British Gas Not Budging

damoandclaire

Hi there,

I've used this forum before but lost my username and password lol.

Wondering if I could get some advice on how to tackle the following.

I live in a 2 bed semi (rather small one I might add) that has gas central heating. Now, when we moved in, we thought, cool, decent heating at last after living in self contained flats but was flabbergasted when we got our first gas bill (for a quarter). It was near to £600 mark - Just for gas.

We realised that some of this bill was attributed to using the heating near winter but even then we thought that was somewhat high. We have since found out, after some investigation that the boiler is nearly 25 years old and as such, needs replacing. The boiler, when turned on for hot water, is on for heating as well, only thing we can do to turn heating off is to turn radiators off.

We have managed to turn the boiler down so its not on all the time (something our landlord failed to tell us we could do) and as such we're not using as much gas, but obviously we have a massive bill to pay.

Now we're not disputing we've used the gas because we have and thats fine. We want to pay the bill but just can't afford the monthly repayments that british gas are asking for. Now, some of it is our own fault because we went through a rough patch were we missed some payments due to family problems, job problems and financial problems (as have we all).

British Gas simply won't budge on our payment amounts. At the moment, theyre demanding we pay, £150 a month - just for gas and £100 for electric a month which we simply cannot afford. We're paying at least £100 for gas and £55 to £60 for elec which we are struggling with but are paying but still they will not budge.

We just recently had a meter reading done and looking at our consumption on our online account, our usage compared to the exact same time last year is less by at least 2 thirds but they will still not reduce the payments.

We thought it best to pay what we can(see above) rather than paying nothing but theyre now threatening action against us. We have looked at a prepayment option but, working out what our usage would be because of a really useless boiler and their standing charge to get their bill down, we would be paying more than our existing monthly payments which we're not paying the full amount of now just the majority of, which is what we can afford. Having two very young children, one only a number of weeks old, we cannot have the risk of not having hot water - but what can we do?

Sorry for waffling, hope someone can give us some advice.

Cheers

markharding557

it is quite likley in the event of no agreement they will install prepayment meters

damoandclaire

I appreciate that - no offence, but that response doesn't help.

Surely there must be something I can do about the excessively high payments theyre demanding - i mean, working out my finances, even with the benefits on top that I get cos of my kids its taking nearly 25 to 30 percent of my monthly take home earnings. Surely, fuel poverty comes in somewhere? I mean, its a case of, do I pay my rent, or pay what they want for gas? which ever way I go, I'm either without a roof over my head or potentially no hot water!!

Its not that I don't want to pay, I want to pay a reasonable amount and given my usage compared to this time last year, I beleive what they are asking for is excessive!

Joyful

If you defaulted on a payment plan I am surprised you are being offered the option to have one again without the balance being cleared. I think a PP meter is the best option. You will be better off in that you will then only use the energy you are paying for so if you have reduced this you will be paying less. You may be able to come to an agreement for repaying the debt through the meter over a longer period. Just now with less usage you can pay more off and in Winter reduce the debt repayments as your consumption increases.

British Gas Electric Prepayment meters are the same cost as credit meters. Gas Prepayment meters are currently charged only £32 more per year.

milliemonster

But the OP hasn't defaulted on a payment plan from how I read it, they are saying that they have accrued this bill for which BG want £150 a month, they are paying £100 a month and overall the amount owing is reducing on this amount is this right? if this is the case and you are clearing the arrears by paying £100 I don't see why BG has such an issue (apart from the fact they are not getting the arrears cleared as quick as they want)

I would let them threaten you with court, just keep paying the £100 a month as you are, the only thing you need to be careful of is winter will soon be upon us again and your gas usage is bound to go up, this may be what's making BG nervy.

I don't understand where your electric comes into it though? you say BG want £100 a month for electric and you are paying £55-60 a month, are you in arrears with your electric aswell? is what you are paying actually covering the cost of the electric you are using?

SwanJon

Millie - the OP says they missed a few payments - that can be enough to default on the plan.
Damo/Claire - keep paying what you can, and keep putting readings in online to confirm that your usage has dropped. This shows that you are willing and backs up that you are using less this year than last. Check that you are actually still on a plan - it might be that the plan has cancelled and they are looking for the full outstanding amount (again, keep paying).
If you do move to a PP meter because you have been paying off, you'll have a lower weekly payment, if you don't, you may be able to negotiate another plan.
Ask if you qualify for the essentials package- there might be something there that can help you.
Keep on going!

PS - BG don't have a standing charge on PP meters

damoandclaire

thanks for all the comments guys.

Its looking like we're going to be going on Prepayment at the moment. Going to CAB on Tuesday to see if we can sort something.

In response to the question about the electric, we are in arrears with that side but no where near what we are with the gas.

Our usage is defo down year compared to last. We're using about a 3rd of what we were using last year but I will as suggested, keep putting in readings.