British Gas - Awful company

kippen_noedel

shroty606 wrote: »

I wanted some advice on the present situation, not some wonderfully crafted hindsight put down disguised as some worldly advice.

Call CS and try to speak to a manager, explain if you cant you will be proceeding with a formal complaint.

Hopefully you will get a decent one and if they are any good at their job they will try and find common ground.
Part of the fault is yours for not noticing, part is theirs for not using the submitted readings.(do not admit any fault upfront but be prepared to do so if it helps negotiate a decent compromise).
If no joy at this stage, again explain you will have no choice but to proceed with a formal complaint. Tell them you know you have to give them a chance to sort it out before contacting the regulator to escalate the complaint.

Have copies of your emails where you have confirmation of submitting readings and any other relevant information readily to hand.

Good luck.

hansi

shroty606 wrote: »

I have noticed people are so quick to point out others mistakes on this board, it does come over a little bit ... arrogant. If you had read my first post as well as you read your bills, you would see that I did also send 2 online meter readings, which I have managed to find the references in my e-mail back ups, and these were ignored. I'm glad you have so much time on your hands to do it every month, I work 7 days near enough as my work requires me to be on call nearly 24/7 to deal with technical issues and most of the week I am away around the country. I wanted some advice on the present situation, not some wonderfully crafted hindsight put down disguised as some worldly advice.

I'm glad you have so much time on your hands to do it every month, I work 7 days near enough as my work requires me to be on call nearly 24/7 to deal with technical issues and most of the week

How long does it take to read a meter and enter the figures online? Seconds! I would suggest that you switch to BG Energy Smart, enter your meter readings every month, and only pay for what you use. The would avoid the problem you currently have.

Gerrard_8_lfc

BG centres in india ar for to help us if we have problems with the "systems" and processing centres no of which speak to th public.

BG have
Glasgow x 2
Edinburgh
Leicester
Stockport
Cardiff
Leeds
London (Dyno)

gemstars

Getting back on topic.

If you have your readings in your back up emails then call the supplier, give them the readings and dates along with an up to date reading and ask them to recalculate your bills based on these actual readings.

If they won't, come back here and let us know and someone will be able to tell you where to take it from there.

shroty606

hansi wrote: »

I'm glad you have so much time on your hands to do it every month, I work 7 days near enough as my work requires me to be on call nearly 24/7 to deal with technical issues and most of the week

How long does it take to read a meter and enter the figures online? Seconds! I would suggest that you switch to BG Energy Smart, enter your meter readings every month, and only pay for what you use. The would avoid the problem you currently have.

I would be really frustrated with this ignorance as I actually have stated that I supplied 2 meter readings online and both were not used, in fact, no meter readings have been used at all, as was my point.

Anyway, after lengthy talks I have had £150 removed from the bill, had a payment plan set up and a further 10% taken off the remainder of the bill So I'm very happy. Thanks for the help to the people who actually spent time explaining where I currently stand rather than providing hindsight, which is useless.

Bryando

My tariffs rise every time I top up my gas, pre payment. Nobody has a clue, nor does anybody phone me back when they say I will look into this.
Going get to the point. Hot water will be via kettle and heating via electricity heaters. My appointment with my psychiatrist is going to be dominated by BG!

Gerrard_8_lfc

shroty606 wrote: »

I would be really frustrated with this ignorance as I actually have stated that I supplied 2 meter readings online and both were not used, in fact, no meter readings have been used at all, as was my point.

Anyway, after lengthy talks I have had £150 removed from the bill, had a payment plan set up and a further 10% taken off the remainder of the bill So I'm very happy. Thanks for the help to the people who actually spent time explaining where I currently stand rather than providing hindsight, which is useless.

Your lucky to get that really its your responsibility to give meter read to the supplier to keep bills accurate.

If you spoke to a more "clued" up agent like me you would have got nothing not to sound harsh but monthly meter readings are essential to accurate billing.

Americanisation is a joke comp is comp that.

People should be more educated on this rather than....

