British Gas cancelled my direct debit

stratters

British Gas for some reason cancelled my electric(also have gas with British Gas) direct debit account in nov/09 and updated there system to say i had a pre-pay meter installed when i never. I didnt notice till the other day as at a quick glance at my bank statement, British Gas were still taking money. Ive had at least 2 services since 09 and have told the over the phone numerous time that i dont have a pre-pay meter and never have. On the last phone call to them to inform them that i still dont have a pre-pay meter they have finally updated my account. I got a call today from the specialist department admitting they made a mistake but say i now owe them £250 for they previous years electric as they haven`t recieved a payment since nov/09. Can they do this? They say they are gonna give me 09-10 free as they made the mistake. Surely if they cancelled the direct debit and updated there system wrongly, its not down to me! Should i pay the £250 back payment? or should i stand firm as its their fault

jalexa

stratters wrote: »

They say they are gonna give me 09-10 free as they made the mistake. Surely if they cancelled the direct debit and updated there system wrongly, its not down to me!

They have correctly implemented the requirements of the "Billing Code".

Should i pay the £250 back payment?

Well, you should pay what is a reasonable estimate of your consumption in the last 12 months. Up to you to *agree* your consumption. On the face of it, £250 for 12months seems quite reasonable.

or should i stand firm as its their fault

No

HalloweenJack

£250 for over a year and a half worth of electric is really quite good tbh - since you`ve used the electric and they could come and get the readings and bill you the full amount ; they`ve admitted a mistake and asked you to cover a nominal payment for 20 months worth of use; effectively it`ll be £12.50 a month - and you could just ask them to add it to your dd to pay it off longer.

Joyful

They have given you 1 years free energy and you should have been checking your bank payments to have noticed earlier. Under the backbilling rule you now owe them for the last year but they will also spread it over 12 months interest free. So the answer is yes you do need to pay but also you have had a good deal due to the fault on both sides.

Andy_WSM

stratters wrote: »

Surely if they cancelled the direct debit and updated there system wrongly, its not down to me! Should i pay the £250 back payment? or should i stand firm as its their fault

They've already been more than generous. You should have been aware that you weren't paying for what you were using and should have budgetted for it.