British Gas essentials tarif

wornoutmumoftwo

We are on a low income and recieve CTC and WTC and I therefore applied to go on to British Gas' essentials tarif as I have a prepayment meter and this tarif is the lowest offered.

I was forced into the PPM (which I now love - no more high bills for me!)

THey told me that because I only applied to go onto the tarif at the end of January that I had missed the 1st April cut off to have my charge per Kwh reduced and they didn't know when the next batch was rolling out.

I asked why I was not told about the essentials tarrif at the time of being forced into the PPM (November 07) considering it was put in because of a large debt?

Anyway, I have had NOTHING from them to say I am even on this tarrif, even though I have phoned a few times and they have assured me that I am.

Is it meant to take over 3 months and counting to place someone on a more price effective tarrif due to low income?

SwanJon

No, if you qualify they'll send a message to your meter changing the price per kWh.
They won't have automatically put you on it as you have to be on certain benefits to qualify, not just (or even) have a debt.
Have a look at screens 09 & 10 for gas & F, I & K for electricity.
This will tell you how much you are being charged, and therefore if you are on the essentials tariff.

wornoutmumoftwo

Thank you but I am def not on it yet, though they tell me I am, I get WTC and CTC and they have confirmed three times that I am on the tarif.

I think they are changing everyone over and are doing it in batches.

Going to wait another month, they did say the tarif would be backdated to 1st April though.

Fingers crossed I get the tarif change before any more price increases:D