Bloody Utility Companies! GAS

fznuk

What the hell are these companies like? How can the Government let these companies get away with such an over priced, !!!!! service and idiot employed load of crap?!

I started with British Gas, all fine until a few years ago when they were updating their computer system and sent me a letter to say they were PLEASE to readjust my DD payments from £45 to £137!!!

After a couple of calls to them they admitted the mistake and not to worry as they wouldnt be taking that amount from my account......but they did!! AND they said they couldnt re-adjust my DD payments back again to £45 as the 'COMPUTER SAID NO' because it remembered the £137 adjustment... they would however drop to £80!! So, a few more calls later and they dropped it to £55 and that was final, I asked to speak to a manager only to be told i couldnt but could write to British Gas HQ!!

!!!!!! that, i decided to move... after looking around i decided to go to Southern Electric for Both Electric and Gas.

All went smoothly for my electric, they were helpful and supplied me with a good welcome pack of information.....and a FREEPHONE number! But then it came to my gas..... This took a while..weeks in fact, but this wasnt due to admin but the fact that the sales operator assumed my meter serial number and setup the account with that so i was unaware until i got a bill with the wrong reading. I finally found out that they had in fact taken charge of my neighbours meter.....so they sorted this (had to wait another 28 days) and finally my gas was sorted but not after my neighbour lost her supplier due to SE taking over her meter, closing the account (as it wasnt my meter) and leaving her in limbo with her supplier not being able to retrieve and setup a new account with her.... :mad: - !!!!!!s eh?!

So, all good with SE until i had to have a new gas meter as i had an old imperial one just before Xmas 2009. New meter installed buy Onstream, info jotted down by the installer with serials and readings and i filed it away thinking it will all get passed onto SE (he also had a smartphone to input all the info onsite too).

One month on i came across that info and decided to call SE to check and low and behold they had NO record of the meter change! :mad: which as we all know WILL eventually cause mass confusion and financial problems for me down the line.... so, i gave the polite chap the info for the database together with the meter reading and the meter serial. BUT after he put me on hold to pass on the info the their meter department he came back saying my serial isnt right as it belonged to someone else?!! After actually going outside to stand in front of the actual meter with phone in hand i read the serial out twice...a number which CAME with the meter from manufacture...it was MINE! He said Ah, we cant add it to the database as there is some mix-up and not to worry since he has made a note so wont cause any future problems...lol, no way i said... i want it sorted NOW as i know it WILL cause a problem... eventually he DID get it changed...god knows what will happen with the other person laying claim to that number?!

Gonna give it a week or two then call again to check.

But conclusion to this... I feel so sorry for people without time on their hands having to do all the bloody work for these idiot companies and their employees and can see there must be thousands of customers being blatantly ripped off due to just not having time to look into their bills and services. - totally scandalousness
Im self employed and glad i get time during the day but would be happier if i could be doing something more constructive if these companies just done their jobs properly...or at all!!

nemoo

Same here bar the meter change.

In my case, it started with the home move and the supplier was Southern electric. Electricity move went without a hitch but the gas was a another matter entirely. It took them nearly 5 months to take over my supply and all through that time they were trying to take over my neighbour's supply despite having the full postal adress (had to send them proof ;-)) code and serial no.

Things were normal for a while until I got a letter saying they were sorry to see me go - I never a requested a move!!! another few months went by trying to sort a problem that should never have been there - they eventually took control of supply for the 2nd time and offered to wipe my account clean as a gesture of good will. (ended better off by about £200 but not with all the hassle thrown in).

One common factor in all this plava was the E.ON was the other supplier who originally would let go of the supply the first time and tried to take over the 2nd time. EON also tried to get me to pay for usage whilst I was paying Southern electric for the supply.....

Thus far, I've resisted a move a away from SE due to their infinitely better customer service (based on experience) and now seriously considering a move to EDF due to their tariffs being a lot cheaper!