Phoenix Gas

cruesfan

As i said in my previous post, I am pleased with what I am getting from Phoenix. I feel it is a better deal than oil based on the current prices. No problems on the technical side either.

arwen_2

I'm moving to a new house this week which has phoenix gas. I have been told its likely to be less than what i pay for coal each month with is roughly £60.00.

Tbh i would gladly pay the same just to have the convience of flicking a switch and knowing the heat and water will take care of itself, or i won't have to try to get a fire to light every 5 mins when its snowing or bucketing it down with rain.

elliehenny777

Am I the only one who thinks that the recent increases in gas prices are a scandal? My monthly payments have gone from £25 to £59 in the last two months. When I queried it Phoenix said it was necessary as, although we are £216 in credit, we have to pay that montly amount to stay in credit! Since when did we give utility companies money to stay in busness? Does anyone else feel as angry as I do about this?

Ellie

meadowcat

Don't have Phoenix gas in the sticks, but my daughter lives in Belfast and she has it.

She used to pay by monthly direct debit, but found that Phoenix are very bad with their billing system. In fact I don't think they even come round to read the meter.

She decided to take control of it and stopped paying by direct debit. When they send her a bill - which is always estimated - she reads the meter and logs on to their website and enters the correct reading. At least she knows where she is with them and there is no overpayment. Whey should they have use of your money?

I can't understand why they can't read the meter as it is outside.

elliehenny777

Thanks for that info, I rang Phoenix yet again, I will now read my meter and pay monthly. They only read the meters once a year and base their monthly DD's on the previous year's consumption.
Ellie

Sandollar_2

Stephen Nolan did a report about this within the last 2 years. Phoenix were over-estimating monthly usage and when customers asked for their over payments to be refunded were told that Phoenix only repaid overpayments once a year.
A few months later when I got Phoenix installed I asked for a PAYG meter to be installed. Once a month I trot off to the garage and put £30 on the card, come home put it into the meter and forget about it for another month. A neighbour who got gas installed the same time as me, pays by DD and is in the same situation as the OP, Phoenix have raised the DD amount even though she is over £200 in credit.

elliehenny777

Thanks sandollar, have to confess I don't know about the card payments. When I rang Phoenix they told us much the same as you said, don't read meters, don't repay except once a year etc. Damned cheek!

We now pay £45 per month and hope that covers our bill, if not we will pay excess up front.
Ellie

arwen_2

I've just moved back in to my home after it had been refurbished. We have the gas installed and i think its brilliant. I also have a card which i top up. Compared to paying £60 per month on coal our gas is £30-£40 a month (family of 4). We have it on quite alot but im sure in the summer it could be less.

eddie_2-2

What's an 'average' Phoenix gas bill?
Trying to arrange DD payments with Phoenix and what they're suggesting seems very high to me. Between £60-£85 per month!!??

Sandollar_2

I pay monthly with PG via the PAYG meter. I have a 2 bed apartment. The last 3 months I have averaged £40. From about May to Sept, based on previous years, I expect that to halve.

see previous thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=108811&highlight=phoenix for other views on Phoenix.

hth