How, When and Why to Change Your Gas Supplier
If the truth be told, most prefer the status quo. There is a well-known and pretty dangerous statement that’s says "better the devil we know than the devil we don't know". The danger in taking that kind of advice is that we will never change anything in our lives because we might be frightened to try. And in most cases the status quo is fine. However, in cases where we are unhappy about something, especially something that we are paying for, then it is the consumers’ right and responsibility to make whatever changes they think necessary.
So why would you want to change your gas supplier? Well, generally there are two main reasons: first of all, if you feel that you are paying too much for your gas. These days most gas bills are calculated using an estimate only. Most people agree with this and generally the figures line up according to previous bills and your estimated annual usage. That's all very well and convenient for most parties. But what happens when the estimated usage starts to go up, and without any reason? That’s when the warning bells should start to ring and it is the consumer's responsibility to check out the reasons and prevent them from happening in the future. If no reasonable explanation is forthcoming, then the consumer should begin to feel that he is being ripped off and start to take whatever steps necessary to protect his interest, as well as his bank balance.
One way of preventing unpleasant surprises is to take regular readings of your gas meter. Even though your gas meter reader doesn't come to call any more, it doesn't mean that you can't keep track. And if you suspect that your gas supplier is overcharging, you can even take some digital images of your meter once or twice during a billing cycle which provides ideal proof that you are being overcharged. If it transpires that you are being overcharged for your gas, the first thing that you should do is demand retroactive compensation, as well as immediately closing your account. There is no shortage of honest gas suppliers out there.
When the time comes to change your supplier, ask for an accredited reading from your existing supplier, as well as details of usage for the last year or so. This will be a handy tool for your new supplier to assess your annual usage and calculate what tariffs they will charge you. Most gas companies these days have different tariffs according to usage, and if you use a lot of gas, you should be able to expect a low tariff.
It is not a crime to consider changing your supplier, and even less of a crime to do so. Another worthwhile hint is to let your current supplier know that you are on the lookout for new gas supplier. You will be surprised how quickly they will come up with a special offer or new deal. As long as you are happy with them, there is no reason to disappoint them by not taking it up.
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