VENT: Goodbye British Gas!

musicmaker29

Pointless vent really but British Gas have set our direct debit at a ridiculous amount.

Over the next 12 months they estimate that I will use about £900 of energy (gas and electric).....however, for the last couple of months they have been charging us £130 a month! And we are in credit on both gas and electric!

When we called them they said they couldn't reduce it and then, strangely they DID reduce it on the next bill......to £123, what a reduction! Even considering winter that is ridiculous. They will review it again in 6 months apparently, when I would have paid about £740....

Anyway, I'm off. To a reasonable £65 a month with another company (which I'm aware may increase in future, but probably not to the British Gas levels!).

jc808

Are they estimating your readings? If so are you new at the property?

paulsad

Such can be the trouble with dd's, its mainly based on assumed useage. - I give them a reading each month and pay for the amount of energy we actually use...just have to realise that winter bills are naturally a lot higher.

jc808

paulsad wrote: »

Such can be the trouble with dd's, its mainly based on assumed useage. - I give them a reading each month and pay for the amount of energy we actually use...just have to realise that winter bills are naturally a lot higher.

im on dd with edf - if i send my meter reads in on time (from the letter thy send) i am charged what i use

no idea how bg works

ProdigalScouser

musicmaker29 wrote: »

Anyway, I'm off. To a reasonable £65 a month with another company (which I'm aware may increase in future, but probably not to the British Gas levels!).

I wouldn't stake your life on that. Every supplier I have been with has done increased the DD to stupid levels, often saying things like "you need to build up some credit for the winter".

I'm with Gritish Bas at the mo and enter my meter readings on their website each month, only getting charged for what I've actually used, which is saving me a fortune over what I used to pay.

smileylondongal

I left them a few years back when they left threatening cards on my doorstep saying if they couldn't read my meters they'd get an order from the justice of the peace and enter the property. Did they think people just sat around all day every day hoping for the BG meter reading man would grace their doorstep? Most people work! After that, I left. I'm glad their technology has finally caught up with them and you can now call it in!!! It left a bitter taste with me and never again.

Azari

smileylondongal wrote: »

I left them a few years back when they left threatening cards on my doorstep saying if they couldn't read my meters they'd get an order from the justice of the peace and enter the property. Did they think people just sat around all day every day hoping for the BG meter reading man would grace their doorstep? Most people work! After that, I left. I'm glad their technology has finally caught up with them and you can now call it in!!! It left a bitter taste with me and never again.

Not actually their fault.

They are obliged by law to get an actual reading within a certain time frame and it's the government that insists upon this and provides the legal framework to enforce it. BG are no different to any other supplier in this respect.

Yogibear

musicmaker29 wrote: »

Pointless vent really but British Gas have set our direct debit at a ridiculous amount.

Over the next 12 months they estimate that I will use about £900 of energy (gas and electric).....however, for the last couple of months they have been charging us £130 a month! And we are in credit on both gas and electric!

When we called them they said they couldn't reduce it and then, strangely they DID reduce it on the next bill......to £123, what a reduction! Even considering winter that is ridiculous. They will review it again in 6 months apparently, when I would have paid about £740....

Anyway, I'm off. To a reasonable £65 a month with another company (which I'm aware may increase in future, but probably not to the British Gas levels!).

I had just wasted the whole day trying to get someone to speak to me,here is what my last message to them was 20mins ago;
Your complaint reads as follows
I have spent most of the day trying to get my account sorted out,I have been lead up the garden path by your agents I spoke with ****** this morning he said there was a problem with my account as it doesnt seem to be set up I have been with Scottish gas for over 2 years I moved to this address in 2010 when when contract ended on on the 1st July 2011,I moved to the Energysmart tariff and received my box instructions etc,I have tried to give you meter readings since July by email and phone I have been unsuccessful ***** said he would sort it out and said he would ring back today at 1500 hrs he didnt I spoke to **** ? he said he would get *****to ring me back its now 1724 and still no phone call,I rang again and requested a ringback as I did want to 'hang' on a further 20 mins+ the ringback did ring me back but as soon as I spoke I got the music again and the rubbish about moving up the q or I could request a ring back what an absolute joke British gas is Customer Services you have no idea.

what would the penalty be to leave BG anybody know,because I am going to blow my top:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Yogibear

I got a reply tonight three lines ,they are sorry hollow words:mad:

smileylondongal

Azari wrote: »

Not actually their fault.

They are obliged by law to get an actual reading within a certain time frame and it's the government that insists upon this and provides the legal framework to enforce it. BG are no different to any other supplier in this respect.

I understand the legal obligation however it would surely have been better to have kept their customers happier by offering alternatives? It's equally as unreasonable to assume people don't work or are just waiting by the door randomly.

Plus they could have put a less threatening template together! I went with a provider which offered a multitude of options.