that hard.
you either have a contract or you don’t.

I think you're referring to an invitation to treat, but that cannot be relevant here. A seller who wants to refuse an invitation to treat can simply decline the transaction, they cannot unilaterally enter into the transaction on different terms.

For a contract to exist there has to be an offer, acceptance and consideration. Even if your request to British Gas is an invitation to treat (rather than an offer to buy electricity), once they accept the invitation and offer to enter into a contract at that rate a contract is formed anyway. So you can prove offer, acceptance and obviously consideration, so a contract exists no matter how you look at it.

Really it all comes down to whether a court would accept that the British Gas agent was acting beyond their authority, which I very much doubt as he is under the control of British Gas and it cannot be sensibly suggested that he was on a frolic of his own. But even if he was acting outside of his authority, he had apparent authority (you speak to the agent through the official British Gas website), which makes his offer / acceptance binding on British Gas IMO, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_authority

lisyloo

I think we’ve just agreed :-)

Sanjay saying “yes I’ll request it” = non binding
being put on tarriff = binding