British Gas "Essential Tariff" discounts for folk on benefits...

elektra

SwanJon wrote: »

Not much to add to the above, but just to confirm.
If you can get online, an online tariff is cheaper (and the name of the site is ...)

That's a big joke as far as BG and parents Elec account is concerned. Have not been able to access it online since last July when they changed from www.house.co.uk. Reported it, now get monthly emails saying they have not fixed it/still working on it.

Sorry for going o/t.

elektra

bumping this thread up as gives info on qualifying benefits and gas prices and can see people askng on the BG price increase thread.

Electric prices vary by area - I can give prices for seeboard area.

wornoutmumoftwo

I just wanted to say that I rang BG yesterday and they confirmed no price rise on Essentials tarif until at least 1st April 2009.

carol_a_3

My dad phoned today to see why he wasn't on the essentials rate as he used to get the winter rebate due to being on attendance allowance but didn't seem to have been switched over automatically. They told him the essentials rate had gone up on tuesday.

elektra

carol

Did you Dad get an answer to question re why not moved over ? In the following link it says he should have been moved over, so should argue for a rebate.

http://www.centrica.co.uk/files/reports/2006cr/index.asp?pageid=226

The press announcement for the price increases said no increase for essentials till April. Not surprising though that staff give wrong info.

charliepup_2

harveybobbles wrote: »

Anyone actually aware of this for people on certain benefits...?

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/about-british-gas/what's-important-to-us/customer-commitment/essential.html

Hi, did you ever find out about any entitlements from gas or electric, if you rely on benefits

harveybobbles

Well after several months we finally heard from BG this week.
In the form of a Postal order for £75 to cover the difference in rates from the last few months.

how nice...

harveybobbles

charliepup wrote: »

Hi, did you ever find out about any entitlements from gas or electric, if you rely on benefits

The money we got back covered gas and electric.

jill2708

Just had the Bg man door to door, he said that you got the essentials price and they fixed it until 2011???? Also that you would receive the discount 3 month in arrears via a credit to my account. He also confirmed that I would qualify for the DD reduction.


It seems too good to be true????

SwanJon

jill2708 wrote: »

It seems too good to be true????

I'm afraid to say it is.

The essentails tariff is set to be the same as the pre increase DD amount until April 2009, when it'll change to the current DD amount.
Fixing to 2011 is a different tariff, and set at the current standard prices.

If you have a normal meter you will just pay less for your gas/ele, not get a rebate.
If you have PP meters they will adjust the tariff on the meter, and you will pay less, not get a rebate - unless you have a paper token or smartcard electricity meter when you will getthe rebate instead of changing th eprices on your meter