Direct Debits - British Gas

Cardew

hansi wrote:

Exactly, and that is what I plan to do. I'm going to be away for considerable periods of time this year and my gas usage will be nil and just minimal electricity used. So if I continue with DD, I will be worse off.

Just ensure that what you gain in interest is more than you lose in DD tariff incentives.

tripled

British Gas prices are falling in the Spring, not rising. The agent you spoke to has misinformed you wannaberich. However British Gas will not reduce your direct debit before then (unless there has been a fall in usage) because firstly the gas you are using currently is at a higher rate and secondly they don't know how much the cut will be yet.

British Gas won't reduce your direct debit to £1 per month. They will cancel it if you wish, but then if you are on a standard account you will lose your 10% discount and if you are on click you will lose out even more.

Staff are advised to discourage people who ask for a refund in the winter months as this is the highest period of gas usage. A surprise cold snap could send you tumbling into the red. However if you provide them with a current meter reading and insist on a refund they are obliged to return your money if you are in credit. It is unlikely, but they might say they will have to increase your direct debit as a result or switch you to quarterly billing, this they can do and it is up to you to negotiate with them.

If you are with BG for gas only or even dual fuel unless you are on a fixed/discounted tariff it is certain there will be better deals out there. If you want a better deal, use energyhelpline. If you are happy as you are, thats up to you. There are several people constantly spamming ebico on this forum, there is no doubt they are a good, competetively priced company but this does not mean it is the right choice for everyone and there are cheaper deals available. Switching sites are your friend.

Cardew

tripled wrote:

There are several people constantly spamming ebico on this forum,

I have no wish to fall out with you, as your posts are certainly some of the most informative on this forum; however I think it is a little harsh to accuse those recommending Ebico of ‘Spamming’; albeit the posts can be a bit repetitive. Also the impression can be given that Ebico always have the best tariff. (note: ‘impression’)

As will be apparent to anyone reading this forum there are many contributors who are unable or unwilling to understand, what they perceive, as the hugely complicated gas and electricity tariffs. Because of this, they stay on totally inappropriate tariffs like BG’s Standard gas and electricity.

Whilst, as you state, there are usually cheaper tariffs, in most cases Ebico are pretty competitive; particularly for low users as they don’t have a higher rate for the first 225/1143kwh.

The great advantage of Ebico, for those contributors put off by the complexity, is the absolute simplicity of their tariff. One price for all units and no differences in price for any method of payment; including pre-payment meters. It is for this reason that Ebico is so often recommended. The more astute can make up their own mind on what is best for themselves.

I am on BG fixed to 2010 so have no axe to grind; but it would be a pity if an informative forum developed into a pro & anti Ebico dispute.

debsy42

Glad I'm not the only one having problems with BG. My account is currently £414 in credit and I've not had a bill since May. Can I get them to issue me with a bill and work out where I'm upto, can I heck !!! They even increased my monthly DD a couple of months ago, for what reason I really cannot understand.

Phoned 27th Nov, promised a new bill within 14 days, not had anything. Just before Crimbo registered an online complaint, not heard anything. Phoned Wednesday, was promised a callback yesterday. No callback, no change in my online account, still £414 in credit and still no bill.

I am a really really low user, my account is always loads in credit at the best of times and I fuming that I'm having to chase them to bill me. I just don't know what else I can do short of claiming as much as I can back under the DD indemnity scheme and lets see how quickly they get in touch.....

tripled

Cardew, I don't dispute Ebico are a good, competetively priced company, as I mentioned above. I'm also sure many people could save by switching to them, as they could switching to others. I'm just suggesting that people shouldn't be blinded by the constant insistence by a minority of people that Ebico is the best, they should investigate their options fully and decide what best suits them - whether or not it involves Ebico.

Wig

hansi wrote:

I'm on Click Energy and the whol problem is that i don't know what my annual consumtion because I haven't been with them for a year yet so I can only go on the monthly payments. I'll have a look at Ebico. Thanks

Hansi,

How long have you been in your property using gas? If you were a customer of a different supplier before BG then we could work out your annual use.

Otherwise it will have to be an estimated use, they probably are estimating it based on the previous occupier.

Cardew
You are right that a DD is supposed to work over the year and credits and debit balances should on the whole be ignored, but we are in the middle of winter now, and these people have high credits for mid winter. Personally I agree if it's not over 100 pounds and the credit has dropped since the Aug/Sept bill they should wait to see what it is in the March bill and request then.

Tripled,
Hope you're not thinking I'm giving incorrect advice, I always ask for people annual kwh use. In the case of Hamsi she expressed a desire to go back to quarterly, I rightly told her Ebico has the same rate for quarterly, and asked for her annual kwh, Johnny I told to stay put because he is on 2010 tarriff (he knew already of course). And for Wannabirch I said in the light of bad customer service he might wish to consider changing, and I said Ebico is probably cheaper and again asked for tariff and kwh to confirm it.

You seem to realise Ebico is one of the best and yet you don't want me to say so to people. I only say it so much because it's true and because a lot of the switch sites don't show them unless you know what buttons to click, and some don't show them at all. So a lot of people don't know they even exist.

I only reccommend Ebico for gas usually, you have to be a low elec user to benefit from them for leccy (or a prepayment user). It is my belief that prepayment prices have only come down because of Ebico.

Personally I'm not impressed with the 1 or 2 companies who come close to Ebico's gas prices and I always tell people if there is a cheaper supplier, but I willl also explain why Ebicos price structure is better and more flexible than the 1 or 2 that might beat them.

Cardew

debsy42 wrote:

Glad I'm not the only one having problems with BG. My account is currently £414 in credit and I've not had a bill since May. Can I get them to issue me with a bill and work out where I'm upto, can I heck !!! QUOTE]

As you are aware, you are illustrating exactly why on-line billing with BG is an absolute nonsense as far as credit balances are concerned.

It uses the credit/debit balance on the last bill as the reference point. However all DD credits are added to this amount and this is the figure you see as your credit on-line.

So you will have had 7 or 8 DD payments credited and added to whatever your balance was in May, but no debits for the gas you have used since May have been applied to the account. Thus instead of being £414 in credit you could even have a debit balance.

You obviously appreciate that as you are 'waiting for a bill to work out where you are up to'. However I am pretty certain some people look at their credit balance on-line and think that is a fair reflection of the state of their account.(and BG are 'screwing' them)

Cardew

Wig wrote:

Cardew
You are right that a DD is supposed to work over the year and credits and debit balances should on the whole be ignored, but we are in the middle of winter now, and these people have high credits for mid winter. Personally I agree if it's not over 100 pounds and the credit has dropped since the Aug/Sept bill they should wait to see what it is in the March bill and request then.

Wig,

Please see my post #18 above about what BG's credit balance shows.

For instance my DD is £66.50 per month. Since my last bill £199.50(3 x £66.50) has been credited to my account and is reflected in my credit balance.(added to the balance last Sept) So if I look at it on-line or call(India) and ask them for my balance they will tell me I am in hugely in credit.

However in a day or two(actually it is overdue) my quarterly bill will be produced which will be for approx £300. Look at it on-line then and I will have a £300 lower credit balance.

Wig

Cardew,

True, I was assuming these people had been getting paper bills, and that they had a bill recently.

us,thecat&thedebt

this happened to my father in law in the end he cancelled his DD and used up his credit