Moving from British Gas

Jen5

before christmas i got a phone call from eon, asking about moving gas and electricity supplies. i told them i couldnt, as i had a large debt on an electricity bill with british gas that i was paying off. i was told it shouldnt be a problem so i went ahead with the switch.

well, it is a problem. british gas wont let me switch electric as theres about £250 outstanding and i cant afford to pay it off in full. my gas though has already been moved to eon.

the thing is, the bill isnt actually completely my fault.

i moved into this house in december 2007, it had token meters for both electric and gas. i got in touch with british gas to get them changed to credit meters so i could pay direct debit as i had done at my previous address. i was with eon there and it was 1 direct debit for both gas and electric.

not a problem, the meters were changed and i set up the direct debit. the cost was a little less than i was paying previously, but i put that down to having less appliances as i had to get rid of my tumble dryer, and wasnt using my dishwasher.

a few months later, i think it was april, i queried why i had not received any electricity statements. turns out i wasnt being billed for it, they had no record of my meter or anything. in may i think they finally started billing me.

so now im stuck with a £250 debt, my gas is with eon, electric still with british gas and i can only really afford £10 a month off the debt. thats 2 years before i can switch supplier.

ive tried saying that as the debt isnt really my fault, but all they say is they wont let me switch. is there anything else i can do?

garybuk

You used the electricity, you owe the money!! nothing you can do really the companies have a window in which to object to the industry to a customer moving and the main reason is debt. Only way i can see is for you to see if the debt is true and try and pay it off.

Jen5

im not trying to get out of paying the debt, i agree i used it so i should pay it. i want to change to a different supplier though and dont see why i should be stopped from doing so because i owe money due to their mistake.

garybuk

Unfortunately if the debt is greater than 28days the supplier is well within their rights to object to a transfer, i'd speak to them and explain that the debt is older than 28 days old due to their error.

You can make as many applications to transfer but unfortunately until the debt is paid off they will keep objecting blocking you from transferring. This is common practice on ALL suppliers, not just BG.

Have a look here http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/Energy_Help___Advice/Your_energy_question/Your_energy_question.aspx

and here: http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/Energy_Help___Advice/Your_energy_question/Your_energy_question.aspx

Hope this clears things up.

smidgey

Jen5 wrote: »

im not trying to get out of paying the debt, i agree i used it so i should pay it. i want to change to a different supplier though and dont see why i should be stopped from doing so because i owe money due to their mistake.

It's just one of those things that will be in your terms and conditions of supply unfortunately. I appreciate it's not down to you but until you clear the debt they will continue to object to you leaving.

The £10 a month you're paying towards your debt, is that on top of your usage or is it just £10 a month for your electricity?

If you really want to leave then you just need to concentrate on paying the money off as quickly as possible.

Cardew

Jen5 wrote: »

im not trying to get out of paying the debt, i agree i used it so i should pay it. i want to change to a different supplier though and dont see why i should be stopped from doing so because i owe money due to their mistake.

Whilst this won't apply to you, there are many people who would simply run up huge debts with Utility companies and simply switch from company to company with no itent to repay the debt.

Look at some of the threads elsewhere on MSE to see the advice given for people to go bankrupt or IVA - it is a growth industry.

The only hold the company have over customers is to force pre-payment meters on them if they won't/can't pay their debts and/or cut them off.