british gas late payment charge!?!

elaina79

I had something similar with the TV licence people. Someone called saying the accound was overdue but a large amount. When we called TV licencing direct they said it was a scam.

macman

amy_angel24 wrote: »

I got a phone call today from a lady with Indian accent saying that if I didn't pay my bill today by giving my credit or debit card details over the phone I would be charged £14 late payment fee. I actually posted my cheque yesturday and she still wanted my details, said it was to set up Direct Debit and I would still get charged £14 late payment anyway. She also wanted my home number (rang on my work phone) and mobile number. Didn't give any details as I posted my cheque already. I was only a month overdue and I only got my reminder letter last week. Never missed any payments previous, just had some personal circumstances this month that means paying bills was not at top of list to do.

Do British Gas charge because i can not find anything on their website about late payment fees?

They introduced a late payment fee of £14 back in 2008, since you didn't make the payment by debit card when requested, the odds are they will now add this to your next bill.
Only a month overdue? I think if your salary was paid 'only' a month overdue the you would be less than happy.

amy_angel24

Well I got my bill in March 2010 and guess what, no £14 late payment fee!!

I always pay my bills on time. Reason I was just 1 month late paying in November is because I had a death in my family of a very close family member, and was given the news that another member of my close family was terminally ill and was about to die also.

At that moment in my life, if my monthly salary had been a month late, I don't think I would have noticed or even cared because I had more important things to deal with.

tortoise1

Just got one myself, for £14. To the person who suggested late payments increase fuel bills, perhaps you have read or heard the news lately? They've increased their profit margins from about £60 a year per customer to over £90. So how does paying a bill late (we are in financial doodoo but always pay before the next bill arives) contribute to higher fuel prices?

DUTR

tortoise1 wrote: »

Just got one myself, for £14. To the person who suggested late payments increase fuel bills, perhaps you have read or heard the news lately? They've increased their profit margins from about £60 a year per customer to over £90. So how does paying a bill late (we are in financial doodoo but always pay before the next bill arives) contribute to higher fuel prices?

The person who mentioned that had also quite rightly mentioned that if you receieved your salary late , then you would not be best pleased, waiting for red reminders is so yesterday now, and only reduces the time to the next bill, there are many payment options from all companies now, so little excuse for paying late to attract a charge :cool:

DUTR

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Oh how heartless. I think I've seen all the harsh opinions that there can possibly be and then along comes another. Why can people not get their head round the fact that not all people are the same? Some react one way and some another. Assuming that everyone is like you is short-sighted and shows a lack of the ability to understand your fellow man. Sad.

How is it heartless? It is a great loss whenever anybody passes away, life must go on though, unless you are a funeral director, I don't think it is right to capitalise on someone's passing.

t0rt0ise

DUTR wrote: »

How is it heartless? It is a great loss whenever anybody passes away, life must go on though, unless you are a funeral director, I don't think it is right to capitalise on someone's passing.

Because you have no idea how someone else reacts to a death in the family. Some like you, get on with things quietly and logically, others run around hysterically like chickens with their head cut off... and others with all different reactions in between. The fact that you think everyone should be like you is short-sighted and to vocalise your opinion to someone in that position is heartless.

macman

The point is that BT are running a business, and if you pay late they will charge you, they neither know nor care about your personal circumstances.

DUTR

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Because you have no idea how someone else reacts to a death in the family. Some like you, get on with things quietly and logically, others run around hysterically like chickens with their head cut off... and others with all different reactions in between. The fact that you think everyone should be like you is short-sighted and to vocalise your opinion to someone in that position is heartless.

I have every idea how people react to a death in the family, he is not the 1st family member lost, Not sure how you fathom that I am determining how others should think , I do know that running around as you put it , like a headless chicken achieves very little, I suppose though a £14 surcharge is a small amount

t0rt0ise

You don't know how everybody reacts because for a start you don't know how the OP reacts. Never mind.