British Gas one of the worst companies I’ve ever dealt with.
Last year, I signed up for a new service called “Fix and Fall”. As I understood it, my gas and electricity prices were guaranteed not to rise and would benefit from any price falls: hence the name of the product. There was no sign-up charge, no tie-in period, and no cancellation charge. What could I lose? Surely everyone would sign up?
Earlier this year, British Gas (who have been raising prices to ridiculous levels) decided to make a reduction on March 12. “That’s fine”, I thought, “perhaps I’ll give them another chance”.
This week I received a letter asking me to check a web address. Apparently “Fix and Fall” now means just “Fix”, and British Gas have decided not to pass any savings on to me. So, what exactly is the benefit? Well, if I stay on the scheme, then my prices are guaranteed to remain at the high fixed rate until 2008. I may not make any savings but, hey, I know what I’ll be paying.
How do British Gas executives sleep at night? How can a product named “Fix and Fall” not fall? Isn’t this against the Trades Description Act? Even the nice call centre lady was apologetic and admitted they couldn’t understand these stupid schemes.
This is not my first problem with British Gas. I naively signed up for their internet billing to save the environment (oh, and it’s 5 quid cheaper). They never sent me emails when a bill was due, but kindly sent red reminders at random intervals when they were about to cut me off. Even when I signed up for “Fix and Fall” they only applied it to my gas and not the electricity for some bizarre reason.
I’ve had it with them. In the past few years they’ve gone from being a reasonable company (I even had shares at one point), to slightly incompetent, to bumbling imbeciles. I’ve spent hours writing enquiries, making complaints, and calling them.
But no more – can anyone recommend a decent gas and electricity supplier? In fact, they don’t need to be that decent: anyone would be better than British Gas.
