Huge Gas bill

KimYeovil

Pssst wrote: »

Just get a prepayment meter put in..

++ This is a silly suggestion.

According to an article on BBC News 24 last weekend suppliers are under no obligation to charge the old price when you get a catch up bill because of previous estimated bills.

Strange how few OVER-estimated bills get submitted for adjustment just before a price rise. What's sauce for the goose…

Pssst

I dont see why it is silly. No matter how surprised the OP might be,fact is that in all likely hood its a valid bill. If she doesnt have the money she could renegotiate her DD payment but really,all she would be doing is offsetting this current debt and pushing it further into the future.

Instead,if she finds herself struggling,she could get a PP meter in (look for the best deal),the debt would then be payable via pp at an affordable/negotiable rate (maybe £5 pw) and she would retain her supply and avoid future debt and be less likely to use as much gas in future as she would have a heightened awareness of the cost.

PP meters may seem scary but they do educate you to use less gas. Many people fear them at first but grow to love them..

KimYeovil

Pre-payment meters do not guarantee debts will not accumulate (as numerous threads here attest). They will restrict choice as very few tariffs charge the same for pre-payment and credit. They result in customers having their energy regularly cut off (by themselves).

From the OP's post they just seem to have been careless, rather than struggling. Of course, if the OP has not learned from this experience pre-payment meters may be useful. But all the OP needs to do is take a look at their credit meter now and then to keep an eye on how much they are using.

tinacee1

Wish I'd kept my prepayment meters. My monthly charges have rocketed from £80 per month (when on prepayment meter in winter months) to them telling me that my direct debits (since I got my new credit meters installed)have increased from £60 per month to £146 ( I get gas and electricity from British Gas) They notified me yesterday that the increase would take effect from 4th November. I am still reeling from the shock of it.

Magentasue

tinacee1 wrote: »

Wish I'd kept my prepayment meters. My monthly charges have rocketed from £80 per month (when on prepayment meter in winter months) to them telling me that my direct debits (since I got my new credit meters installed)have increased from £60 per month to £146 ( I get gas and electricity from British Gas) They notified me yesterday that the increase would take effect from 4th November. I am still reeling from the shock of it.

Part of this will be price increases but a lot of it is because you are using more! Easy way to rememdy this!

Pssst

KimYeovil wrote: »

Pre-payment meters do not guarantee debts will not accumulate (as numerous threads here attest). They will restrict choice as very few tariffs charge the same for pre-payment and credit. They result in customers having their energy regularly cut off (by themselves).

From the OP's post they just seem to have been careless, rather than struggling. Of course, if the OP has not learned from this experience pre-payment meters may be useful. But all the OP needs to do is take a look at their credit meter now and then to keep an eye on how much they are using.

That depends to some extent on what sort of meter it is. Gas quantum type meters and smart card electric meters can be remote administered via the smart card so realistically,the only debt on it should be that which is agreed.

Incisor

tinacee1 wrote: »

Wish I'd kept my prepayment meters. My monthly charges have rocketed from £80 per month (when on prepayment meter in winter months) to them telling me that my direct debits (since I got my new credit meters installed)have increased from £60 per month to £146 ( I get gas and electricity from British Gas) They notified me yesterday that the increase would take effect from 4th November. I am still reeling from the shock of it.

BG seem to be in the habit of sucking their customers' accounts dry with random DD charges. If you can, you need to work out your annual consumption and the bill and tell them how much they can take.

Cardew

Incisor wrote: »

BG seem to be in the habit of sucking their customers' accounts dry with random DD charges. If you can, you need to work out your annual consumption and the bill and tell them how much they can take.

However you must add into your annual consumption any debit balance you have built up.

Bear in mind at this time of the year you would normally expect to be in credit.