Gas & Electric late payment charge. Is it Legal?

elektrapops

Has anyone any thoughts or knowledge on whether the new late payment charges that are being introduced shortly are legal?
I wondered if the bank charges fiasco has set a precedant?

tripled

Bank charges were illegal because they were unreasonable and disproporionate with fees of £20 to £30+.

At a fiver I think you would be hard pressed to prove BG's costs didn't meet that, but why not pay your first bill in March late and set a precedent for us all?

anniecave

I work in the electricity industry, I think it's a good idea.
Far too many people get away without paying their bills and it would encourage people to pay promptly.
I would hope there will be procedures for getting them cancelled in some circumstances, eg where post goes astray or other mistakes happen.

BBB

Of course there are procedures in place, you do know that when you get the bill you have ALREADY used the gas, you use before you pay.

tripled

BBB wrote:

you do know that when you get the bill you have ALREADY used the gas, you use before you pay.

I thought you got billed in advance, so thats where I've been going wrong for all these years :rolleyes:

elektrapops

Very interesting that of the three respondants to my post, two are from utility employees and they both thought it was a good idea ... hmm...

espresso

elektrapops wrote:

Very interesting that of the three respondants to my post, two are from utility employees and they both thought it was a good idea ... hmm...

Why should customers who do pay on time, subsidise those customers who don't?

:rolleyes:

If you don't like the charge, move to a different supplier!

:rotfl:

Spark

I do not agree with those charges, and I pay my bills on time.
I have moved from BG and I remember how I had to call them to get my bills as they didn't bother to send them on time. So if that charge was in place then, I would have had to pay £5 every 3 months for no fault of my own.
If I was still with them, that would be one more reason I would have had to move away from them.

moonrakerz

BG are onto a money spinner here ! my last bill was dated 11th Jan, the "red frightener", which will cost a fiver in future, was sent 4 days later !!!!

BBB

That's an honest mistake and we won't charge you for it!