British gas questions

WiserMiser

It's also a mistake to shop around comparing estimated DD amounts

WiserMiser Power would promise you a DD of a fiver per month just to lure you in, and it would all seem hunky dory for a while. But sooner or later there'd be a meter reading and your DD would rocket, once to claw back the arrears and again to meet ongoing usage.

To shop around, you need to work out annual kWh usage (not ££) from actual meter readings 12 months apart and do the sums. Don't forget to include 5% VAT and the daily standing charge. Ignore any claimed savings, just compare the annual cost and remember that the rates can rise unless it's a fixed tariff (typically 12 months or more).

There's a lot to be said for the simplicity of Monthly Variable DD, although bills will be smaller in summer and higher in winter so you have to budget accordingly.

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067346#Comment_82067346

I agree, but they should only be charged the higher rate from the date of the DD cancellation. So the OP should scrutinise their final bill to make sure that is the case. Luckily, it now only takes a few days for switch to go through so the extra charges should be mimimal but now they'll have to wait ages for BG to process and send out a cheque.

NotRichAtAll

B gas phoned me this morning early asking if there was anything they could do, i just replied you should of left me alone how can you say i am not paying enough after only 1 month. The girl said she could see i was using less electric and barely any gas, could she change it back for me. me been me i declined and said am leaving.

living on the edge :)

spot1034

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067834#Comment_82067834

Going by what is posted here, if someone initiates a switch away they often call to offer an incentive (cash payment) to keep you as a customer. I hope you weren't so abrupt that you stopped the conversation before that point. They might have effecvtively cancelled your debt!

WiserMiser

It sounds like you may be eligible to be on the Priority Services Register. It's free to join and you only have to do it once. https://www.thepsr.co.uk/

They'll probably tell your water company automatically, which could be useful if you have the misfortune to be supplied by SouthEast Water and the taps run dry. (BTW, as a single occupant it'll probably be cheaper with a water meter.)

Also have a word with Citizens Advice to check that you're getting all the benefits to which you're entitled. Don't be shy about claiming, you had no choice about paying your taxes for all those years, so if you qualify for anything then it's payback time !

NotRichAtAll

It sounds like you may be eligible to be on the Priority Services Register.

why does it sound like i may need this?

WiserMiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070827#Comment_82070827

I don't know whether you are eligible for the PSR, nor do I need to know; it's simply none of my business.

However, one of the criteria is 'Temporarily need extra support' which I thought might apply. Similarly, you say you are 'living on the edge' and that you are 'Not Rich At All' so again that raised the possibility that you might qualify under one of the categories.

I also mentioned the PSR to help others reading this thread who may be in a similar situation, are seeking help but DO qualify for whatever reason.

I thought there was a possibility that you might find it helpful to get a priority service with the utility companies at a difficult time in your life, but if you don't qualify then feel free to ignore my suggestion.

No offence was intended.

NotRichAtAll

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070969#Comment_82070969

No mate, you got it all wrong. No offence taken

"Living on the edge" was merely a punt at doing something different a weak attempt at thrill seeking with british gas

my forum name is just that a name, i have my fair share stashed away.

Bigphil1474

OP, I think the original change from BG made sense. If your June bill was only £20 under your total usage, then that's not looking like you will have sufficient credit to tide you over the winter months if you are still in debt. For comparison -

We pay £65 a month for gas, our June gas bill was £15 and we are now £80 in credit. In December last year we used £150 of gas, and January we used £155 worth of gas. I look to be about £300 in credit by end of October, so I'm roughly on course. November tends to be when we move from paying more than we use to using more than we pay. I don't mind being in credit now as I prefer my DD to stay the same, and I know that credit will get me through the winter.

For electric we pay £70 a month and our June bill was £63 leaving us £8 in credit. Our electric use is fairly constant throughout the year, only varying from around £60 to up to £80 a month

In a duel fuel household, gas is most likely where the variation will be the greatest. You could switch to paying via variable direct debit but expect the bill around Christmas to be a lot higher. One of the reasons I pay a fixed DD. Could be budgeted for by setting some money aside each month or use savings and top them up.