When British Gas Hikes Prices and Tries to Reconcile With #AskBG Chaos
Picture this: the next moment you’re surprised to see your electricity bill climb 9.2%, and the headline that follows is not a corporate announcement but a tweet‑baiting storm. British Gas decided to pull the entire marketing and customer‑service prod to launch a Twitter Q&A, while customers were already poking their eyes out of receipts. The result? A social‑media misfire that almost looks like a comedy sketch.
Why a Twitter Q&A was met with Monkey‑Related Mayhem
On the very same day the price hike hit the market, the company’s customer‑service director, Bert Pijls, announced a “live” Q&A from 1–2 pm. The #AskBG hashtag erupted with tweets that stretched from the mundane (“Can I just submit a refund request?”) to the utterly absurd (“Why did you send a monkey to space?”). It’s a tale of how a polite corporate gesture can quickly spiral out of control.
Sentinel List of the Funniest #AskBG Tweets
- #AskBG – “Can you please recommend my ice‑cream business to your shareholders? I’ll need a new freezer, thanks!” – @slightlysuburbandad (Oct 17, 2013)
- #AskBG – “Could you upload an updated photo? Does he look as relaxed now?” – @TimCrichton (Oct 17, 2013)
- #AskBG – “Can you balance an umbrella on your nose… and how did it feel to get dropped for Mike Hooper?” – @TheKopMagazine (Oct 17, 2013)
- #AskBG – “Which would you prefer: a 36‑carrot gold‑diamond horse‑sized duck or 100 gold‑diamond horses?!” – @JohnnyCov (Oct 17, 2013)
- #AskBG – “Is it really possible to swim through vaults full of pound coins like Scrooge McDuck?” – @Elliemann7 (Oct 17, 2013)
- #AskBG – “Why did you send a monkey to space?” – @alansimpleton (Oct 17, 2013)
- #AskBG – “Did you forget the balaclava? Isn’t that normal in a planned robbery?” – @jamesdhobson (Oct 17, 2013)
Why This Became a #SocialMediaFail
The #AskBG hashtag became a meme intro‑zone for people who had nothing to say about actual gas pricing. Instead of a helpful Q&A, the conversation resembled a satirical stand‑up routine in which the audience asked about ducks, monkeys, and an imaginary space mission. The buzz was so intense that the brand’s own tweet didn’t hold sway – the conversation was the focus.
For the company, the lesson is simple: when you’re trying to mitigate shock prices, an open‑door chat can either be a great opportunity or a chaotic distraction. This particular Instagram‑style Twitter event goes down as an example of #SocialMediaFail, but it also reminds us that humor can’t always save a brand from the shock of a price hike. As customers laughed at the absurd questions, their bills still climbed by over £120 a year on average.
British Gas’ official statement about #AskBG social media fail
Hey there, Energy‑Savers!
We’ve got some bittersweet news to share. This has not been an easy decision for us—we’ve weighed every possible angle before coming to this conclusion.
Why we’re reaching out now
We know the headlines have been yelling about soaring energy costs, and folks have been sparking hot chats on Twitter about what that really means, for them and for us. You deserve to have a comfy space where you can ask questions instead of second‑guessing your next bill.
In Action:
- We kicked off a live Q&A session with our Customer Services Director—yes, that’s the real person behind the inbox who truly cares about your concerns.
- Open chat, no script, the whole truth, and instant answers.
Our Core Promise
We’re all‑in on being fully transparent with our customers. If you’re worried, let us handle that worry. If you’re anxious about your next bill, we’ll walk through it with you.
What You’ll Take Home
- Rising market prices do NOT have to trample your wallet. Let’s break down how we can keep savings in place.
- There’s help out there—contact us, and we’ll guide you through the options.
- We’re here, ready to chat—and no one has to feel alone in the energy storm.
Take a breath, reach out, and let’s navigate this together. We’re committed to keeping your lights on, without the extra load on your pocket.
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AskBG 2013 Twitter Throwback
Strap in – 2013 was a whirlwind of quirky questions, snarky comments, and a handful of practical concerns that kept the #AskBG community buzzing.
Banknotes & Puffs
- Stick a £20 or £50 note in the lighter? – Stewart Houston wondered if the size of the cash mattered for lighting up a director’s cigar.
- What’s the chill factor with a bigger bill? – LisaAargh and others wondered if cash mattered in warmth or bluster.
Advertising Blips
LisaAargh suggested, “Maybe change the advertising on your website?” – a call to keep the marketing fresh and relevant.
Fuel & Energy Hiccups
- “My boiler keeps switching itself off. Did it know about your price rise in advance?” – Activate Media had a rough day with the heating system.
- “I’ve found a cheaper way of heating than British Gas” – Tony Shepherd swore he’d cut the costs by buying a smarter heat‑source.
- “How is it possible that you’ve become more of a nuisance to the British public than Piers Morgan?” – Henry Fraser tried to compare the frustration levels of a TV presenter with a utility company.
Daily Life Dilemmas
- Dan Davies floated a thought: “Should we just send our grandparents to Guantomino Bay where they’ll be warm for the winter and it’s less torture?” – taking climate ruin into familial caregiving.
- Alan Gibbs asked, “Have you considered typing lessons to improve your speed?” – a reminder that skill-building can pay dividends.
- Le Creuset Fiend screamed “Why, oh why, oh why would you do this? WHY?” – a playfully dramatic reaction to a cooking mishap.
<li“Kaiser Farrell said, 'My bedroom has a window where the sun comes in and that makes one side of my room really hot, how much do I owe you?'” – a question of how sunlight equals utility costs.
Linked Stories
Some tweets referenced Microsoft/Business or external events, like Michael O’Leary from Ryanair thanking the community for a lighter load, or a comment pairing the question “Here is a giraffe. Are you having one with your price rises?” – a strange but memorable juxtaposition.
Wrap‑Up Mix
Out of all those varied threads, the AskBG collection shows a slice of 2013’s social media curiosity. From how a pound note could possibly influence a cigar ignition to his brutal love‑hate exchanges with electric and heating companies, everyone’s got a question in their pocket.
