BG direct debit.Should i be worried.

jonnynocash

Hi all.My story is I have been with BG for my electric for twelve months in January of this year and have been waiting to find out if my direct debit would change for the next twelve months.I have been paying £31.30 a month and I was £155 in credit at the end of the twelve month period.I take meter readings every week and submit an online reading to BG once a month.Well I have received my direct debit for the next twelve months and BG have accessed that I should pay the sum of £8.30 a month:eek::eek::eek::eek:
which to me is way to low.The thing is should I offer to pay more in case I underpay or should I just accept it and hope for the best.

Magentasue

To me it looks as if it should be about £18.30 rather than £8.30. Ask for it to be set higher or stick £10 a month in an account ready.

KimYeovil

I trust you have your annual useage? I suspect next year's will not be higher than this year's useage.

I calculate £5.40, not £18.30. So £8 sounds okay. But I'm sure lowliest call centre staff have authority to override computers saying 'no' when they want to increase a debit. If you like.

Magentasue

KimYeovil wrote: »

I trust you have your annual useage? I suspect next year's will not be higher than this year's useage.

I calculate £5.40, not £18.30. So £8 sounds okay. But I'm sure lowliest call centre staff have authority to override computers saying 'no' when they want to increase a debit. If you like.

I did 12 x £31.30 = £375.60 less £155 credit = £220.60 divided by 12 = £18.38

brookerbabyisababy

what difference does it make if you owe them money rather than the other way round?

KimYeovil

Magentasue wrote: »

I did 12 x £31.30 = £375.60 less £155 credit = £220.60 divided by 12 = £18.38

But surely you still have that £155 credit? Paid £375 but only used £220 and still have £155 credit. So next year need to spend £220 but you still have the overpaid £155 so only have £65 left to pay this year! So that's £5.41

Of course, both of our calculations are very wrong and just approximations because British Gas raised their prices twice over that twelvemonth. So that makes out approximations too low|high (ow, my brain hurts, prices going up, does that mean the estimate is too high or too low? hang on a minute (or maybe longer) while I think about this).

OP, just use your annual readings!

Edit: Okay, approximation is an underestimate. You'll be have to pay a bit more than £5.40. So their suggestion of £8 seems okay.

jonnynocash

Hi all.Many thanks for your replies.Have checked my usage for the last twelve months and it was 2086 units or kw? I will keep a monthly comparison to see how they compare and may put a bit extra to one side just in case.:beer:

Magentasue

KimYeovil wrote: »

But surely you still have that £155 credit? Paid £375 but only used £220 and still have £155 credit. So next year need to spend £220 but you still have the overpaid £155 so only have £65 left to pay this year! So that's £5.41

Yes, of course. You're right!