BG stupidly high bill

timbstoke

OK, I have to accept some responsibility for this for just setting up a DD and forgetting about it. Still....

I moved into my current house in July 2008, and submitted an opening meter reading of 1818. I set up a DD of £58/month on a budget plan. In November 2010, for some reason, my DD failed. I didn't notice, which is entirely my fault, but BG didn't bother to send me a bill until April, when they decided they wanted £200 from me. I submitted a new meter reading of 3490, and they've now decided I owe £800. I paid the £200 and asked to reinstate the original DD, but they now told me they want £132/month.

I live alone, the only gas is the combi boiler (and CH is only used in winter), and I'm out of the house every day. £58 was expensive, £132 is just ridiculous. I've figured out my usage since I moved in using the current online prices, and it comes to pretty much exactly the £58/month I was already paying, which, given that energy prices have been rising, should mean that I'm in credit if anything.

I'm planning to dispute this, because I can't see any way that this bill is even remotely correct. Does anyone have any idea how to approach this?

intermynan

But if you've now submitted a reading which has updated your balance to £800 debit - and you say you then paid £200 - that leaves £600 debit...meaning your direct debit WOULD increase to start paying off that balance.

Out of interest, what evidence do you have that your bill is incorrect (other than you disliking the amount)?. You've given an accurate meter reading so it's not estimated...you can always get your meter checked if you feel it's definately wrong, but I'm 99% sure you would be charged a fee if the meter is tested and comes back as working correctly.

freudianslip

Have to understand that accumulations add up so quickly. I pay by DD, what they said I should but still owe a good few hundred for last winter. I've looked on my usage and it was actually down on the previous year but the cost of gas has spirralled and will continue to do so.

My take on it. Just have to try somehow to get the money together to pay the new DD amount, It's not going to be that amount for ever, just till it's cleared and if you seriously cannot pay that amount, contact BG don't panic, don't bury your head abou it. Talk and communicate.

jackieglasgow

Energy prices are climbing, but they have been cut several times over the last few years too, so they will be doing costings based on estimated consumption at the points in time where the prices changed.

timbstoke

freudianslip wrote: »

the cost of gas has spirralled and will continue to do so.

Exactly, but I have the meter reading from when I moved in, and the current meter reading. At the prices CURRENTLY published on BG's website, the units I've used works out at £2,200, or £58/month, which is exactly what I've been paying. Since the price of gas has only gone up, I should actually be fairly significantly in credit, and certainly not owing any debt.

mattcanary

Have you checled the opening reading on your first bill? Does it match up to the reading you supplied to BGas?

Have you checked your latest bill? has the reading you suppied been used?

Mind you, if no DD payment went through for c6 months, it's hardly surprising you now owe a fair bit of money....