British Gas Customer switch to MSE Collective Nov26

TedViola

Hi. I'm currently a British Gas customer on a fixed tarrif v63 April26. MSE have offered me a slightly cheaper tarrif Collective Nov26 which can save me around £80/year. When I try to switch within the MSE Energy Club I'm asked for all my personal details including bank account information. It's as if I'm going to be set up as a new BG customer with a new BG account, rather than just changing my tarrif within my existing BG account. So I stopped short of proceeding with the switch in case problems arose.

Can anyone advise if they have tried to switch from BG to BG and what their experience has been? I'm just a bit wary that if I am forced to change to a new account then I will have to re-register with a different email address and all the trap doors will open up.

I'd be grateful for any advice, thanks.

FrugaiMacDugal

I switched BG to BG on 2/10, no problem.

Started switch through CEC at 7.34am  and email from BG at 8.36am, switch complete.

I had to fill in CEC form with details and DD info, even though BG already had that.

Quarterly statement email this moerning, as it was due anyway, showing 1 day at new rate.

So, up and running, no problems.

Willberry

I signed up last week as an existing British Gas customer paying by Direct Debit. If you just complete the form as asked you will NOT create a new account. Your existing tariff will simply be amended to the new tariff and you will receive a confirmatory email which may also include details of any change to your current Direct Debit. You can, of course, change this amount. (At least I could).
I think British Gas only use the one application form irrespective of whether you are a new or existing customer.

TedViola

Thank you both, that was just the reassurance I needed. I look after two elderly neighbours' energy matters and I've had a fair bit of bother with British Gas in the past, hence my wariness. I've just started the switch process, so thanks again.

FrugaiMacDugal

Good, hope it all goes smoothly.

grandadgolfer

I’m due to switch tomorrow and it’s not looking good Elec is switching over but Gas is staying as BG fixed V26 but should be changing as well to dual fuel mse collective

landghove

Is this "collective" tariff exclusive to Martin Lewis?...I don't see it on the BG website?

James001

I am a BG customer and was going to switch to the new MSE collective tariff.  I have two electricity meters as years ago I was on two tier electic charges.  For years I've been on a single tariff, I just give two meter readings and they are added together.  I have done a couple of MSE switches in the past without any problems but this time the electric was carried over on a two tier tariff which is very expensive.  It took four telephone calls to BG to get the MSE switch cancelled and the single rate I was previously on reinstated.  I don't know why this happened and BG don't know.  I won't be bothering with any MSE switches in the future.

markbloke

landghove said:

Is this "collective" tariff exclusive to Martin Lewis?...I don't see it on the BG website?

Yes it is exclusive.

QrizB

James001 said:

I am a BG customer and was going to switch to the new MSE collective tariff.  I have two electricity meters as years ago I was on two tier electic charges.  For years I've been on a single tariff, I just give two meter readings and they are added together.

Sounds as though you need to get your metering sorted out.

Have BG been in touch yet about replacing it with a smart meter?

James001 said:

I won't be bothering with any MSE switches in the future.

Fix your metering and you'll be able to switch tariffs and save money.

TedViola

All went smoothly in the end and my BG tariff changed next day, both gas and elec, but there was trepidation on mu part hence my initial post! Sorry to hear others not so fortunate, especially if you are only switching elec. PLEASE NOTE: THE MSE BG TARIFF CAN BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR ELECTRICITY, especially for low to medium usage, due to the higher standing charge. Compared to my previous v63 tariff, I calculate that you need to be regularly using over 10kWh electricity per day to break even. It's significantly cheaper for gas though, both standing charge and kWh rate. In my case I use much more kWh gas than electric so that's why it gives me an overall saving.