Can I realistically move from British Gas to another energy provider?

[Deleted User]

Not surprised energy prices are so high when people mithering suppliers and wasting their time over things that don't matter. I know what it is like for energy customer services, I used to work for one of the Big 6 and most of the phone calls were pointless.

I imagine it has been hell for them lately, everyone phoning up asking about how they are going to get their £400, why has my DD gone up when I'm on a fixed tariff or why am I paying more than £2,500 cos Liz Truss said I wouldn't.

I don't think I've ever phoned/emailed/chatted with an energy company in the last 10 years, maybe more, just send readings and money.

YBR

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Octopus are probably your best bet.  Phone / Twitter / e-mail (though the latter is slow at the moment).

Their rates are here https://octopus.energy/blog/how-the-energy-price-guarantee-works/

I also switched from BG (SoLR) to Octopus for customer service reasons. I'm much happier.
I had to phone them to get switched onto SVR rates - couldn't do it via websites.

KxMx

Deleted_User said:

KxMx said:

I'm on SVT with British Gas and had a letter in the post today outlining the new rates.
Just a note about variable DD though - when I moved into a property supplied by them 3 months ago I was NOT offered a variable DD. Fixed DD or SVT only. 

You appear to be confusing a payment method and a tariff type there - not actually sure what you meant to put.

Quite right... British Gas offered me fixed DD or payment on demand (quarterly bill), I was not offered a variable DD and i've seen other posters here recently say they were refused a variable as well. Seems to be some kind of new BG policy.

nothingsimple345

Well, here is a turnup for the books. I have not received one new statement, but two new statements. On opening statements, one covers 3rd March to 22nd June, the second covers 23rd June to 21st September.
 Now I won't bore you with the fact that I normally use Microsoft Edge, but for some strange reason I cannot access my B/G web account. I have to use Firefox to gain access to my online account.
The second statement shows a surplus of £610.92p at 21st September. Reassuring for me as I also show a positive balance of slightly more when adjusting for C/V for end September with my spreadsheet.
 The confusing part for gas cost, is because statement covers 3+ months you get a long list in the number of dates where due to changes in the calorific value you receive a complicated statement ie 8 days at one rate and so many other days at another calorific value. If this carries on to the next statement, I will get the changes in calorific value as well as the tariff changes on 1st October. Now given I have a surplus of £610+. Should I not be given the choice of reimbursement of at least part of the surplus? After all People's energy gave me that choice a few weeks before they closed.
Whilst the last statement shows that my D/Debits are spot on. My online account states that I am not paying enough!
I am paying at present £183.61p per month. B/G states I need to increase my D/D to £230.05 to stay on track.
With a surplus of £600+ they still want a higher amount paid in each month. An increase of £46.45 per month.
No wonder I am suspicious that B/G simply take the size of the house and number of occupants, whilst ignoring the efforts to use less energy.
I wonder what prompted B/G to give new statements?
I am approaching my 70th birthday soon. I believe my MSE name, nothing simple, could not be more appropriate.

t0rt0ise

You've been told to move to Octopus for better service. You don't even acknowledge the suggestion much less actually do it.

[Deleted User]

Of course you will get calorific value changes, that’s how gas billing works.

And as you have been told, your summer use bears little relation to your winter use.

I agree with @t0rt0ise - you appear to be entirely confused by and mistrusting of BG, but contrary to the thread title unwilling to consider switching away.

wrf12345

I am ok with BG's online account, though I have noticed that the monthly bill they generate has a higher credit than what is shown on the online account, the former correct but it is only a few quid so will not chase it up. The downside is that they are almost criminal in the way they estimate DD's, based not on use (their system has no way of taking into account reduced usage other than via chat) but on their wildly optimistic estimated usage. They also seem to be generating a reputation for chasing up spurious debts generated by ex-customers many years ago, so anyone leaving should keep their final statement and check against meter readings submitted (I know at least one energy co that will add on a bit to up the bill). 

nothingsimple345

I did acknowledge moving to Octopus privately. I cannot phone Octopus till Monday at earliest, and maybe they will be closed till Tuesday due to bank holiday.
As to customers who wish to stay with B/G that's fine. All I can say is I do not have a good feeling about them and will move to another provider as soon as possible.
Maybe I have become used to much better customer relations/billing from other providers who put the customer first.

Thank you, that is all now, I feel more confident that I can move to another provider during unprecedented energy crisis. 
Bye all.

[Deleted User]

Best of luck then 👍

t0rt0ise

nothingsimple345 said:

I did acknowledge moving to Octopus privately. I cannot phone Octopus till Monday at earliest, and maybe they will be closed till Tuesday due to bank holiday.
As to customers who wish to stay with B/G that's fine. All I can say is I do not have a good feeling about them and will move to another provider as soon as possible.
Maybe I have become used to much better customer relations/billing from other providers who put the customer first.

Thank you, that is all now, I feel more confident that I can move to another provider during unprecedented energy crisis. 
Bye all.

Apologies then. I agree about BG. I was moved to them when the supplier I was with went bust, and got away as soon as I could. BG still haven't charged me for what I used between the taking over date and the date they set up my account. Nor did I get my couple of pounds credit from the previous supplier. I expect they'll bill me in a couple of years time which will be fine. But how hopeless are they!