BG awful company , EON at it again, EDF NO MORE

when a company increases your direct debit its not a price increase its to cover YOUR consumption.

kippen_noedel

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

Your lucky to get that really its your responsibility to give meter read to the supplier to keep bills accurate.

Lucky ?? get you !!! Clued up agent ??? You didn't even read his post :mad:
#then he IS lucky he didn't get you but got someone who actually listened and acted accordingly.

shroty606 wrote: »

I am not disputing the amount as we have used the gas, the error on their part was that in the last year I have let two people in to read the meter and also submitted 2 readings.

related but separate note added

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

monthly meter readings are essential to accurate billing..

Then why do companies, including BG "try" to have quarterly readings but readers often don't bother even turning up, submit estimated bills when meters are outside of the property, so no excuse about customer not being in, etc, etc etc.
& Do not give me any nonsense about it being the customer at fault, this is primarily inept billing systems for all energy companies.
& No excuses for bills being based on the past years usage, last year was a much colder than average, so if companies wanted to give accurate estimates they would use rolling seasonal averages. pathetically easy for computerised systems.

SmartEnergy is some small progress but essentially a money saving process for BG, sure it has benefits for customers that have internet access but what about all those that don't, especially the elderly, they still get stuffed with inept systems and badly estimated bills.

Gerrard_8_lfc

So his meter reading was online well just print page and send it in ?? no
(as it shows the date and meter reading on BG accounts online)

Problem sorted ? no So what should energy companys do ? send people round to check the meter what they do if they "cant" get a accurate reading just give them it for free ???

And energysmart is a fix for this problem fair enough not on websaver 5 so people who dont have internet need not worry as they can text a meter read monthly.

so to answer your question his reading will be on his online account which he could send in. If not just sign on energysmart ???

PS a update meter reading would sort the bill as this is a month that BG bill so yes kippen compensation for "possible" energy used is lucky as kim says what have BG done wrong ?

As said before everyone jumps on all energy suppliers backs but all you need to do is take meter reads and submit them often keeping bills accurate. Whats wrong with that ?

kippen_noedel

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

So his meter reading was online well just print page and send it in ?? no
(as it shows the date and meter reading on BG accounts online)

Do BG give compensation when it is the customers fault.... NO !!!!

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

So his meter reading was online well just print page and send it in ?? no
(as it shows the date and meter reading on BG accounts online)
Do BG give compensation when it is the customers fault.... NO !!!!

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

Problem sorted ? no So what should energy companys do ? send people round to check the meter what they do if they "cant" get a accurate reading just give them it for free ???

Meter readings submitted, meter readings taken by employees but ignored, customers fault NO !!!!

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

And energysmart is a fix for this problem fair enough not on websaver 5 so people who dont have internet need not worry as they can text a meter read monthly.

Plus a myriad of other tariffs which I 100% bet aren't eligible for the "discount" & how many elderly customers do you know that are comfortable with mobiles , let alone texting in their meter readings ? & why should they pay to get accurate bills when the cost is already included in their bills ???

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

so to answer your question his reading will be on his online account which he could send in.

Not answered by any means, so I will quote the OP again

shroty606 wrote: »

I have let two people in to read the meter and also submitted 2 readings.

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

PS a update meter reading would sort the bill as this is a month that BG bill so yes kippen compensation for "possible" energy used is lucky as kim says what have BG done wrong ?

They have failed to give the customer the service which they are paying for. "Duty of Care",
company takes readings but ignores them and bills incorrectly. Failure
customer subits readings but company ignores them and bills incorrectly. Failure

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

As said before everyone jumps on all energy suppliers backs but all you need to do is take meter reads and submit them often keeping bills accurate.
Whats wrong with that ?

"Whats wrong with that", are you serious ???? Don't you read before you make a comment
Actually I'm not against energy suppliers per se, & it;'s not often I jump on their backs & never before on yours. You're normally pretty balancd in your posts, hence why I am probably reacting more strongly than I normally would.

I just cannot see how you can think this is a problem in which the customer is more at fault than your employer.