Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

savingholmes

I hadn't realised they were doing cheap veg. Thanks for the tip.

SandyShores

I found the 20p broccolli in Asda but couldn't see any 20p swede.  Apparently they are 20p in Sainsburys and Tesco as well so I will call in when I'm out tomorrow - I need to get a few more bits.

Edit - the suspense is killing me waiting for the review of my BG accounts. Another 7 days to wait - honestly, with today's technology you would think it could take a bit less than a whole month (I think it will be about six weeks total since they put the stop on making any changes in anticipation of my annual review).  

Staffordia

I was the same as you with my BG review taking ages. When it did eventually arrive, they wanted to up the DD to over £425 a month, despite the yearly projection showing we only needed to pay £325. As they wouldn't budge, I've now moved to a bill being generated quarterly and the DD covering it. At least I  can earn the interest on the money.

badmemory

My whinge with BG was quite different as I knew they must be setting my DD too low.  I decided I would let them & just save the difference, as better in my savings account than theirs.  They must have known something I didn't as the slightly increased DD is now pretty much spot on.  All that has changed is a new much needed boiler, followed by a tweak to that boiler, plus a couple of very minor changes in behaviour.  Nothing that has had any impact on our lives.  I still hate BGs billing system, so that hasn't changed for 45 years.  You have to watch them if you are on monthly DD as they creep their bill date forward until it is on the wrong side of the twelfth months DD & then threaten you because you have only made 11 DD payments.

KajiKita

badmemory said:

My whinge with BG was quite different as I knew they must be setting my DD too low.  I decided I would let them & just save the difference, as better in my savings account than theirs.  They must have known something I didn't as the slightly increased DD is now pretty much spot on.  All that has changed is a new much needed boiler, followed by a tweak to that boiler, plus a couple of very minor changes in behaviour.  Nothing that has had any impact on our lives.  I still hate BGs billing system, so that hasn't changed for 45 years.  You have to watch them if you are on monthly DD as they creep their bill date forward until it is on the wrong side of the twelfth months DD & then threaten you because you have only made 11 DD payments.

Why would BG change the bill date? Doesn’t make sense to me. 🤷‍♀️

KK

badmemory

Believe me they do. They gradually creep it forwards.  I've only been with them just over a year & it has already crept forwards 12 days.  The next bill I expect will creep forwards another 2 days & they will decide I am in arrears because it will have moved before the DD date they set.  Thankfully this time I will be ready for them.

KajiKita

badmemory said:

Believe me they do. They gradually creep it forwards.  I've only been with them just over a year & it has already crept forwards 12 days.  The next bill I expect will creep forwards another 2 days & they will decide I am in arrears because it will have moved before the DD date they set.  Thankfully this time I will be ready for them.

That’s really poor! Sharp practice actually. Is it worth mentioning to the ombudsman?

KK

SandyShores

That's my worry @Staffordia - I've calculated exactly what I need to pay per month (with a bit more on top), but their computer will probably say no.  I prefer the idea of quarterly billing and paying the bill in full.  I've just looked it up and and its called variable direct debit so will still attract the discount.  Thanks - that's given me hope.

@badmemory I agree the BG billing system is awful.  The dates seem to be very random, mine haven't been brought forward, but its the lack of bills and the inflexibility of the system that annoys me.  Quarterly should be the minimum billing period so that people can be more informed about their outgoings without having to resort to spreadsheets and calculations.  

My trawl around the supermarket for the veg on offer was successful - carrots, swede, broccoli and parsnips for 19p each.  I splashed out on a bag of 99p potatoes from Morrisons finest range, and got an amazing 1.7kg pork shoulder joint in Sainsburys for £6.50.  Not sure why it was such a bargain and I wouldn't normally go trawling around the different shops but I was either in or near so it worked out well.

We were out in the garden early this morning, with Mr Shores' new toys.  All worked well and it looks a lot tidier out there and ready for Spring to spring.

savingholmes

I regularly adjust my direct debit and get around their systems that way.

SandyShores

savingholmes said:

I regularly adjust my direct debit and get around their systems that way.

Thanks @savingholmes, but the online system wouldn't let me reduce my electricity direct debit because their calculations showed it was the right amount, but now there are just two of us we are using far less.  Despite having smart meters they don't take into account our reduced usage because its only recalculated at each of the six month billing points.  Conversely it was difficult to increase my gas direct debit which they had bizarrely reduced to £10 but it just wasn't enough to keep up with the use.  I tried adjusting the direct debit online but it wasn't working (presumably because their intel showed I had overpaid and the 'make extra payment button' on the gas account was missing.  But I discovered if I clicked the overpay button on the electricity part of the account, I could then change it to gas at the next step and get around the system.  Its a very clunky system and frustrating because there is an overpayment of £100 in the electric account but no way to adjust that, because the computer says no.  I'm definitely switching to variable direct debit and will save my payments myself.