Cheaper Gas Bills

Choosing a gas supplier

You can change your gas supplier if you want to. If you are thinking about changing to another gas supplier, bear in mind that prices, policies and services offered by the different suppliers will vary. You should carefully check the information and contracts of the different suppliers and compare these to your current gas supplier to make sure that you choose the best deal for your needs.

Find out:-

• how you will be charged for your gas supply
• if cheaper tariffs are offered for particular payment methods, for example, if you pay by direct debit
• what service standards the gas suppliers offer, for example, for repairs or extra help for older or disabled customers
• the gas suppliers’ policies, for example, on debt and disconnection.

Dual fuel offers

Most gas and electricity suppliers are licensed by Ofgem to supply customers with both gas and electricity. Some gas suppliers supply both fuels under one contract, while others give one contract for gas and another for electricity.

Suppliers who make dual offers will often give a discount off the total bill. However, this does not necessarily mean that gas and electricity under a dual offer will be cheaper than that bought from separate suppliers.

Guidelines a supplier must follow when they sell you gas

When a gas company sells you gas, it must stick to certain standards.

Most suppliers have signed up to a code of practice produced by the Association of Energy Suppliers (AES). Sales agents must follow the guidelines in the code. The guidelines cover all methods of selling gas, including door-to-door sales (doorstep selling) and telephone sales (distance selling). Some of the guidelines included in the code of practice are:

• all advertising and promotion of gas companies must be accurate, fair and reasonable. This means that sales agents, adverts and publicity materials can’t give you false or misleading information
• sales agents must only call at your home between 9.00am and 8.00pm, unless you’ve specifically asked them to call outside these times. If they are visiting sheltered accommodation, they must contact the warden first
• sales agents must identify themselves by producing ID without being asked
• the sales agent must make sure you have understood the contract, including any right to cancel (see below) before you sign
• the sales agent must make sure that the person signing the contract is responsible for paying the gas bill
• you must be given a copy of the contract.

If the sales agent doesn’t follow the guidelines, you may be entitled to compensation. If you have a complaint about the way you have been sold gas, you should take this up first with the company concerned. Ask them for a copy of the code of practice and use the information in this to help you make your complaint.

Cancellation rights

If you sign a contract to buy gas from someone who has called at your home, you may have the right to cancel the contract if you change your mind. You will be able to cancel the contract as long as you cancel within seven days of signing it. This is regardless of whether you invited the sales agent to call at your home.

If you sign a contract to buy gas over the phone, you may also have the right to change your mind.