Calor Gas Standard Tariff

Woodcutter69

To my utter dismay I just discovered we have been paying Calor Gas an extortionate 92ppl for bulk delivered gas since 26th September 2022. On 17th June 2018 they sent me a letter which was headed as a 'Price Change Notification' which simply says 'You have recently benefited from a price that has been below our standard tariff and this special rate is due to end on 21st June 2018.

Therefore from 22nd June 2018 your new price will be 56ppl plus Vat.

There was then a paragraph suggesting I join their monthly budget plan payment scheme to spend the cost over 12 months. Also a paragraph suggesting ways to reduce energy consumption.

I have researched the information that utility providers need to give when a contract is coming to an end and came up with this

Utility providers (energy, broadband, mobile) must notify customers 42–49 days before a fixed-price contract ends. Key disclosures include the exact end date, current price, new higher rates if no action is taken, and best alternative deals. For business energy, this notification is required around three months prior. 

Key Information Required in End-of-Contract Notifications:

• Contract End Date: The specific date the fixed term expires.
• Current Pricing: How much the customer is currently paying for services.
• Default/Rollover Rate: The new, usually higher, standard variable rate or tariff that will apply if the customer does not switch.
• Best Available Deals: Information on alternatives or cheaper tariffs available from the provider.

For energy, Ofgem requires suppliers to inform you on your bills when your fixed-term contract ends, and you can usually switch within a specified window at the end of your contract without paying early termination fees. 

However I have a feeling for some reason LPG suppliers have different rules to follow.

We were not given 42-49 days notice. We were offered no alternative fixed deals and we were not informed that we can switch to another supplier. I feel that if at least the letter had been headed as 'End of contract Notification letter' it would have been much clearer and I may have acted. I have also read somewhere that we should have had annual reminders that we are paying the Standard tariff and there are cheaper alternative deals and Suppliers available but we were not. This kind of information seems normal at the end of contract when dealing with electricity suppliers and Mobile phone operators but LPG suppliers seem to be far more able to keep things vague and easy to ignore.

Since that the price rose to 65ppl on 8th November 2021 then 80ppl on 18th April 2022 and finally 92ppl on 26th September 2022 and there it has stayed. This probably amounts to paying over £2000 more than we needed to.

I feel rather stupid for not spotting this as I'm usually all over this sort of thing but was unaware we could switch supplier as we had a Calor tank. I was unaware prices were negotiable/ better deals were available. I thought these rises were due to market volatility. Calor has since offered us 77ppl but due to their disgraceful treatment of us after 21 years of loyal custom and a quote from Flogas of 45ppl we are switching supplier. The fact that this is less that half the price of the current Calor Gas standard tariff, even during the recent spikes in gas prices due to Iran war I find astonishing.

I've emailed a complaint claiming we've been over charged and not given adequate end of contract information. The reply said they would respond within 28 working days or maybe longer. This too is poor and I don't hold out much hope for a good outcome with them.

Anyway I'd appreciate any input or suggestions apart from pointing out that is partly my fault for not keeping on top of things, I know, I know, what can I say? Life is too crazy and busy for these games we have to play to avoid getting ripped off. Sad but true.

Thanks

Mister_G

As a long term user of LPG (since 1983), I sympathise with you. It really is the "Wild West" out there and needs to be regulated.

As you have discovered, there are some good deals to be had and it always pays to shop around at contract end. Having been with Calor in the past, I doubt if they will offer any refund - but you never know!

At least the 45p offer from Flogas is very good.

Spikeygran

Just out of interest what happens to the tank rental part of the contract when you swap to another supplier?