British Gas Exit Fees and Switching: What You Pay

British Gas exit fees apply only when you leave a fixed tariff early, and they do not apply in the final 49 days of that fixed deal or if you move to another British Gas fixed tariff. Fees are charged per fuel, so a dual-fuel household on a fixed tariff can face two separate charges when switching supplier before the contract ends.

If you are on a British Gas standard variable tariff, you can usually switch away without paying any exit fee at all. That matters right now, because a standard variable tariff floats with the Ofgem price cap and rarely beats a competitive fixed deal for a bill-conscious household. Free Price Compare sources this explainer from British Gas customer guidance and Ofgem publications, so you know exactly when a fee bites and how to avoid one.

Last updated: August 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed August 2026

Does British Gas charge exit fees, and how much are they?

British Gas charges exit fees only when you end a fixed tariff early by switching supplier or moving to a variable tariff before the contract end date. Fees are set per fuel, so an account with both gas and electricity on a fixed deal can incur two separate charges. British Gas fixed tariffs can carry exit fees that vary by tariff and contract length, so check the tariff terms for the exact amount before switching. The exact figure is stated in your tariff’s terms and on your annual statement, so check those before assuming a number.

An exit fee is a charge you agree to pay if you leave a fixed-price contract before it finishes. It exists because a fixed tariff locks in a unit rate and standing charge for the full term, and the supplier prices that promise on the assumption you stay. If you switch away, you may also owe for energy already used and standing charges up to the switch date, on top of any exit fee.

Standard variable tariffs are different. British Gas states that if you are on a standard variable tariff you can usually switch to a fixed tariff, or to another supplier, without any exit fee. To confirm which tariff you are on, check your latest bill or your online account.

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Can I avoid the exit fee by switching in the last 49 days?

Yes, you can switch away from British Gas in the final 49 days of your fixed tariff without paying an exit fee. British Gas confirms that exit fees do not apply in the last 49 days, roughly seven weeks, of a fixed deal. This is not a British Gas concession alone: it reflects a wider rule that customers are generally entitled to switch during the final 49 days of a fixed term without penalty.

According to Ofgem, British Gas paid out £2.65 million after an investigation found it had given 2.5 million customers incorrect terms and conditions stating exit fees were payable in that final 49-day window (Ofgem, 2017). Ofgem also found British Gas had wrongly charged 1,698 customers exit fees totalling £64,968 when they switched during that period. If a supplier tries to charge you a fee for switching inside the final 49 days, that charge is generally not owed.

Timing your switch to land inside that window is the simplest way to leave a fixed tariff without a fee. If you are unsure of your end date, it is printed on your annual statement and shown in your online account. For a broader view of when to move, our guide to the best times of year to compare electricity deals covers seasonal price patterns.

Is there a fee to switch from standard variable to a fixed tariff?

No, switching from a British Gas standard variable tariff to a fixed tariff normally carries no exit fee. A standard variable tariff (SVT) is your supplier’s default, open-ended tariff with no fixed end date, so there is no early-exit penalty to leave it. British Gas confirms you can usually move from a standard variable tariff to a fixed deal, or to another supplier, without exit fees.

A standard variable tariff tracks the Ofgem energy price cap, which limits the maximum unit rate and standing charge a supplier can charge a typical customer, not your total bill. Your actual bill still rises and falls with how much energy you use. Because the cap resets every quarter and rarely settles at the cheapest available rate, a bill-conscious household on a variable tariff is often the one with most to gain from fixing.

If you have been rolled onto a standard variable tariff at the end of a previous fixed deal, you are free to fix again straight away with no penalty. Our explainer on how the price cap affects fixed tariff pricing shows how fixed deals are priced against the cap.

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Do I pay two exit fees on a dual-fuel account?

Yes, a dual-fuel British Gas fixed tariff can carry two exit fees, one for gas and one for electricity, because fees are charged per fuel. A dual-fuel account bundles both supplies for billing convenience, but each fuel sits on its own tariff terms. So if a fixed deal states an exit fee of, for example, £50 per fuel, leaving early on both supplies means £100 in total.

