British Gas threaten to tell credit ref agences

Mupette

Just moved from British Gas to another supplier.

1st call re this, i ring to give final reading, new company said they would, but if i do it, I know they have it.

Asked why i was leaving ..I told them, asked for the final figure, woman said she didn't have them available but wait 28 days for final bill, ok i said, as soon as i receive it in the post i'll pay.

A few days later, a call to ask why i was leaving etc.. explained that why, inquired about my bill, was told it would be as previously said, will take 28 days..

This morning, BG again ringing to ask why i was leaving, i explain that if they read the notes on my account it should say if the previous c/s had made any notes. Oh said the woman, And can i ask why you have not paid your bill (its not been 28 days yet... and no bill yet)
I said i have not received it and don't know how much it is, we sent on the 2nd of feb she said, i again said i don't have it..

Oh we sent a paperless one, i explained that yes i received the paperless one sort of, although when i tried to log into my account online, it had been frozen, obviously because i have moved suppliers (why freeze it when i could of paid online, i don't know)

She then said that they will now be contacting the credit ref agencies, because i have not paid my bill, this is where i really got cheesed off, they accept i can't pay my bill online, yes i could pay over the phone now, but would prefer a paper bill, so i have a paper trail of paying my final bill with BG.

She told me not to get aggressive, i explained that i was annoyed that you were threatening to bring the credit ref agencies into it when all i am doing is what was asked which is to wait 28 days for my final bill before i can pay.

Rant over, just really annoyed that i am waiting to pay, their way yet... and to top it all she said i would expect more calls because they are generated on bills unpaid.

I asked why this would be the case, if notes are added correctly to my account, then there is no need to be making more calls to me, whilst i am waiting for the bill.. so i need to wait another 10 days for a paper bill, and expect more calls with the same spiel about credit ref agencies... is this acceptable?

dogshome

Hi Muppete - Acceptable? Of course it isn't.

The set system for meter readings at the time of a switch, is for the New company to phone you and ask for them, also advising at that time the date the switch will take place. In the fullness of time when this information has gone round the system, the New supplier advises the meter readings and date to the Old supplier, who then produce a final Bill.

With BG going into wolverine collection mode, even before they have had the meter readings & date from the official source, make a carefull check when you do thier Final Bill that the End Reading is the same as your new suppliers and the End/Start dates coincide

Premier_2

You said you received the bill online. It's a little confusing because you then say your account was frozen. But if you got the bill, and you agree with it, you should make efforts to pay it else the supplier may well go to credit reference agencies and report the non-payment.

With regards to the marketing calls, if you wish them to stop you may need to ask them to. Once you have asked them to, they should not call you again

Mupette

dogshome wrote: »

Hi Muppete - Acceptable? Of course it isn't.

The set system for meter readings at the time of a switch, is for the New company to phone you and ask for them, also advising at that time the date the switch will take place. In the fullness of time when this information has gone round the system, the New supplier advises the meter readings and date to the Old supplier, who then produce a final Bill.

With BG going into wolverine collection mode, even before they have had the meter readings & date from the official source, make a carefull check when you do thier Final Bill that the End Reading is the same as your new suppliers and the End/Start dates coincide

I contacted both companies on the same day with the final meter reading, so both have them, i chose to ring BG to make sure they had the right meter reading.

Premier wrote: »

You said you received the bill online. It's a little confusing because you then say your account was frozen. But if you got the bill, and you agree with it, you should make efforts to pay it else the supplier may well go to credit reference agencies and report the non-payment.

With regards to the marketing calls, if you wish them to stop you may need to ask them to. Once you have asked them to, they should not call you again

sorry when i mean i could view my bill online, i went to.. but when i logged into my account, i could't look at the bill or pay it, my thoughts were if i could view it, i could print it and take it to the bank, but i couldn't even get to view it.

today wasn't a marketing call as such, although when they eventually owned up to being my supplier (another silly story)
i asked to not be contacted for marketing via phone email or post.

I just think that threatning to blacken my name because i havent paid a bill i have been unable to view/see/print to pay is a bit off.

Money is here sat in my bank ready to pay... but being the final bill and their faffin 3 months ago when they finally admitted being my suppliers, deniying for 6 months that they were, then threatened baliffs for not paying... (this was 3 months ago, i had no known account with them at the time)

I did post about 8/9 months ago about having just moved into a new build and having great difficulty finding who my supplier was, and bg denied at the time it was them, then they admit 6 months down the line it was them after all. Good job i kept the meter readings from the day i moved in of everything on meter.

DVardysShadow

It really is time to write to these clowns and detail the fact that you have had your access to paperless billing cut off and when you have spoken to them on the phone and been promised a final bill it has never come. And tell them that you will pay when they send you the final bill, but until then the bill is in dispute because they have not sent it. Keep a copy and then relax.

Just resign yourself to the fact that their on going stupidity will go on - and while it does, you have their money. But at least you will have something of a paper trail to undo any damage.

Mupette

Thanks for that DV.

So who is the best to write to?

DVardysShadow

Mupette wrote: »

Thanks for that DV.

So who is the best to write to?

To complaints as detailed on the bill and I would suggest a copy to the Registered Office for the CEO.

Don't get your hopes up. Plainly, you will be ignored and this will grind on through DCA's and the rest of it. But keep a copy of the letters and get certificates of posting and guard them carefully. They will throw the ball back into BG's court.