Are British Gas Deliberately Trying To Swindle Us?

ddrdan

[FONT=&quot]After reviewing a recent bill from British Gas i noticed that they had lowered the price 1p per unit half way through my billing period.

I initially thought that this was ok until i then noticed that in doing so it had actually cost me an extra £7 on the bill.

When they lowered the unit price i was reverted back on to the more expensive tariff (tariff 1 is double the price of tariff 2).

I called British Gas to asked about this and was told that’s just how it is, i explained how this didn't seem right, obviously when you received a unit price reduction you don't expect the bill to be more expensive.

After ten minutes or so of discussing this they agreed to repay the amount i had paid extra, now to me that appears they know they were in the wrong.

This is just an example of one bill, it's probably fair to assume after every so called price reduction i will have paid more, and possibly so could everyone else.

This will happen every time there is a price change up or down.

The problem i have with this is how they put you back on the more expensive tariff after the price change.

Sorry if this has already been discussed.[/FONT]

penrhyn

You need to flesh this out, preferably in a larger font.

CharlieBilly

Or use ctrl + to enlarge font for this post which is way too small

ctrl - to reduce it

penrhyn wrote: »

You need to flesh this out, preferably in a larger font.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

I am afraid I don't understand your post.

If they lower the price of any unit you will get a lower bill. It shouldnt affect the ratio of tier1 to tier 2 units.

BG charge tier 1 rates for 2,680 gas pa and 500 electricity pa. These are charged pro rata per day; so 7.34/1.37 kWh per day. So a billing period of, say 83 days would be 83 x 7.34 = 609.22 kWh gas at tier 1 rates and the remainder of your consumption at tier 2 rates. So how would a reduction in the tier 2 price affect the number of Tier1 units?

The only thing I can think of is you had a revised bill that covered a longer period e.g. original bill was for, say, 74 days and new bill was, say, 96 days. That would have meant being charged for an extra 22 x 7.34kWh at tier 1 rates(gas) or 22 x 1.37kWh at tier 1 rates(electricity)

TIMMY85

[QUOTE=Cardew;

BG charge tier 1 rates for 2,680 gas pa and 500 electricity pa. These are charged pro rata per day; so 7.34/1.37 kWh per day. So a billing period of, say 83 days would be 83 x 7.34 = 609.22 kWh gas at tier 1 rates and the remainder of your consumption at tier 2 rates. So how would a reduction in the tier 2 price affect the number of Tier1 units?

[/QUOTE]

When BG prices changed in December many customers saw a reduction in unit rates as now tier 1 ic charged for 720 kWh per year not 500. The unit rates reduce but the higher rate is charged for more hence the price increase. Brings it more in line with other suppliers so makes it easier to compare.
The agent who spoke to the OP obviously did not pay attention to something as I would not have credited anything as, depending on the dates on the bill, the number of days and units used I would guess nothing was wrong just the agent and the OP were confused

TIMMY85

Also, having re-read the OP any changes which result in an estimate being used mid quarter such as change of tariff, payment method, becoming duel fuel can affect a bill slightly. If for any reason you dis agree with an estimate you can ask fir it to be replaced with an actual reading. However the bill will show usage between all sets of readings so if you had a 90 day bill and on day 10 of the cycle you changed tariff you would be charged ten days usage at tier 1 and ten days usage at tier 2. If twenty days later you then changed to direct debit you would be charged twenty days usage at tier 1 and twenty at tier 2 as you would now receive DD discount on your usage. So far you have been charged 30 days usage and if those changes had not happened and the same estimated readings were used you would still be charged the same number of kWh at tier 1 and tier 2. Providing no further changes took place you would pay a further 60 days usage at tier 1 and tier 2 on your new tariff and getting DD discount.

Cardew

TIMMY85 wrote: »

When BG prices changed in December many customers saw a reduction in unit rates as now tier 1 ic charged for 720 kWh per year not 500.

Thanks; I am out of date.

I was with BG on the 'much loved' Fixed to April 30 2010 tariff on which they charged for 900kWh at Tier1 rate. Obviously I remained on the 900kWh basis when other tariffs used 500kWh

TIMMY85

Cardew wrote: »

Thanks; I am out of date.

I was with BG on the 'much loved' Fixed to April 30 2010 tariff on which they charged for 900kWh at Tier1 rate. Obviously I remained on the 900kWh basis when other tariffs used 500kWh

But when it ended, the 400 kWh less at tier 1 didn't make much of a difference! One of those fixes that we may never see the likes of again!

bengasman

BG have been convicted by the Advertising Standards Agency of purposely misleading customers. Not just once or twice but dozens of times; more than any other company in the industry. And we are not talking about little slips either; the last time they got fined £1,000,000 for it.

If they are that dishonest in their advertising, do you think they will be honest in what they tell you about your bill?

ddrdan wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]After reviewing a recent bill from British Gas i noticed that they had lowered the price 1p per unit half way through my billing period.
I initially thought that this was ok until i then noticed that in doing so it had actually cost me an extra £7 on the bill.
When they lowered the unit price i was reverted back on to the more expensive tariff (tariff 1 is double the price of tariff 2).

Of course you thought it was good and that you would save money, they did it on purpose.
This is exactly the kind of scam they use to make you think you save money, but in reality it is likely to cost you more. It's like most small print; they make it so long and complicated to discourage people from finding out what they actually signed.

[/FONT]

ddrdan wrote: »

[FONT=&quot] I called British Gas to asked about this and was told that’s just how it is, i explained how this didn't seem right, obviously when you received a unit price reduction you don't expect the bill to be more expensive.
After ten minutes or so of discussing this they agreed to repay the amount i had paid extra, now to me that appears they know they were in the wrong.
[/FONT]

Of course they know they are wrong, you were not the first who called about, it is fair to assume thousands have called before you with very similar complaints. They lie and cheat and scheme as a matter of daily routine. I have worked in the gas industry since the nineties, and you simply wouldn't believe the things I have witnessed. Not heard of, WITNESSED.