Can someone help!?! British Gas "Terminology" & a possible DLA Tariff???

I-Owe-You

Hi all...I wonder if you can help me??

I moved into my flat about 18 months ago, before that I was living with my parents where I didn't have to worry about "adult" things like utilities!

Would someone be as kind as to explain to me in laymen's term for a blonde with a straw brain a few of my Gas & Electric queries please??

Ok first of all, when I moved in I joined British Gas (partly because I'd had so much to do I wanted everything sorted without too much of a headache, and also because they were the default/current supplier!) I only have electricity in my flat (a one bedroom new build in central london on the 2nd floor - private rent)

Ok, here's my questions! I receive bills (estimates & actual - what's the bloody point in this - i just want to know what I owe, not a guess at what BG think I owe!?!) Well I pay £35 direct debit a month, and am receiving bills saying I am in £260 in debit...what the heck does "in debit" mean!?! Do I owe this? It's got me quite worried now!
They only thing I can think would use up much electricity is obviously my fridge freezer and my pet lizard who has his heat bulb on all day.

I have just registered to BG online and note that I am on the standard "tariff" for electricity. I understand I should be saving 10% by having the monthly direct debits set up?

Also, I am disabled, i am profoundly deaf and therefore in receipt of DLA
I have read and been made aware of a BG tariff for those with disabilities that receive DLA - I been on the British Gas website and there is not a thing on there about this...can anyone give me more details??

I would call (but I cant hear!!) My partner is happy to speak on my behalf, but I want to make sure I know what we are talking about, as I don't want to be sold into a contract that works out more expensive for me because of my naivety!

Thank you for reading - any comments/advice is greatly appreciated

KimYeovil

If you're only paying £35 per month and are using heating then you are in for an even ruder awakening.

As you only have electricity it should be straightforward for you to track your useage and work out how much it should be costing you approximately. Subtract meter readings and multiply by the Tier 2 cost per unit.

Note that the Essentials tariff (the social tariff you were looking for) will not be any cheaper than the best priced direct debit tariff - you're as well just checking the comparison sites to find cheapest electricity only tariffs in your region. As you are electricity only you do not have to worry so much about cancellation fees - revamped tariffs will usually be in your favour (as they are targeted to dual fuel customers with lower electricity useage.)

And being £260 'in debit' does mean that that is how much you are in debt - you still owe them £260.

I'm confused by your fridge and lizard blaming comment - do you really not use any heating or showers?

I-Owe-You

Yes of course I use heating and showers - there is no need for pathetic patronising comments.

I am merely stating I work full time (12 hr shifts as a nurse), so am hardly home for light/heating ect to be used - or when I am home I am sleeping so my electricity useage should be quite low than say, a family of 4 in a 3 bedroom house who are their all day with various appliances on. (Common sense?!?)

I am merely highlighting that the only electrical items being used to excess are the lizard vivarium and fridge freezer.

There is no need to be a patronising cow - I am simply asking for advise which is what these forums are for.

If you are going to be sarcastic and vile, then Id prefer if you could please keep your narky comments to yourself as it doesnt help anybody.

milliemonster

I think you are completely overreacting to Kims post, I didn't feel she was being patronising at all and I think you need to tone down your responses or you will end up being reported for abuse.

You will not get advice from people by being so abusive in your posts.

Moving on from that, you need to check your meter, can you access it at all?, I read my meter every month and submit the readings online. Most utility companies will only give estimates as it now costs too much to employ the manpower necessary to read everyones meters quarterly.

Despite the fact you work, unfortunately electricity and gas are now expensive and I think £35 month for both is very low. You need to contact BG and find out what your last 12 months actual usage has been and then work out not only a repayment plan of the £260 you owe but also a more realistic monthly payment moving forward

gemstars

Hi OP,

Calling someone a cow probably isn't going to get you the best responses, I understand that trying to work all this out is very frustrating but your second post did come across as overly aggressive in my opinion.

From your post my concerns would be
- it sounds like you do owe British Gas money (in debit means you are in debt - you owe them, in credit means you have paid them more than you needed to - they owe you)
- you should have built up a credit by this point.

The idea behind direct debit as far as the suppliers are concerned is that you build up a credit over the summer months when most people aren't using as much (so you pay more than you need to) and then use this credit over the winter months, your direct debit is supposed to stay the same but your actually using more energy than your paying for (with heating etc) and the remainder is being paid for by your built up credit.

Have you kept all of your paperwork? If you have see if you can find an actual meter readings from two points a year apart. Take the latest reading away from the earlier reading and this will tell you what your usage has been over the year.

Divide this amount by 12 and this will give you your usage per month. Times this amount by the rate you are charged (this will be on your bill) and this figure will be roughly the amount your direct debit should be. Then the amount will need to be increased to pay off your £260 debt unless you'd prefer to pay it off as a lump sum.

If you have a 2 tier supply (i.e. a different rate for night and day) you will need to do this calculation separately for each.

How does your electricity work? Are you on an economy 7 tariff? If as you say you're never in and you never have the heating on this might not be the best tariff for you, even if you have overnight storage heaters.

If you post more information about your supply we will be able to help you further.

I do not know anything about tariffs for the disabled but Kim's answered that question.

Hope this helps!

KimYeovil

(Still trying to find where the sarcasm or vileness was.) Ignoring the rather strange wrong-way-rubbed-hair flair up...

I was going to suggest you consider switching to British Gas WebSaver 5 tariff so you could save some money immediately and that gives you until June to catch up with the arrears. (The reason for BG WS 5 is that switch can take effect immediately during this cold snap. Switching to EDF (which is slightly cheaper, probably) would take a couple of months and would also trigger a demand for the arrears.) But I don't think I'll bother, now.

Excuse me for not being psychic. £35 per month (+£15) is pretty low for heating and cooking for a couple in an electric-only flat. You did not actually mention in your initial post that you weren't using any electricity. You also did mention a partner - you did not say it was a single person household. You did also say you had straw for brains - thanks for the demonstration.

penrhyn

I'd also suggest the OP works out their annual consumption of electricity in Kilowatt hours and uses a comparison site like www.energyhelpline.com to find a better deal.
They can contact British gas by email

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/Help_Advice/ContactUs/

Textphone number is 0845 955 5502.

smidgey

Still don't understand the complete overreaction to Kim's post so I don't think i'll bother posting any advice

savemoney

removed I am sick of people asking for help and not even coming back when you try and help them

One more to add to block filter

Premier_2

smidgey wrote: »

Still don't understand the complete overreaction to Kim's post so I don't think i'll bother posting any advice

Think I'll join you on that one

Just added the OP to my ignore list - don't want to get involved in such over-reactions which I'm sure will otherwise happen.

27col

The op doesn't sound like the apologising type so don't hold your breath there. £35 pm is ridiculously cheap for an all electric flat, no wonder you are in a big debit situation. Best get real asap and start paying a more realistic amount, or your debt will rapidly escalate. Try not to get on too many more members "ignore" list.