We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Emergency gas about to run out
Options

welshcakes
Posts: 639 Forumite
in Energy
Hope you can help. British Gas are the supplier of a prepayment gas meter on my property. They have cocked up big time with regards to previous owner's arrears and I have just run out of steam ringing them and am about to run out of gas (central heating and cooker)!
Basically they only changed the name on the account, not a new account when I bought property. They say they can't send me a card until the meter is reset. The engineer (transco) came around and declared he couldn't reset the meter and that I needed to do it myself with a Card! Ok, so I ring up BG again who state the engineer gave wrong advise. I say, please just send me a card - they say no can do but they'll put in authorisation to get meter details changed over. I say well there's only about £3 left on emergency gas. They say go buy a blank card for £8 and put in meter for a minute then go buy credit and bob's your Uncle.
I do this. I go to put credit on Card but it comes up as invalid.
Any immediate advise on what law etc I can spout down phone to British Gas to prevent property freezing from tonight onwards will be gratefully accepted.
PS British Gas say once they send through letter, I then have to ring them for a card and to arrange yet an engineer and once he comes out only then can I use the card.
Basically they only changed the name on the account, not a new account when I bought property. They say they can't send me a card until the meter is reset. The engineer (transco) came around and declared he couldn't reset the meter and that I needed to do it myself with a Card! Ok, so I ring up BG again who state the engineer gave wrong advise. I say, please just send me a card - they say no can do but they'll put in authorisation to get meter details changed over. I say well there's only about £3 left on emergency gas. They say go buy a blank card for £8 and put in meter for a minute then go buy credit and bob's your Uncle.
I do this. I go to put credit on Card but it comes up as invalid.
Any immediate advise on what law etc I can spout down phone to British Gas to prevent property freezing from tonight onwards will be gratefully accepted.
PS British Gas say once they send through letter, I then have to ring them for a card and to arrange yet an engineer and once he comes out only then can I use the card.
Integrity is a dying art!:p
0
Comments
-
There will be nothing they can do tonight, but usually they can send out an engineer to reset the meter next day.0
-
Thanks tripled. I asked them when I first got the property to change it over to a credit meter and was told this usually takes about a month! No way I say. Oh and they then had the cheek to send me through an estimated bill for over £125 based on an estimated reading for a Credit Meter.
What on earth has happened to BG's ability to be a good supplier (which I felt they were years ago)?Integrity is a dying art!:p0 -
They usually do it next day, but apparently there is a shortage of gas meters! However it should only be 10 days I believe, not a month.
As for the billing system...0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 257.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards