British Gas Price Freeze

isayoldchap

jem16 wrote:

OK you all say switch but who provides good service?

Jem16
I don't say to switch because for a few years people haven't bothered.So by telling them they are being ripped off and can do better is a better way.You have to decide what is best for you.Unfortunately you may have missed the boat as Scottish Power's online fixed tariff on direct debit with cashback was a very good deal.Surely you being in Scotland should be proud they are doing a great job and putting up a good fight against these higher priced morons down here.I'm unsure whether the British Gas deal for just electric would be any good,as I am waiting to see if all the prices are up to date (use the link above for energyhelpline-I 'm sure you know it also helps this valuable site.)

You will also note that a percentage total is given for 'service' on there.I would worry more about the price and whether the extra I am paying is going towards a customer service I may never use.Just more problems you give yourself.

As for alot of pensioners.I don't want to be rude here,but if your pension goes
up by the rate of inflation and some of you moan that it's not enough saying
"the extra £2 a week is peanuts" ,is this a valid reason why some of you aren't changing to the best priced tariffs?I mean it's only £100plus that you
can save on your fuel.But then your pensions may have only increased by that much so really it's not that much of a saving for you.Of course internet access maybe a problem,the switching a problem,the different bills a problem.
I guess though if your reading this then you should have no problem.Oh please don't tell me your old fashioned and there no difference between any of the companies.In anycase the government have been good enough to give you the fuel allowance.Wake up ,taste the coffee and switch away from these high priced companies.Do it and do it now.
Remember online tariffs direct debit tariffs are usually the best.Consider whether a capped price maybe a option.Remember these prices will also go down.Don't be too alarmed in the fuel problems at the moment as companies would enjoy you going onto a fixed price just so that they can get a premium out of you while there maybe a shortage or buying panic in the air.

Finally,I don't buy the arguement that the cheapest is necessarily the best.Rather that paying more is NOT necessarily better.
Just ask customers who use 18866 or 1899 whether they really care about customer service when they talk for just 3p,or phone internationally for 1p.

jem16

speedyjoe wrote:

Anyway I did some checking and the prices are based on prices set in October 2004, now BG have raised prices I'm willing to bet that Npower will be doing the same next month.

Joe

I'd bet on it happening too - that's the problem though. I feel you'd be changing every few months.

speedyjoe

jem16 wrote:

I'd bet on it happening too - that's the problem though. I feel you'd be changing every few months.

That's why I'm looking at capped rate deals, gambling on the likelyhood of increases in the world price of oil.

Of course Opec might be swayed by pressure from the major powers and massively boost production, but I don't know if that is likely to happen or even if it did perhaps the hugely expanding economies of China and India just swallow up the extra supply.

When you look at the situation with oil you wonder just where it is going to end up.

Now I must crack on and finish my cold fusion device :-)

Joe

jem16

isayoldchap wrote:

Jem16

Finally,I don't buy the arguement that the cheapest is necessarily the best.Rather that paying more is NOT necessarily better.
Just ask customers who use 18866 or 1899 whether they really care about customer service when they talk for just 3p,or phone internationally for 1p.

Some very interesting points you have.

First I prefer internet accounts so no problem with that.

Secondly I already use 18866 for phone calls but then it's very much easier to see the charges for telephone calls. Gas and electricity charges, especially gas, need a Maths degree to work out or plenty of time.

I don't have any big problem with switching but just don't have the time to do so every month. The way fuel prices seem to be changing it would need a change every month just to keep ahead. I'm not a pensioner either so change doesn't bother me.

The capped deals sounded promising but not sure if I wanted to be tied in till 2010 - hence the thread to see what others thought. Scottish Power's deal is until 2007 - maybe better. I used to get my electricity from them up until two years ago.

Golfball_2

Will the price freeze also take into account that there is predicted to be an oversupply in the British natural gas market by mid 2007, and that this oversupply will last several years? The article I read says that this could depress gas prices by a third.

Gambler

Golfball wrote:

Will the price freeze also take into account that there is predicted to be an oversupply in the British natural gas market by mid 2007, and that this oversupply will last several years? The article I read says that this could depress gas prices by a third.

Do you have a link to this article please?

Golfball_2

The link to the article is:-

http://www.auditsunlimited.co.uk/2005/04/gas-bubble-will-deflate-uk-prices-by.shtml

jem16

Golfball wrote:

Will the price freeze also take into account that there is predicted to be an oversupply in the British natural gas market by mid 2007, and that this oversupply will last several years? The article I read says that this could depress gas prices by a third.

When do prices ever go down????

DorsetDave2

I think the British Gas offer to freeze prices really needs Martin to do a piece on it as its far too complicated for most of us !

helen21_2

Am i right in thinking that if you sign up to the price freeze that you can un-sign at any time?

helen21