Want to Disconnect Gas

KateErricsen

Hi there,

Basically I want to close my gas account. I only really use it for my cooker and I have some electric heaters which I want to use anyway.

I had some trouble with disputing gas bills previously anyway, money is tight and I want to close my connection. They are threatening to close my connection anyway, but that's another story.

What's the best way to go about this - should I let them disconnect me or should I request a disconnection? If I do the latter is there a fee? I am with Scottish Gas.

Thank you for any advice!
K

BargainGalore

You do realise using electric is more expensive than gas to heat your home and given the choice gas fire or electric gas would win everytime

shaz-ann

KateErricsen wrote: »

Hi there,

Basically I want to close my gas account. I only really use it for my cooker and I have some electric heaters which I want to use anyway.

I had some trouble with disputing gas bills previously anyway, money is tight and I want to close my connection. They are threatening to close my connection anyway, but that's another story.

What's the best way to go about this - should I let them disconnect me or should I request a disconnection? If I do the latter is there a fee? I am with Scottish Gas.

Thank you for any advice!
K

BargainGalore wrote: »

You do realise using electric is more expensive than gas to heat your home and given the choice gas fire or electric gas would win everytime

Also, you mention that you use gas for cooking. Remember you'd have to also find money to buy an all electric cooker/hob and unless you already have it, you would have to pay an electrician to install a separate circuit for your cooker - they use a lot of electricity and shouldn't be connected through the normal household circuit (you wouldn't be able just to plug it in normally). When we had our kitchen installed a couple of years ago, we had to have special circuit put in for our electric oven (our hob is gas).

Like as BargainGalore said, gas is very much cheaper than electricity when heating your home. You would be surprised by how much electric a simple storage heater can use.

If possible, it would be far better to try and come to some agreement with your gas company to pay off your debt, rather than incurring further costs you don't need.

davidgmmafan

I believe if they disconnect due to debt then they will charge you. If you request them to disconnect they there isn't a fee I believe. However as others have advised this is a big step and should be considered carefully.

I genuinly do not know if they will accept a request from a customer to disconnect wherre there is a balance owing. It leaves a debt they have no real prospoect of recovering.

SwanJon

From my experience, it is quite easy to remove a meter - as above all the other stuff may be more difficult.
Getting a new meter in would be more difficult and may cost you money.

SG don't have a standing charge - make sure you give regular readings and zero consumption should cost you zero pounds.

KateErricsen

Thank you for the advice.

I really don't want to have gas, I have thought about it and don't need it.

SG are suggesting I get a meter installed, which would be used to recover the debt. They said I would have to put something ridiculous like 40 pounds a month then money on top of that to get it going. I only live by myself and my gas usage is miniscule. Would it be a good option to have this meter fitted and not use it? Or would I be forced to use it?

Thank you for the advice, it is appreciated. K

SwanJon

If it's to pay back a bill, then a PP meter is an option to pay back a bill. If you have the gas meter taken out, then they will seek the money another way.
If you have the PP meter put in and don't use it to pay back the bill, they will go down the same path.

If you are unable to pay a bill quickly, DD allows you to spread the balance over a year while still having a choice of tariffs. PP meters may give you longer if it meets your circumstances.

HappyMJ

You will lose the dual fuel discount. I use little gas myself but the dual fuel discount plus the direct debit discount plus the green energy discount plus the extra I get from Quidco for switching a duel fuel supply rather than just electric means the amount I get back reduces the annual gas bill to almost zero. Npower... Have to pay £5 per month but they give that back in some way or another.

Joyful

If you use very little gas then why do you have a debt? If its small amount just pay it and move on. If it is large and you get a prepayment meter fitted you will have to top up weekly to pay back the debt.

Have you ever had a payment plan?

Mankysteve

How do you heat your home at the moh? If you switch from an gas boiler to electric heaters it'll cost you roughly 3 times as much. Please electric hobs are devils work.

Premier_2

Joyful wrote: »

If you use very little gas then why do you have a debt? ...

You beat me to it, Joyful! :T

I remember the first post this user made a year ago. At that time the outstanding balance was only £40 ish in total (after 4 years), whilst paying £13 -£20 bills.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2067547

Not sure how that suddenly in a year has now risen to a debt that requires paying off at a rate of £40 per month, especially in view of the advice I gave back then. :huh: