British Gas cheek (again)

sickofusernames

Just got the electric/gas bills for the last quarter and it wasn't too bad considering it's winter (£276 for gas) and we're both at home with our newborn baby now, they have reduced my leccy DD but not the gas!

We've currently got £300 credit on the gas account after this bill and when I asked them if it would reduce they said not for another 6 months - seeing as I recently lost my job I was hoping for a reduction on the gas DD as we're paying £137 a month. Why they still have to keep taking that much from me is beyond me, i'm thinking of just coming off DD's as at least I can pay what I want when I want.

I'm on fixed 2011, is there a set cancellation fee to come off this? Any help appreciated as money is everything at the moment - cheers

KimYeovil

How much gas did you use over the last 30 days? £260? £360? or £100? If it's not the last, why should your DD be reduced? If it is, complain.

sickofusernames

KimYeovil wrote: »

How much gas did you use over the last 30 days? £260? £360? or £100? If it's not the last, why should your DD be reduced? If it is, complain.

Why should BG be allowed to take the same amount of money even though I have a large credit balance and we'll soon be coming out of winter soon, i'd rather keep that extra money in my rapidly reducing bank account instead of BG earning money from keeping it in their company.

This is my reason for asking how much it is to come off the Fixed 2011 tariff and cancel DD's.

Forgot to mention that the current quarterly bill was £276...

KimYeovil

Okay, if that bill is accurate then you are overpaying. You should contact BG and be insistent. (Excuse my first reply but the vast majority of posts about DDs are from people who are not overpaying.)

sickofusernames

That's ok - I just can't understand why they can lower my electric DD but not the gas considering the credit i've built up. In fact i'm sure BG told me last Sept when they upped my DD to £137 that it gets reviewed every 6 months, I feel a phone call is needed.

No point in informing the regulator is there?

Michael_Nottingham

sickofusernames wrote: »

No point in informing the regulator is there?

They are looking at the DD system at the moment, here is what OFGEM say
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Consumers/CCI/Pages/DirectDebits.aspx
Mistakes can happen
As their guidance notes say, you need to give your supplier the opportunity to fix things first, if they don't you can ask to be referred to the Ombudsman

sickofusernames

Just got my £299 credit for the gas account returned into my bank today - i'm still going to phone to see if they'll lower my DD though!

garybuk

DD's are Re-assessed every year or after a price rise (called Mass Rapid Re-Assessment). Because Elec has been reduced there was a Mass Rapid Reassessment done on Elec but not gas as the price hasn't changed and because your on a fixed tariff then they won't re-assess your DD. Although if you do ring they will Re-assess your DD's and come out with a new monthly amount and you can agree with them if it's right.

Also there if your on the Fixed price then there is a termination fee as was in the T&C when you signed up for it, if your on the price cap then no there isn't.