Underhand tactics by British Gas

elaina79

Hi

I have been reading more and more on here about the underhand tactics by British Gas. These can vary from, not letting people switch to upping direct debit payments on accounts already in credit.

I have come across another scheme where they are increasing peoples electricity bills without anyone realising.:eek:
My dad has been looking over his old bills and has noticed that they have been changing the number of units they charge at the higher rate.
Normally it a certain price for the first 900 kwh used then a lower rate for the rest of the units for that year. But he has noticed that they have upped his 900 kwh limit over several bills so while the prices are the same he is being billed more without being told.

Has anyone else noticed this or anything else that british gas have been doing that is a bit naughty.

Personally I am not with them, and from what I have heard I never will no matter how much cheaper they appear to be. My dad was also told on the phone they will not be lowering the electricity tariffs any time soon. :mad:

KimYeovil

Can you double check? This is not a problem that British Gas is known for. Are you sure you're not confusing an old bill when the Tier 1 cutoff was different with a new bill now the Tier 1 cutoff is 500 kWh?

It is, of course, legitimate for companies to alter the standing charges (through altering number and price of Tier 1 units) provided that they are appropriately applied pro rata.

elaina79

No the cut off for Tier 1 was raised not lowered, so more of the units were being charged at the higher rate. It changed over 2 or 3 times over the quaterly bills I think.

KimYeovil

But on current British Gas tariffs the cut off is 500 kWh (125 kWh per quarter). I can not remember it ever being lower. So the cut off has been lowered, not increased.

Are you sure you are taking in to account different lengths of time that the bills are split up at a price change or interim meter reading?

(I wouldn't put it past their expensive computer system mucking things up but it is not a problem that has been mentioned before.)

Cardew

Older BG tariffs were 900kWh pa on tier1 for electricity and 4572 for gas.

Newer BG tariffs are 500/2680kWh for electricity gas.

Have you taken into account if the quarterly billing period is not exactly 91 days?

For electricity you pay for 2.47 kwh per day on Tier 1 so a 91 day quarter would be 225kWh.

However if the billing period was 100 days(often happens) you would be charged for 247kWh at Tier 1.

I would lay long odds that he hasn't been charged for more than 900kWh on tier 1 in a 12 month period!!!

I

smidgey

elaina79 wrote: »

No the cut off for Tier 1 was raised not lowered, so more of the units were being charged at the higher rate. It changed over 2 or 3 times over the quaterly bills I think.

Sorry but you are incorrect.

The older tariffs charged the first 225KWH in a quarter at Tier 1.

The newer tariffs charge the first 125KWH in a quarter at Tier 1.

If your father switched to the essentials tariff then he may have gone from 125 to 225 as the essentials tariff is an older tariff.