British Gas: Compensation Advice

Dramatic_Star

British Gas complaints dept are phoning me on Monday to discuss compensation.

Without going into too much detail, they charged me for a gas bill in a house that I moved out of 2 years + ago for a period when I didn't live in the house. Over a year ago, I sent a contract and letter to them to prove this & I was told it was all sorted. My 'bill' was then passed on to a debt collection agency in Dec 07 & I only found out I had this 'debt' a month ago. It has gone on my credit rating (which was previously clean) & has stopped me getting various credit cards. I've also had intimidating calls from the deby agency. British Gas are buying back the debt after I sent in yet another letter & it is supposedly cleared.

So my question to MSE is what would be a reasonable amount to settle with BG with in terms of compensation as I have no previous experience of this.

Thanks in advance.

:beer:

Blacksheep1979

£5

What costs have you actually incurred?

Dramatic_Star

I take it you've not had much luck with getting compensation before then, or accept anything on a plate?

Fact is i've had bad credit for over a year thanks to them. After writing to complaints and threatening actionthey deal with it within 5 working days... shows they know they were in the wrong eh.

Tozer

BG have effectively defamed your character.

It will be difficult to establish the evidence but you need to try and show the actual cost incurred (e.g. the difference in credit which would have been available to you had they not wrongly registered the bad credit history).

Similarly if you have had credit pulled as a result or have applied for loans and suffered a higher rate of interest than you would but for BG's wrongful act then this is claimable.

Brooker_Dave

Dramatic_Star wrote: »

So my question to MSE is what would be a reasonable amount to settle with BG with in terms of compensation as I have no previous experience of this.

£4000000

Demand compensation!!

Tozer

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

£4000000

Demand compensation!!

Usual comment.

Defamation of character damages available per se (i.e. you do not actually have to demonstrate loss).

However, unless you wish to pursue this in Court, prove your losses.

foxxymynx

The same thing has happened to me and still isn't resolved.

A year after I paid the final bill by giro, I received a letter from a debt collection agency for my final bill plus another 8 months!

I've lost the giro payment reciept (as far as I was concerned it was paid, done and dusted and wasn't contacted until 12 months after) and they're adamant that I haven't paid.

It's been going around in circles for some time now.

OlliesDad

The problem is that you need to be able to prove that the reason the credit cards were declined to you was because of this error by British Gas. You need to prove that if it wasnt for that, the companys would have accepted, which is very very difficult to do.

I think your best hope is to ask for the money that you have lost (i.e. the cost of telephone calls).

As you are no longer a customer of British Gas, there is no incentive for them to offer the money (if you were with them they could risk losing you as a customer so may offer something as goodwill)

The best advice would be to get regular credit reports so that you can check your credit rating regularly to prevent it happening in the future.

Dramatic_Star

OlliesDad wrote: »

The problem is that you need to be able to prove that the reason the credit cards were declined to you was because of this error by British Gas. You need to prove that if it wasnt for that, the companys would have accepted, which is very very difficult to do.

I think your best hope is to ask for the money that you have lost (i.e. the cost of telephone calls).

As you are no longer a customer of British Gas, there is no incentive for them to offer the money (if you were with them they could risk losing you as a customer so may offer something as goodwill)

The best advice would be to get regular credit reports so that you can check your credit rating regularly to prevent it happening in the future.

I am still a customer of British Gas at my current property for gas and electricity. I put this in my complaint letter and made a point that if it wasn't resolved, I would be taking my business elsewhere. This isn't the first mess up they have made so I will be sure to mention the hastle they have put me through- but in terms of losing money, its just the premium rate numbers (equating to around £10) that I have lost but credibility, a much larger effect but yes this is hard to prove. I shall wait to see the outcome of tomorrows conversation.

Thanks all those who have given me useful advice. Much appreciated.

Dramatic_Star

Just an update: British Gas phoned and after negotiation, I've got 10% of both my gas & electric bill (based on the previous quarters amount) & £30 cheque so overall rather pleased. Getting written confirmation that the issue has been resolved.