British Gas DD increased from £84 to £128

Baggieboy_2

Now I know prices have gone up, but come on! This is a 52% increase.

For information, this is a combined gas and electric bill.

We've only been with them since June, and I find it incredibly strange that they should "underestimate" our original bill by such a huge amount, given that we had advised them of our previous usage history.

Could anyone advise if we have to just accept this, or does this constitute a change in the terms of the contract and therefore allow us to change supplier without penalty.

Absolutely stunned by this.

Baggieboy_2

No - actual physical reads. We've only been with them 3 and a bit months. We provided opening readings, our usage history from previous supplier, and provided a new reading 2 days ago. I'd accept a 20% increase no problem, but this is way over the top.

Baggieboy_2

And a quick ps - we're currently £92 in credit!

chris1973

Are the current DD payments keeping up with the actual usage?, in other words is your account now in credit?.

The idea being that DD payments build up a reasonable credit during the lower demand during the Summer to put the account in credit ready for Winter, if your DD payments are only just breaking even for your summer use, then they are unlikely to cover your Winter use.

Baggieboy_2

Thanks Chris- think our messages may have crossed there as I think I may have answered that question.

vax2002

Do you know how much per unit they are charging you under all the smoke and mirrors.
this figure is hidden often under schemes and falsehoods, but they do have to tell you if you enquire and it is the best way to see if they are ripping you .

Baggieboy_2

Thanks VAX - we're on the DiscountSaver 2012 account. Just beggars belief that they could quote £84 a month and then re-assess to such an extent within 3 months! I've emailed them anyway to inform them of my displeasure and my intention to dispense with their services at the earliest opportunity. I'll see what they come back with.

vax2002

These utility middlemen are charging us up to treble what they pay the suppliers for the energy, now the supplier has to generate or mine it and get it to your house, these billing companies never touch it from start to finish, they just pay the supplier for what we use and charge us as they see fit.
can you imagine pulling in the petrol station and a you put your fuel in and then some middleman tells you how much to pay.
Would you not want to know how much it really cost ? and how much he was sticking on for actually doing nothing other than taking the money, paying the bill and pocketing the rest.
Why we are not up in arms about these middlemen to our politicians ripping us of left right and ruddy centre ?
why can we just not pay the supplier ?

Baggieboy_2

Tariff details:

Discounted against our Standard tariff rates until 31st October 2012

Electric

Payment type Tier 1 Tier 2 Night Rate Direct Debit 29.064 14.615 5.888

Gas

Tier 1 Tier 2
8.876 3.922

Apologies for the shoddy cut and pasting there!

Baggieboy_2

Electric should be:

Tier 1 29.064
Tier 2 14.615
Night rate 5.888

chris1973

If you are £92 in credit since June then I would query the increase and why, directly with them. Threaten to move suppliers if you have to (and can).

Although I would keep track of your usage yourself by way of meter reads when it does get colder, just to put your own mind at rest, and to ensure that your DD is still covering what you are using.

Edit:- Just noticed you have a 'night rate' Tariff, are you on E7, and using Storage heaters for the main heating?