Price protection 2010 dual fuel

michelle984

Just writing this post out of curiosity wondering if anyone has found themselfs in my situation. I signed up for price protection 2010 in Nov of 2005. Had a spot of trouble at first with first D/D's as they didn't tell me when they were going to take them got a bank charge but in fairness they reimmbursed my Costs. Anyhow about 4 months later due to my own error i missed a D/D payment for my gas, BG told me that i was now off the D/D scheme and had to pay my outstanding balance on my gas which was around £250 £300 told them i could not pay that amount all in one go they told me if i did not they would take legal action and my only other alternative was to have a pre payment meter fitted. Reluctantly i agreed as i felt i had no choice.This was fitted on 30th May 2006. Since then i have been putting an absolute fortune on the thing even more so in winter obviously, around £35 to £40 per week. i rang them on 6th Jan to query this amount and they confirmed it was right but then it came to light that i still should have been on the price protection 2010 tarriff and this was not applied when the meter was fitted. They admitted it was their error and told me at first it would take around 2 weeks to sort 28 days later i was told another 28 days!!! i wanted just another 2 weeks after this just called for an undate and was told someone would call me back today as of yet knowone has called. 142 weeks on the wrong tarriff to date. does anyone know the difference in price for a pre payment meter and price protection 2010. I getting so sick of it, all i want is for them to honor their contract why should it take nearly 2 months to do a calculation???? i'm still on the higher tarriff they said they couldn't change it until the investigagtion was complete but they can't even be bothered to send me out a letter confirming this. I 'm sorry for chewing everybodies ears off i just needed to let off a bit opf steam!!!! ta x x

Premier_2

Write an official complaint spelling out your issues to them - you'll find details of how to make a formal complaint on the bill.

They will have to respond & resolve the matter within 8 weeks, else you can take the matter futher if appropriate..

Joyful

I work for BG and am also on FP 2010 but I am certain it was not available for PPmeters. I checked this when a family member also on this tariff had a PP meter fitted. I warned her that she would come off that tariff which she did. Because of her circumstances she went onto the Essential tariff.

I can understand that you are putting lots in the meter. My consumpion has risen by 20% in the last year because of the cold winter. I also think last year was the first time PP meters were able to have a fixed tariff with BG.

You should have been advised of this at the time so I would raise it as a complaint in writing but you will not be put back on FP2010.

Premier_2

I think you're correct, Joyful.

I was looking at this and thought Advanced Payment was perhaps the same as Pre-payment.
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/Gas%20Price%20Protect%202010.pdf

I now realise Advanced Payment is entirely different

michelle984

This is why i have left it nearly 3 years because when i was forced to have the meter i presumed that i would no longer be on pp. But i have been informed by bg on a number of occasion now that although pp was not designed for prepayment meters the admit to me it is there error and have to honor there contract they have encountered this situation on a number of occassions now. I had this confirmed by various people at the call centre as this was my concern as well, i really didn't think i was on pp but i still am they said it is complicated due to the nature of the circumstance but rest assured i will recieve my money back in a cheque. I still have the contract i signed thank goodness. it's just the time scale of the situatiopn thats blooming annoying.

Premier_2

I think after 142 weeks you have been more than patient.

michelle984

:rotfl:Well i suppose a few more days wont hurt then. Thanks Premier!!!! you made me laugh x x

Joyful

I do know that they cannot physically put you on the tariff. To bill you as a PP meter will only allow PP tariffs. There is no physical way to get a Credit Tariff onto your account. I would suggest escalating it so that you can be told the truth. The front office may say what you advise but as they do not deal with it they will pass to a back end team by raising tasks. My guess may be the tasks are sitting unworked on your account. The best that could be done ( and I do not believe it should) be would be to manually estimate the difference you have been paid and refund it. I think in your situation the resolution should be a written apology with perhaps an allowance for the timescale it has been going on.

Cardew

If you haven't got this in writing(that you would remain on the fixed to 2010 tariff despite being on PP meters) then ask them if they have a recording of the conversation.

I am pretty certain that you shouldn't have been told you would remain on the fixed tariff as this would mean that you alone would be on a different pre-pay tariff to all other pre-pay customers. So if they admit to their mistake they will have to send you a cheque.

I am on the 2010 tariff but I didn't sign a contract. I received a confirmation I was on the tariff.
I have just looked at that letter and whilst I could change to quarterly payment(from DD)it specifically excludes having the tariff on pre-pay

michelle984

Soory guys i've been putting pp for payment protection not pre payment just to clarify sorry. Ive called them again tonight just waiting for the person that is dealing with it to call me back he's on a late shift gonna ask him to send something in writing although the lady i've just spoken to read it all out on the notes. and again said they would honor the agreement i mentioned to her i was moving in a month so if it is easier if they can work out an estimate as i am now aware they cannot apply the tarriff then i would be happy with that as the property i am moving into is already supplied by bg and then the Price protection can be carried forward. Thank you all for your input much appreciated

michelle984

Recieved a call yesterday off a lovely chappy who i spoke to last week he said he would call me in an wek and he did. There is a cheque in the post to me as i have been rebilled up until june 2008 and because i am moving at the end of the month to a property that does not have a meter it has been agreed that i will wait to be rebilled when my final meter reading is taken. RESULT!!!