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

forever_skint

It is a bit of a con then really. I have been put on the essentials tariff as I am a full time carer for my disabled daughter. I thought that this tariff would save me a lot as I can't afford a bill like last winters (I am still paying it off now!) But the saving you guys have shown look ike they are neither here or there. Thanks, anyway guys, it may have saved me another ridiculous bill even though it will be a long, cold winter lol!

pugsley29

got a letter last week saying click 5tariff (didn't know I was on it at all) has finished and they are moving me onto a standard tariff

rang them today as I'm an essentials customer

my tariff on my meter is 6.1 and he says that is higher than it should be and is looking into it, rather confused

I did get a £20 cheque from them last year and have a card prepayment meter

wish they didn't make it so confusing

Joyful

Is it possible you were on click for one supply and Essentials for the other? You cannot be on 2 tariff for one energy at the same time.

Joyful

You can always ask that they prove you either agreed over the phone or signed up another way for the Click Tariff such as returning a letter or online. If they cannot give you this info they should put you back on the Essential tariff.

Plushchris

Most of these "social tariffs" are nothing more than a publicity stunt so the suppliers can say how kind they are being to those in "fuel poverty"

They may be ok for people on prepayment, but anyone else can usually find a better deal by shopping around and going for online/direct debit billing.

They say you get a discount for being in fuel poverty but usually only apply that discount to their most expensive tariff anyway.

Plushchris

jill2708 wrote: »

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????

Never EVER trust anything someone from a supplier who knocks on your door tells you, its all lies.

CUTESMILE

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/energy/our-tariffs/essentials-programme.html

It states that there are 3 schemes

You get asked about benefits and CTX, family allowance etc and have to have less then £15,000 coming in to get it.

So alas no good for my family

the_devil_made_me_do_it

So, has anyone got tarriff prices for the essentials scheme?

Emanresu

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

So, has anyone got tarriff prices for the essentials scheme?

I just got my confirmation of tariff for the essentials :-

Rate 1: 4.511

Rate 2: 2.736

:j

annalisa

I'm on essentials and have just recieved my yearly statement.

It reads

Unit price 1 4.736p up to 4572kWh (12 months not quarter)
Unit price 2 2.872p thereafter


Hope this helps.