Some British Gas fixed tariffs quote a single dual-fuel exit figure instead, such as a £150 dual-fuel charge shown in one live listing. The wording in your specific tariff’s terms tells you whether the fee is per fuel or combined. Always read the tariff document before you switch, so the total charge is not a surprise.

Two exit fees change the maths on an early switch. If the cheaper tariff you are moving to saves less over the remaining term than the combined fees cost, staying put until the final 49 days is usually the better call. Our guide on what matters beyond just price helps you weigh the true cost of a switch.

How the 14-day cooling-off period protects you

The cooling-off period gives you 14 days from the day after you agree a new British Gas tariff to change your mind and cancel without paying an exit fee. It is a legal right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for contracts agreed at a distance, such as online or by phone. During those 14 days you can walk away from the new tariff at no cost, even if you have already switched.

British Gas says a switch normally completes in around 5 working days if you waive the cooling-off period, otherwise the full 14-day window applies before the switch takes effect. Waiving the period speeds things up, but it also gives up your right to cancel penalty-free, so only waive it if you are certain.

The cooling-off period is separate from exit fees. Once the 14 days pass and before you reach the final 49 days of a fixed term, leaving early can trigger an exit fee plus charges for energy used and standing charges up to the switch date.

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Was I wrongly charged an exit fee, and can I claim a refund?

You may be due a refund if you were charged a British Gas exit fee for switching in the final 49 days of a fixed tariff, because that charge is generally not payable. Ofgem‘s investigation found British Gas had wrongly charged 1,698 fixed-deal customers exit fees totalling £64,968 during that window, and the company paid out £2.65 million in total redress and penalties (Ofgem, 2017).

Start by checking your final bill and the switch date against your fixed tariff’s end date. If the switch completed within 49 days of that end date and an exit fee was applied, raise it with British Gas and ask for the charge to be refunded. Keep copies of your bills and any switch confirmation as evidence.

If British Gas does not resolve the complaint within eight weeks, or issues a deadlock letter, you can escalate free of charge to the Energy Ombudsman, whose decision is binding on the supplier. Citizens Advice also offers free help with energy billing disputes. For step-by-step help with raising an issue, see our guide to British Gas complaints and customer service.

Will a new supplier cover my exit fees?

Some energy suppliers occasionally run offers that credit new customers to offset switching costs, but there is no guarantee any supplier will cover a British Gas exit fee, and such offers come and go. Where a promotion exists, it is usually a fixed welcome credit rather than a promise to match your exact exit fee, so it may not cover the full amount on a dual-fuel account.

Rather than rely on a supplier covering the fee, the reliable way to avoid it is to time your switch into the final 49 days of your fixed term, when no exit fee applies. If you leave earlier, weigh the exit fee against the savings on the new tariff over the time remaining. A saving that is smaller than the combined exit fees means waiting is the cheaper choice.

Before committing, compare the total annual cost of the new deal, not just its unit rate, including standing charges and any exit fees on the new tariff itself. Our roundup of the cheapest gas tariffs in the UK is a useful starting point for that comparison.

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How to switch away from British Gas without paying extra

Switching away from British Gas without extra charges comes down to timing and checking your tariff type first. If you are on a standard variable tariff, you can leave with no exit fee at any time. If you are on a fixed tariff, aim to switch either in the final 49 days of the term or after moving to a variable tariff, both of which avoid the fee.

Follow these steps to keep costs down:

• Check your latest bill or online account to confirm whether you are on a fixed or standard variable tariff, and note your fixed tariff’s end date.
• If you are within 49 days of a fixed end date, or on a variable tariff, you can switch with no exit fee.
• If you are outside that window, compare the exit fee (remember it may be per fuel) against the savings on the new deal for the remaining months.
• Use a comparison to line up a cheaper fixed tariff before you leave, so your new deal starts as the old one ends.
• Keep the 14-day cooling-off period in mind: your switch takes effect after it unless you waive it, in which case it can complete in around 5 working days.

When your previous supplier owes you credit, it should be returned within 14 days of your final bill. For everyday savings while you decide, our tips on cutting energy costs in the UK help trim usage regardless of tariff.

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Information correct as of 7 August 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).