British Gas to Octopus

luvchocolate

A friend started the switch from BG to Octopus to get the benefits of the £50 referral. 
BG just rang asking why the wanted to leave she explained about the referral credit....so if we (BG) offer you £150 you'll stay with us??
I've never heard that before. 
Switch cancelled 

bristolleedsfan

I have read of others who got offered the same by B.G when starting to switch out, this is the first instance I have read of someone accepting the offer.

penny_less

bristolleedsfan said:

I have read of others who got offered the same by B.G when starting to switch out, this is the first instance I have read of someone accepting the offer.

I was also offered money- no amount would have made me stay! I’m now with Octopus and they are great. I’ve never regretted my decision.

WBCPB

Sounds as though British Gas may be hemorrhaging customers!

bristolleedsfan

penny_less said:

bristolleedsfan said:

I have read of others who got offered the same by B.G when starting to switch out, this is the first instance I have read of someone accepting the offer.

I was also offered money- no amount would have made me stay! I’m now with Octopus and they are great. I’ve never regretted my decision.

You have hit nail on the head, British Gas customer(s) often have  non incentive reason(s) for wanting to switch,  incentive being  added bonus.

If someone is relatively happy with B.G, incentive being reason to switch going to take higher incentive offered.

[Deleted User]

Offering customers £150 to stay is hardly a sound business model unless it is linked to a fixed deal with high exit fees or a time in contract period.  Even then, most suppliers allow a customer to switch to their SVT at no cost. It follows that the friend could end up £200 better off if they take the BG offer and then just switch to Octopus anyway.

KxMx

I was also called and offered an incentive after I initiated my switch (not as much as in the OP). 
Declined as it didn't beat the Octopus referral amount and with them having lower standing charges than BG it wasn't enough. 
Especially as I'd started off with a grudge against BG (they were terrible when trying to settle Nan's estate), and been unimpressed with them generally after a years experience of being a customer myself. 

macman

It'll be £150 credit, not £150 upfront. Did you get that confirmed in writing though?
I also suspect that you'll need to stay at least 3 months before they'll credit it.

luvchocolate

It's a friend who's not used to switching. 
I've just left Shell to Octopus...wouldn't use BG