british gas

marty01506

recently found out that B.G have been charging me buisness rates for gas and electricity for the last 6months when it should have been domestic rates, when i asked them to re-bill me for the previous 6months using domestic rates they refused telling me that 99% of the time buisness rates are cheapier than domestic ones, they refunded me a 99p per day utility charge out of good will and reduced the v.a.t from buisness to domestic rates. i refused to accept this and in the end was told that even if they re-billed me and that they owed me money they did not have to pay me back because i entered into a contract and it was my fault for not reporting it earlier. bully tactics in my opinion, if they were under charging me they would not think twice about billing me for the correct amount once it came to light, can anyone offer any advice on what i should do next!!!!!

anniecave

Did you only just move in to the property six months ago? Or had you previously been with another supplier?

If you moved into a property that had previously been a business property, and didn't make it clear that it was no longer a business property, then they can't be expected to know if you don't tell them.

If you go onto a comparison site, put in your postcode and any kwh figures you like, then you can look up british gas's standard domestic tariff (not any other tariffs) for both gas and electricity, and then compare these to what prices you have been charged.

marty01506

moved in 6 months ago, rented flat, started to notce that my gas bills were very large considering that i work alot in excess of 56 hours a week and usually go straight to the gym, do most of my eating in the works canteen and when at home its mostly the micro wave that i use. B.G sent someone to check out my meter and that was when i was told i was on buisness rates, informed B.G straight away and yet i was billed for a further 3 months on buisness rates, in the end i gave up and changed suppliers and since then have been trying to find out if they owe me any money, but all they do is give me the run around and tell me that buisness rates are cheaper which i find hard to believe, on buisness rates you pay a higher v.a.t rate plus a utilities charge of 99p a day which they have refunded me. i really need to find out if buisness rates are cheaper, i find it hard to believe that asda's gas is cheaper than the pensioner that lives next door to me, surley that would be criminal.

anniecave

the business market is set up differently to the domestic market.

With business you can actually sign up to a contract for a period of time eg 2 years for a specific price and this is actually legally binding (unless the business moves out of the property). With residential you can sign up for fixed prices etc but they normally come with an exit clause/fee if you want to leave and it's not the same thing.

It just depends on what tariff you are on in each case. There's an element of inertia on each. If a business customer has never switched then they'll more than likely be paying more than they need to, just as a residential customer in the same situation.

Larger businesses who use more electricity may use energy brokers or take more time or put more effort into getting a good deal. John owning the local corner shop may be paying more.

For you, all you can do is look at what british gas would have charged you if you'd been on their standard domestic rate, and compare that. Look at what the standard rates are now, then google to see when was the last time they put their prices up, as you may need to do a bit of guesswork.

I assume you've got the VAT reduced down to 5%?

marty01506

got the v.a.t. reduced after much complaining and i do understand what you are telling me just find it hard to accept that the utilities company's have it all there own way. surely the people with the lowest incomes should get the best deals? lifes not perfect but its obvious that these company's are making vast amounts of money from a commodity that people cant live without. as i 've already said if the shoe was on the other foot im sure they would do everything within their powers to make sure i paid them. at the end of the day it was an over sight on my part but to the best of my knowlege there has never been a buisness registered at my address and as far as im aware you need to be using at least 50% of your total energy consumption for buisness purposes before even applying for buisness rates so by looking at my total consumption for this period its pretty clear that these were not buisness premises. it is my belief that they knew there was a problem after all i was on the phone at least 5 times a month for 3 months. maybe there's a lesson to be learned for anyone reading this and thinking of renting property even its only short term, check check and check again, take nothing for granted!!!!!!!