British gas bill

Clark_S

I switched from Powergen to British gas as we owed £400. They said they would take on the arears, only accumalated from 'estimated bills' I thought the bill was the bill as the meter was being read! and just paying what was asked for. So we set up a DD to pay off the £400 I now have the British Gas letter telling me my Direct Debit is going up to £42.02 (from£30)a month and this will clear the now £616.20 dept in 12 months! Powerd gen won't take us back till the dept is paid. I can see it just getting bigger HELP.

Cardew

Welcome to the Forum.

It is most unusual for a firm to 'take on' a debt of £400.

I cannot understand how 12 payments of £42.02(£504.24) will clear a debt of £616.20 especially as I assuming you will be using gas(or electricity?) in the forthcoming year.

Can you give some more detail?

tripled

I've heard of debt being transferred for prepayment customers, although it's not common, but never credit customers.

geordie_joe

tripled wrote:

I've heard of debt being transferred for prepayment customers,

How do you get into debt with prepayment?

tripled

Three ways. Either you request a meter because you are behind with your bills and can't afford to pay them, the utilitly gets a warrant and force fits it due to debt at the property, or because prices have gone up and your meter hasn't been reset so you accumulate a debt on the account.