Direct Debit increase by British Gas

beanster21

HI i am currently in credit with British Gas (over £100) and they have now raised by montly Direct Debit by £14 . i have contacted them and they are refusing to lower it to what i have been paying and said there was nothing i can do about it.
is this correct. do i not have any say in the matter!!!!

Magentasue

You should be in credit now to cover your increased use over the winter. A £14 increase doesn't sound much in light of recent increases but it depends on how much you were paying before.

Calculate your annual usage in kwh, cost using the cost per kwh on your current tariff. Your monthly payment should be about 1/12 of your annual total.

LittleEmms

I had a very similar situation with British Gas a while ago and insisted on them reducing my payments which they refused to do. After a lengthy but polite arguement, i asked for a supervisor. She tried to say the same thing and I again politely said that this was my money that was earning her boss' a lot of interest along with everyone elses.

After a few minutes more, I said that I had had a similar conversation regarding reducing payments with Southern Electric that same day, to which they did it immediately and quite happily, the phone call took 3 minutes. I added, perhaps I will take my gas to them, to which she said "I'll just amend your payments for you now madame"...

Shouldn't of come to that but it did. It might be worth a try. Also ask for their name, every time you speak to someone and keep a note of this. Ask for the complaints department. Keep calm and don't loose your rag. Maybe even mention Ofgem, ask if they are the correct complaints company to contact? (not threatening, just a simple question)

Found this on their website; (note they don't actually answer either question with a complete yes or no! - its like politicians! )

Can I lower my Direct Debit?
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/ManageQueries/HelpAndAdvice/TypeID/?Type=PR_Case&ID=334

My account is in credit, can I get a refund?
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/ManageQueries/HelpAndAdvice/TypeID/?Type=PR_Case&ID=341

As for direct debit rights - I could only find this on this website; (not the best answer I'm afraid).
http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2008/08/01/ofgem-the-regulator-is-listening-good-stuff/

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Magentasue

All very well, but remember most people pay monthly because they don't want to get into debt. It's a good idea to make sure your DD works in your favour rather than the supplier's, but if you insist on lowering it, the supplier complies and then your usage exceeds the amount covered by your payments, you'll have a debit balance to settle or an even higher DD set to recover the amount owed.

Cardew

LittleEmms wrote: »

I had a very similar situation with British Gas a while ago and insisted on them reducing my payments which they refused to do. After a lengthy but polite arguement, i asked for a supervisor. She tried to say the same thing and I again politely said that this was my money that was earning her boss' a lot of interest along with everyone elses.

After a few minutes more, I said that I had had a similar conversation regarding reducing payments with Southern Electric that same day, to which they did it immediately and quite happily, the phone call took 3 minutes. I added, perhaps I will take my gas to them, to which she said "I'll just amend your payments for you now madame"...

Shouldn't of come to that but it did. It might be worth a try. Also ask for their name, every time you speak to someone and keep a note of this. Ask for the complaints department. Keep calm and don't loose your rag. Maybe even mention Ofgem, ask if they are the correct complaints company to contact? (not threatening, just a simple question)

Found this on their website; (note they don't actually answer either question with a complete yes or no! - its like politicians! )

Can I lower my Direct Debit?
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/ManageQueries/HelpAndAdvice/TypeID/?Type=PR_Case&ID=334

My account is in credit, can I get a refund?
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/ManageQueries/HelpAndAdvice/TypeID/?Type=PR_Case&ID=341

As for direct debit rights - I could only find this on this website; (not the best answer I'm afraid).
http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2008/08/01/ofgem-the-regulator-is-listening-good-stuff/

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Welcome to the forum.

I am not sure of the overall point you are trying to make.

With any firm if you sign a variable Direct Debit mandate, you are giving them the authority to take any sum that they see fit from your account. Note: not that you see fit.

Obviously they have to notify you in advance of any increase; and equally obviously it is your right to challenge the justification for that increase.

However if both parties cannot reach agreement on the DD amount, then the option is for you to stop paying by DD and thus lose the DD discount.

If the customer were able to determine the level of the DD, many of us would reduce our DD to £1 a month, put money into an interest earning account, and settle up at the end of the year - having had interest and the DD discount.

robin_banks

Pay by standing order instead, I think i'm tight in saying it's a fixed amount and thus cannot be altered by the recipient.

Cardew

robin_banks wrote: »

Pay by standing order instead, I think i'm right in saying it's a fixed amount and thus cannot be altered by the recipient.

Correct.

However the DD discount is much better than the Standing Order discount.

LittleEmms

Cardew wrote: »

Welcome to the forum.

I am not sure of the overall point you are trying to make.

Thankyou for your welcome.

I wasn't really trying to make a point as such - was just trying to help with my handle on the situation and what happened to me. I was lucky enough that threatening them with leaving worked for me! :rolleyes:

I included the links only to help the person quote them when on the phone. If you say to a company that you don't actually provide a response on refunds, etc then they can't state that make it clear when you take a contract out with them.

Was just trying to help on something I had experienced. Sorry if I came across confusing! Am a newbie!