British Gas Electricity have increased my bills by recharging back from 2008

zmcvjr

Hi

I wonder if anyone can assist please. Yesterday I logged onto the British Gas website (for the first time) as my last Electricity Bill back in July 2011 was approx £900 in credit for which I was going to request a rebate. Once logged on I checked my statement which showed to my astonishment that I am approx £700 in DEBIT. I found this somewhat concerning given that this works out as a £1600 bill in the space of a month!

Also on line there were 2 statements for August; one on the 16th saying I was in credit and then one on the 17th saying I was in debit - I am totally baffled.

On e-mail british gas they have advised that some of my meter readings were incorrect and that they have had to go back to 2008 to re-adjust.

After getting all of my paperwork out I've now found that there meter readings and dates taken totally differ from what I have.

Has anybody else had this issue? Any advise would be appreciated.

I've e-mailed them just now with my comments but am absolutely furious with this company and at the point where if I don't get a response in the next few hours that I shall be contacting the newspapers to see what they have to say about it!

Any help would be much appreciated

macman

So, based on the current meter readings, is the revised bill accurate? Not clear from what you are saying.
If all the old bills are based on estimated readings, and you haven't supplied regular readings to them, then it's hardly BG's fault-however surely they have read your meter at least once since 2008? (they are require to read it every 2 years minimum).
You are massively overpaying your DD's if you thought a £900 credit was due.
Why would the newspapers be interested?

jalexa

zmcvjr wrote: »

Hi

Any advise would be appreciated

I advise you post some dates and readings from your (original) bills taking careful note whether the readings are actual, estimated or customer.

Also post the actual readings on your meters today.

Any reason why you talk about huge debit and credit balances but no mention of your monthly payment?

I do not know the reason for the issue (other than there will be "a reason"), or who is right or who is wrong, but you cannot win without answers to questions such as asked above.

The only numbers which are important are the meter readings, except you didn't post any.

zmcvjr

The monthly payments are approximately £100 per month via direct debit and have been this amount for the last couple of years.

The readings that have been taken are actual readings taken by British Gas hence why I am unable to work out why my bill has shot up so quickly. The last reading was taken from BG back in July.

I just cannot work out the substantial variations in amounts hence why I am looking for some assistance.

jalexa

zmcvjr wrote: »

The readings that have been taken are actual readings taken by British Gas hence why I am unable to work out why my bill has shot up so quickly.

I can see this is going to be slow going...

OK, firstly you need to ask Bristish Gas what is going on and see what they say. Make very careful note of what is said - treat it as a potentially trick question.

You said "the readings that have been taken are actual readings taken by British Gas". Do you mean all the readings since 2008 or only the most recent readings. This may seem pedantic but the answer is critical to (possibly) understanding, (possibly) excusing, but at the same time establishing whether or not British Gas are entitled to back-bill (to 2008).

Sorry can't help further without the answer above and the information requested earlier.

macman

For a start, does the current meter reading match the reading on the revised bill?
Has your meter been changed since 2008?

TIMMY85

Is it a 2 rate meter? Could be twisted reads - take some meter readings an hour apart to see which register is moving. If the new bill has the day and night readings the wrong way around then you have been billed incorrectly and the new bill would be right.