British Gas - Economy 7 scam warning

A._Badger

I'm one of the electricity only customers transferred to British Gas when Together/Bristol Energy collapsed. For over a decade, across various energy suppliers, I have been on an Economy 7 tariff, which has worked well enough for me, despite not using storage heaters. British Gas however, has just informed me that because I don't have storage radiators, it is refusing to supply me on an Economy 7 tariff and that the bill it sent me yesterday, calculated on a single rate, will not be revised.

There are a few issues here. The first is that no previous supplier has ever asked me whether I have storage radiators - it's a time based tariff. not appliance dependent, so why would they? And how would they know, anyway? All they see is how much electricity I use during the relevant 7 hour period. 

Moreover, BG told me I would be switched to Economy 7 when I contacted them in February asking why my new account showed only a single rate. Why adopt an account already operating  a split tariff, refuse to honour the arrangement and not inform the customer?

Naturally, I'll be switching supplier and making an official complaint about this peculiar ruling but if you happen to have been transferred to British Gas and you are an Economy 7 customer, be warned. British Gas is living down to its reputation.

 

Verdigris

They may be doing you a favour. If you don't use a lot at the off-peak rate the higher daily charge may cancel out any savings you make.

TheMilkmansDad

this - to me anyway - is not a reason to switch away given the current climate. Depending on what tariffs you are offered elsewhere, that could prove very expensive.

A._Badger

Verdigris said:

They may be doing you a favour. If you don't use a lot at the off-peak rate the higher daily charge may cancel out any savings you make.

Thank you. I'm numerate enough to have kept a close watch on that and the only favours they are doing are to themselves.

A._Badger

TheMilkmansDad said:

this - to me anyway - is not a reason to switch away given the current climate. Depending on what tariffs you are offered elsewhere, that could prove very expensive.

There are two considerations here. One is, yes, obviously any new tariff has to be competitive but the second (and it's important) is a point of principle. British Gas seems to be making it up as they go, which I'm not willing to support.

lohr500

Can you see anything in the small print? It stinks to me.
If you did want to stay with them and they produced some contractual evidence to say they won't supply unless you have a storage heater, then play them at their own game and buy a cheapo 2nd hand one off fleebay!! They look to fetch £50 or so. Leave it in your shed or garage plugged into a timer, but never switched on!!! 

EssexHebridean

You don't by any chance have a smart meter, do you? 

A._Badger

lohr500 said:

Can you see anything in the small print? It stinks to me.
If you did want to stay with them and they produced some contractual evidence to say they won't supply unless you have a storage heater, then play them at their own game and buy a cheapo 2nd hand one off fleebay!! They look to fetch £50 or so. Leave it in your shed or garage plugged into a timer, but never switched on!!! 

Yes, I agree, it stinks to me, too. And what small print? When I got shunted across from the collapsed Bristol Energy, all I received were a few very vague emails, nothing that could possibly constitute a formal contract. I gather from the toothless canine Ofgem (with whom I spoke half an hour ago), that energy companies can make up their own rules regarding Economy 7. Not awfully helpful when you are trying to compare deals and they have nasty little snags like this concealed in their Ts and Cs.  

A._Badger

EssexHebridean said:

You don't by any chance have a smart meter, do you? 

Good heavens, no. 

Verdigris

E7/10 will be phased out in a few years, when the teleswitch system is switched off. You'll need a smart meter to access TOU tariffs then.

A._Badger

Verdigris said:

E7/10 will be phased out in a few years, when the teleswitch system is switched off. You'll need a smart meter to access TOU tariffs then.

Yes, I was ware of that, thank you. But until then I try my best not to encourage the games they are playing with our energy supplies..