BRITISH GAS FIXED TARIFF V49 (Recommended by MSE) Outrageous Direct Debit calculation.

SO53MAN

I have just changed my British Gas account from the Standard Variable Tariff to the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 as recommended by MSE and via the MSE website. 

It was a reasonably painless exercise.

Good old British Gas then emailed me with my gas & electricity projections for the year which both look about right compared to my recent usage. The projected amount they quoted was £1155.68 per year which again looks about right for my projected usage at the new rate.

I then had a second email from them confirming that they have set my new Direct Debit at      £196.86 per month. £1155.68 divided by 12 = £96.31!!!!! I rang them and after a bit of a long wait to get answered they agreed to reduce the Direct Debit to £120.00 which is what I have been paying for the last year or so. 

What are they up to by setting the Direct Debit at twice what it should be?  

If you change your tariff with British Gas or swap from another supplier to British Gas then please please check the amount they set your Direct Debit at. 

This is extremely poor customer service.

Hoenir

Been mild autumn/winters recently. Suppliers will wish to ensure customers enter the winter period with a decent credit balance. Rather than start the spring in monetary deficit. Not as if the money is lost. 

Socloseyetsofar

Be vary wary about changing to this via the newsletter, they doubled my direct debit, and have now taken 2 payments this month. I'm going to cancel this switch today and move to another supplier, I made the huge mistake of switching to british gas a couple of months ago, it's been a complete clown show since. 

MSE_James

Hi - our team have been in contact with British Gas about some issues with Direct Debits being set at the incorrect level. BG told us they are working to fix it, and will resolve the incorrect DD amounts and contact everyone affected.

EssexHebridean

SO53MAN said:

<snip>
This is extremely poor customer service.

I think there are a fair few of us here who would agree that this is precisely what we would expect from BG! 

Razoo

SO53MAN said:

I have just changed my British Gas account from the Standard Variable Tariff to the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 as recommended by MSE and via the MSE website. 

It was a reasonably painless exercise.

Congratulations on managing to switch painlessly via the MSE website.

I've tried to do that several times over the past 2 days, but when the MSE website displays the comparison tariffs, the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 isn't shown and consequently cannot be selected.  The list starts with the slightly cheaper Outfox the Market tariff and there are dozens of other supplier's tariffs listed, but nothing from British Gas until way down the list when the BG Standard Variable (Price Capped tariff) is shown.

A friend has also been trying to switch via the MSE website and he can't find the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 listed either.  Also his current BG tariff (Fixed Tariff V37 - 16 month) doesn't appear in the drop-down list to be selected as his 'Current Tariff', so the system defaults to BG's Standard Variable (Price Capped tariff).

I have managed to switch to the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49, but I had to do it on the British Gas website, so no MSE cashback or MSE enhanced services for me! 
_____
Razoo

nelly_gtfc

Razoo said:

SO53MAN said:

I have just changed my British Gas account from the Standard Variable Tariff to the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 as recommended by MSE and via the MSE website. 

It was a reasonably painless exercise.

Congratulations on managing to switch painlessly via the MSE website.

I've tried to do that several times over the past 2 days, but when the MSE website displays the comparison tariffs, the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 isn't shown and consequently cannot be selected.  The list starts with the slightly cheaper Outfox the Market tariff and there are dozens of other supplier's tariffs listed, but nothing from British Gas until way down the list when the BG Standard Variable (Price Capped tariff) is shown.

A friend has also been trying to switch via the MSE website and he can't find the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49 listed either.  Also his current BG tariff (Fixed Tariff V37 - 16 month) doesn't appear in the drop-down list to be selected as his 'Current Tariff', so the system defaults to BG's Standard Variable (Price Capped tariff).

I have managed to switch to the British Gas Fixed Tariff V49, but I had to do it on the British Gas website, so no MSE cashback or MSE enhanced services for me! 
_____
Razoo

See 10th post down for the workaround >> https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6597317/british-gas-fixed-tariff-v49-from-25-march-25-newsletter/p1

VT41

MSE_James said:

Hi - our team have been in contact with British Gas about some issues with Direct Debits being set at the incorrect level. BG told us they are working to fix it, and will resolve the incorrect DD amounts and contact everyone affected.

Something is not right here given the tariff isn’t the cheapest? Is this due to a deal MSE have with BG?

OVO is cheaper 

optimist?

Absolutely agree with the OP. I submitted my application for V49 via the energy Saving club and was given a quote of £123 per month - which I thought reasonable- and agreed it ~: subsequently recieved a confirmation of the switch from British Gas stating they would be taking £246 per month, ongoing! The red mist descended and I spent the whole of the next three hours attempting to find out why. From being 90th in the chatline queue I waited until they suddenly cut me off - it was 8.00pm and they alll went home with a "sorry, we are not here" message. 8.00am the following morning I was back on the chatline and FIRST in the queue! having explained the situation to the operator he actually agreed with me that the quote was ridiculous , compared to my current charge of £116 per month, and that I should remain on my current 12MV15 fix until it ends. Now going to check to see if that has actually happened - or maybe not! I MIGHT be back with updates, we shall see.

UPDATE: just checked and although my tariff is now showing the original 12MV15 the direct debit is STILL showing that they will take £246 per month - on a different day of the month. so my chatline operator, who is supposed to have sorted it out as recommended by the BG help section, did NOT revert me to where I was when I started. Looking forward to another marathon session on the chatline. Also, I do not want to recieve any rewards from the Energy Saving Club for switching when I have, ostensibly, cancelled. Is there anything I need to do to cancel the ES club rewards, or will they pick up on the cancellation?

MABLE

I was already with BG and changed to V49 and noticed they brought out another tariff V51 exactly the same deal but  now expires one week later than the former one so changed to that one.

Also I pay by variable direct debit and that works out well for me.

optimist?

Latest update: Been back onto the chatline again this morning and hope that that has sorted it out - but it's only a hope!  The operator DID reduce my DD to what it was before my forlorn application to V49 but I have noticed that the date for the DD has still remained as the wrong date, foreshortening my DD period by 15 days. He DID assure me that he had changed it but, so far, not seeing that on my account. Will be checking, yet again, in 24 hours to see if his 'changes' have actually happened, by which time the erronious DD will have taken place - which was precisely what I was trying to prevent by contacting them. If British Gas think they can call this 'customer Service' they are just a joke - like every other organisation in this country that puts the word 'British' in their title and think this gives them absolute right to do as they wish and get away with it.

I noted MSE James' comment that  BG are aware of the incorrect DD quotes and are looking to fix it, does anyone at MSE know if that situation is being seriously addressed? My experience tells me that they are still struggling and have no real solution.??