British Gas wasting our money

Bogof_Babe

Just had a letter from BG informing me that there will be a £5 charge in future for late payment of bills, and suggesting that to avoid this I could change to payment by Direct Debit.

I have paid them by Direct Debit for about 20 years!!!!!

If this circular has gone out to all their customers, a good proportion of whom no doubt it does not apply to, then what a waste of money :mad: .

No wonder they keep putting their prices up when the cost of wholesale gas is falling :rolleyes: .

natalie1974

Same here , have paid by DD for last 12 years and the letter they sent was in my name and the bill is in my partner's name so doesn't even apply to me ! :mad:

Noz

would not it not be wise to inform you of this charge in case you decide to change your method of payment in the future?

Bogof_Babe

Theoretically, yes I suppose so, but the letter isn't worded like that.

In fact it is worded rather like I have been a late payer in the past.

Why is this change being introduced?

British Gas bill you for your energy after you have used it. Therefore, when you receive your bill we expect you to pay it promptly. While most British Gas customers pay their energy bill on time, a small proportion of our customers consistently pay late, which results in costly follow-up procedures.

(I've typed that out, not lifted it from an online version of the letter, and added the quote box myself).

In fact now I read that paragraph more closely I am quite incensed at the implications. I think I might drop a line to Paul Bysouth, Director of Customer Services. I note the letter is from a mailing house address so I doubt it would ever reach him :rolleyes: .

IvanOpinion

Noz has probably hit the nail on the head. They want you to know about a change in their T&C which they are legally obliged to inform you of. If you ultimately come off DD onto receipt of bill then you would need to know about this .. now they can say you have already been informed.

So its not BG wasting your money, it is this mamby pamby nanny state where everybody is looking for a loophole to allow thm to make a claim.

Ivan

IvanOpinion

Did you note the hint 'a small proportion of our customers consistently pay late, which results in costly follow-up procedures.'??? You are having to pay for all the expensive call centre staff and the IT systems for follow up purposes even if you are a good payer

ivan

kuohu

Who's going to be the first to claim back the £5 fee as being unlawful?

Older_but_not_wiser_2

Surely it would have been more cost effective to include this information with the next bill, or e-mail the customers who are registered online with them.

Turning_into_scrooge

British Gas phoned to speak to my mother the other week, she died nearly 5 years ago and yes they were informed

BargainJunky

We got it too. We are also on paperless billing so why didnt they email it to us!!!!!!

maninthestreet

Got the same letter too, but then I pay the bill manually when it arrives - I don't yet trust utility companies enough to give them authority to take whatever money they want, when they want, from my bank account. The letter goes on to state I must pay the bill within 28 days of the date on the bill in order to avoid the £5 charge, which, in my opinion, is more than generous.