British Gas - Final Bill Or So I Thought

leicsmarkyr

I changed gas supplier about 3 months from BG to Atlantic. Everything well through fairly smoothly and I gave Atlantic my reading on the day I moved to them.

Few weeks later I received a final bill form BG saying that I was in credit and here is a cheque for the amount. Thank you very much; banked the cheque and that was it.

Or just I thought

I got a call from BG today saying I owe them around £250 for a final bill they have produced. I advised them that you gave me a final bill and I was in credit; why are you now asking for money?

They stated their must have been an error on their part and that was not a final bill but the new one is and I need to pay them. I objected to this stating you can't just decide I not had a bill. Basically was told tough; pay it. In the bill, it has three different prices on their because they increased their prices. Started from Dec 2007 until March 2008. All three prices are estimated. I asked how they knew that the reading was that on that day; they say its an estimate and that is how they work.

Although I am not happy I have to pay the bill it seems I am stuffed and will need to do so. So I said I can pay £40 a month and pay off in six months time. No they say sorry, we only do three months is all we do for final bill. If you don't pay in that time we will send your outstanding amount to a debt agency and could cause me issues in gaining credit in the future.

At this point, I was annoyed with the agent as they refused to let me speak to a supervisor so said I will be complaining officially.

Obviously my first perference is not to pay the bill as why should I if they have cocked up. But dont think that is an option, I am willing to pay but can only afford £40 a month.

Any suggestions / help in the matter?

smileyt_2

My sister has been messed around endlessly by British Gas.

I don't know the answer to your problem but you might be as well going to the Citizens Advice Bureau for advice and help with contacting British Gas. I used to work there years ago and supervisors/managers would often negotiate with CAB workers in preference to talking to Joe Bloggs.

CAB have a website - advice.com I think. You could check on there first.

If you do go to the CAB, take all your bumf with you.

Good luck. I hope you stuff it to 'em, greedy sods they are.

sara1880

ask them to go back to the last Actual reading they have and then give them your readings at the time of leaving, tell them you want to see a new bill based on these figures ( they can do this no matter what anyone on their customer services team tells you ) once they have produced this in writing to you compare the figures to the amounts you have paid to them for the same time frame. By doing this you will be able to see for yourself what you have and havent paid and how much you owe if anything.
I could be wrong but i was once told that so long as you are seen to be making payments and trying to clear your debts they will not pass you on to a debt collection team as it costs them in the long run.

notbritishgas

The "real" final bill should be the one where the end reading is the one you gave Atlantic when you joined them (ie the one starting your first bill with Atlantic). So which one of the 2 final bills has the correct end reading?
It could be that the second final bill cancelled the first final bill and thus covered a longer period in time.

Eydon

I had a similar problem with npower when I moved to Atlantic. They sent me 3 'final' bills all in the space of 1 week and all for different amounts. I phoned up and asked (politely) just how many final bills they were planning on sending me. They admitted that it was their mistake and said they'd wipe the entire balance and close the account.

So I'd keep complaining - but keep it polite.

leicsmarkyr

notbritishgas wrote: »

The "real" final bill should be the one where the end reading is the one you gave Atlantic when you joined them (ie the one starting your first bill with Atlantic). So which one of the 2 final bills has the correct end reading?
It could be that the second final bill cancelled the first final bill and thus covered a longer period in time.

The latest final bill is the reading that has the Atlantic start. I agree that this is the correct one and I am happy to pay but its the principle; why should I pay when they said my account was closed and then decide its not. Plus I am willign to pay but only at my said amount. But they wont do that?

Cardew

leicsmarkyr wrote: »

The latest final bill is the reading that has the Atlantic start. I agree that this is the correct one and I am happy to pay but its the principle; why should I pay when they said my account was closed and then decide its not. Plus I am willign to pay but only at my said amount. But they wont do that?

Given that you agree that the debt is valid, it appears that the main issue is that you want to pay back at a rate you can afford.

I would write, email followed up by a letter, stating what you can afford to pay. The call cetre staff probably do not have the authority to spread it over a long period.

Unless you act on this quickly, the debt will be sold to a Debt Collection Agency.

leicsmarkyr

I'll be writing the letter this weekend to see what they will do

benjdr

I had this sort of problem moving from BG to Swalec.
Long story short, Swalec said they would take it up with BG for me, and they did so. I did nothing for a week or so then received another bill from BG stating the balance was zero. I'm not sure what Swalec did but it may be worth requesting help from Atlantic.