BG automatically changed DD from monthly to quarterly

elektra

Just received a new style bill from British Gas (for Gas).

It was for approx £49. I pay £19 by monthly DD on about 15th of month.

There was a note on it that said direct debit is being changed to quarterly and that they will automatically collect the £49 a few days around 12th.

It actually doesn't matter to me as I'm just in the the middle of a switch which came into effect yesterday so would have had to settle this sort of amount as a final bill anyway.

But if I had been on a strictly monthly budget and continuing with BG I would be very miffed, as would only be expecting to pay £19 this month. It seems it is their way of collecting the money sooner rather than waiting for the summer months to pay it off.

tripled

DD's shouldn't switch to quarterly unless you request it - either their billing system has ballsed up or it is because you are switching.

elektra

tripled wrote:

DD's shouldn't switch to quarterly unless you request it - either their billing system has ballsed up or it is because you are switching.

Taking the payment now because I am switching is fair enough but why mention changing to quarterly. I'll be cancelling DD anyway once this payment is made and will pay the final small bill by debit card.

Cardew

I recently got a letter from BG saying I had been changed from monthly DD to quarterly payment "at your request"!!! Obviously I had made no such request.

I then got another letter stating my DD was to be £x(no change)

It appears that when your account has its annual review the a computer generated letter is sometimes sent in error. In fact I had remained on a DD scheme.