Problems with British Gas switch to British Gas NEP / Evolve

Quolh

I've now switched to Octopus Energy. Touch wood they're more consistent in their billing!

McSpreader

So so interesting.  BG have just emailed me a notification that my bill is ready. When I go online I'm informed that that I have a bill for over £600 and must pay by 17 Apr. I have a bill from 15 Mar (electricity only) that is £20 or so in credit. No gas bill at all. Notification in place that account is being transferred.  This is entirely unilateral on BG's part. I pay by DD with no failed payments ever. Last November they also unilaterally cut the DD from £140 to £73 and refunded £290 at the start of winter when I'm turning on the central heating. Happy to up the DD to cover their fiasco. It's energy I've used after all but the account shift happening at the same time leaves me in fear. I'm minded to change supplier immediately and sod the ombudsman head straight to the courts and sue them for breach of contract as they have failed take reasonable care in managing my account. Might such back on the latter depending on their response but I'm definitely off, gone, disappearing and saying goodbye forever to BG. They even move accounts before completing work on the app. That'd be like Apple poncing you a new iPhone before they put an OS on it and asking you to suck it up. No OS is the new standard don't you know.

[Deleted User]

McSpreader said:

So so interesting.  BG have just emailed me a notification that my bill is ready. When I go online I'm informed that that I have a bill for over £600 and must pay by 17 Apr. I have a bill from 15 Mar (electricity only) that is £20 or so in credit. No gas bill at all. Notification in place that account is being transferred.  This is entirely unilateral on BG's part. I pay by DD with no failed payments ever. Last November they also unilaterally cut the DD from £140 to £73 and refunded £290 at the start of winter when I'm turning on the central heating. Happy to up the DD to cover their fiasco. It's energy I've used after all but the account shift happening at the same time leaves me in fear. I'm minded to change supplier immediately and sod the ombudsman head straight to the courts and sue them for breach of contract as they have failed take reasonable care in managing my account. Might such back on the latter depending on their response but I'm definitely off, gone, disappearing and saying goodbye forever to BG. They even move accounts before completing work on the app. That'd be like Apple poncing you a new iPhone before they put an OS on it and asking you to suck it up. No OS is the new standard don't you know.

Welcome to the forum. I get your anger but are you really serious about suing BG for breach of contract? If suing was that easy, then the Courts would be even busier than they are today.

FWiW, suppliers are permitted to update their billing systems; set up ancillary businesses and sell on your account to ANOther supplier without consulting with the customer. You either accept the change or move your supply to a different supplier. 

McSpreader

Perhaps of course a reaction driven by anger and frustration but with a slightly cooler head I do think people should be raising this with the information commissioner. I have already commenced the shift to Octopus and what else happens is entirely down to BG but any incorrect credit agency referrals will most certainly result in further action.

Axeup

HOW CAN WE STOP 'THIS NEP' ?

[Deleted User]

Axeup said:

HOW CAN WE STOP 'THIS NEP' ?

You could approach the Stockmarket with an offer to shareholders to buy out Centrica.

All suppliers are having to rework their billing systems to deal with Ofgem-mandated 30 minute settlements and the next generation of smart meter time-of-use tariffs. EDF, for example, is moving all its customer accounts to Octopus' Kraken Technology platform. If you are unhappy with BG's NEP then just switch suppliers.

Grizzlebeard

McSpreader said:

...... and sod the ombudsman head straight to the courts and sue them for breach of contract as they have failed take reasonable care......

Unfortunately even if your case is cut and dried you are very unlikely to get a favourable outcome from the Courts unless you've already been through all the previous available avenues of redress, up to and including the Ombudsman. Magistrates/Judges regard this as a potential waste and abuse of the Courts time.

Grizzlebeard

In April 2022, Centrica was selling a very optimistic vision of it's customer-centric "New Energy Platform".

Interesting article here - https://www.digitalbulletin.com/casestudies/building-a-new-british-gas/

I don't think things are quite going to plan. So many BG customers seem to be uncomfortably stranded, straddling the gap between the old and new systems with usable access to neither.

kevanpor

I have lost my account so now I can not top up online lost my account to my brothers new move and they can't fix it spent hours trying. got nowhere

Murfle

I’ve just discovered my details have been migrated to British Gas NEP too after they vanished from my online account! I have emailed British Gas about it and am awaiting a reply. Reading the preceding posts I am feeling pretty anxious. I have been with British Gas for years but if they start messing me about I will look to change to another supplier (assuming it gets sorted out). The info provided in previous posts is very helpful