British Gas Refusing my Switch

Mumtothree82

Can anyone please help to advise me on what to do?

I moved home almost 4 weeks ago. British Gas are the provider in my new home - and are refusing my switch constantly. It’s been almost 4 weeks now and I’ve requested the switch with my energy provider 4 times - each time it’s been objected to.

I have no debt (it’s prepayment meter here so expensive and inconvenient) and I am at the end of my tether. 

Who can I complain to to get this sorted please? Any idea? 

British Gas complaint handler has been harassing me (BG are doing nothing about it) and I'm getting nowhere fast. The stress and upset is unbelievable (on my own with 3 kids with a neurodiversity myself).

QrizB

That sounds a nightmare.

Other than them being useless, is there a reason why you want to switch from BG?

Have you managed to find out exactly what BG are objecting to?

Mumtothree82 said:

British Gas complaint handler has been harassing me (BG are doing nothing about it) and I'm getting nowhere fast.

BG are phoning you to harass you over your complaint? Or am I not understanding you?

pochase

What exactly do you want to switch?

Do you want to switch to another supplier away from BG or do you want a credit meter instead of prepaid meter while you stay with BG?

Robin9

CAn we presume you've done the usual moving in bits - given BG your details and you've got a key in your name such that there is no debt from the previous occupier involved.

Mumtothree82

QrizB said:

That sounds a nightmare.

Other than them being useless, is there a reason why you want to switch from BG?

Have you managed to find out exactly what BG are objecting to?

Mumtothree82 said:

British Gas complaint handler has been harassing me (BG are doing nothing about it) and I'm getting nowhere fast.

BG are phoning you to harass you over your complaint? Or am I not understanding you?

I am wanting to switch so I stay with my previous supplier as it’s cheaper, and my Gas account has already switched 😊

They were initially objecting as the previous tenant had a debt with them. I’ve cleared that up finally, but now they keep saying they aren’t objecting but they are as my supplier keeps calling the National Database to check after requesting the switch and are told they have objected again 😞

I raised a formal complaint with BG and the claims handler has been harassing me on the phone and via text messages. 

Mumtothree82

pochase said:

What exactly do you want to switch?

Do you want to switch to another supplier away from BG or do you want a credit meter instead of prepaid meter while you stay with BG?

I’m trying to change to my previous supplier from my old address - the Gas has already switched (I pay monthly) but they keep objecting to my electricity switching to the same supplier so I can get the prepayment meter removed and go back to monthly on that too.

BG refuse to change the meter whilst this is all being sorted out so I’m stuck on prepayment which is costing me a fortune! It’s also inconvenient as I need to keep going out with 3 kids in tow to get the top ups.

Mumtothree82

Robin9 said:

CAn we presume you've done the usual moving in bits - given BG your details and you've got a key in your name such that there is no debt from the previous occupier involved.

Sorry Robin, I should have added that 😊 I have yes… have an account in my name, but the key they ‘sent’ me 3 weeks ago has not arrived 🙄 However, I have managed to finally get the key from the previous tenant reset so I’m no longer paying back £8.50 per week towards her debt (that was a fiasco in itself which they said they would compensate me £15 for). This has been confirmed by them and I can see on the meter that it is now showing as £0 per week whereas previously it was showing £8.50 per week. They have not paid any of the money back yet that I was paying for her debt…

Mumtothree82

And again they have objected 😡😡 5th time now… 

pochase

Do you know how much the outstanding debt is? A supplier can block a switch if it over £500.

SAC2334

Aside from any debt repayments on the meter its exactly the same kwh rate now with any other supplier . Most people now are on the standard variable capped rate .you pay a little more because you don t pay by direct debit .
Many suppliers will not even allow a switch to them anyway as there is no difference in price .
They will just be taking on the added complications of prepayment meters which cause more call outs than any other meter. I know as a former meter reader they had me going out often late to deal with prepayment meter problems 
British Gas themselves and others just say "stay with your current supplier " if you try and initiate a switch 

Mumtothree82

pochase said:

Do you know how much the outstanding debt is? A supplier can block a switch if it over £500.

They advised yesterday that it is over £1,000 but it’s not my debt!! I moved in on prepayment and have only been here a month. It’s unfair if I am being prevented switching because someone else has a debt with them…