Need URGENT help please! Being charged way too much. BT won't help :(

jalexa

Munkee2 wrote: »

I don't know what a roomstat is but I have one thermostat which is set to 11 or 12 degrees so it warms things up a bit when they drop below that. The two large radiators have individual temperature knobs and ONE of the small small radiators (in use) has a temp knob. The other small rad doesn't.

OK, there are two seperate issues to investigate. First the operation of your heating system (then the cost). Is the "thermostat" on the wall and if so in which room? If you turn the thermostat dial up does the flame on the boiler come on, and if you turn it down until it clicks does the boiler flame go out?

Have you checked with a thermometer that when the "thermostat" is set to 11/12 degrees that is the temperature in all rooms?

I'm really sorry, I'm not getting which reading I need to take every day. I promise you I'm not deliberately being awkward. I find the whole thing bewildering!

Yes, and the help you are getting from British Gas seems very poor. BTW, that could be because the so called adviser is poor. If you haven't already done so read this....http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/payasyougo.pdf

Pick the appropriate help number and request a guide for the type of meter you have. Ask (for the particular type of meter you have) how to read the "volume" of gas used (and how to tell if that is 100s ft3 or m3) - not the cost. I can't help on that because I don't know the exact type of meter you have, but it should be one of the screens that you interrogate to find the prices.

Anyway that is your supplier's responsibility.

Off_PeakReturn

Munkee 2,

Type in the following link:

www.britishgas.co.uk/HelpandAdvice/LookUp/?SXI=8,CASE=3676

(the SXI part is all capital letters and that's a comma after the 8),

The page will give you all the info you need to read your gas pay as you go meter. As others have suggested, take a meter reading each day and jot it down. Do this over several days. It will give you an idea of your gas consumption.

If your readings of your usage seem excessive then you contact British Gas and you have figures to work with.

All the best

OPR

qwad4x4x4

I agree, it sounds like you are repaying someone else's debt.

gather all the evidence that you have concerning occupation dates etc and this will be resolved. It sounds like some extremely potential bad press for BT that they will act quickly on - to rectify.

good luck.

jalexa

qwad4x4x4 wrote: »

I agree, it sounds like you are repaying someone else's debt.

Sure about that? My understanding is that post #17 established that wasn't the case. But certainly something doesn't add up.

macman

Until we get some actual consumption figures, it''s all conjecture.

Munkee2

jalexa wrote: »

OK, there are two seperate issues to investigate. First the operation of your heating system (then the cost). Is the "thermostat" on the wall and if so in which room? If you turn the thermostat dial up does the flame on the boiler come on, and if you turn it down until it clicks does the boiler flame go out?

The thermostat isn't in a room, it's in the hall. The flat is so small that yes, the rooms are an even temperature unless doors are closed. If for example I leave the bedroom door closed then naturally it will get warmer in there. I like to be as open plan as possible so tend to leave doors open to prevent a claustrophobic feeling (I am trying to find elsewhere to live but that's another story).

If I turn the dial on the thermostat on then yes, the boiler kicks in (by flame) and when I turn it down, the boiler goes off.

jalexa wrote: »

Have you checked with a thermometer that when the "thermostat" is set to 11/12 degrees that is the temperature in all rooms?

No I haven't, but as I said they are pretty even as its such a small flat.

jalexa wrote: »

Yes, and the help you are getting from British Gas seems very poor. BTW, that could be because the so called adviser is poor. If you haven't already done so read this....http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/payasyougo.pdf

Pick the appropriate help number and request a guide for the type of meter you have. Ask (for the particular type of meter you have) how to read the "volume" of gas used (and how to tell if that is 100s ft3 or m3) - not the cost. I can't help on that because I don't know the exact type of meter you have, but it should be one of the screens that you interrogate to find the prices.

Anyway that is your supplier's responsibility

I've spoken to two or three different advisors and got different stories from each of them. That's why I gave up and came here where people talk far much more sense.

Thank you for the link. I'll have a read tomorrow when I'm not so tired. I'll also call them again tomorrow and put my foot down more. I'll also scroll through the screens and pluck all the info I can off them and get back to you.

Lastly, I need to point out that the advice I am receiving here from everybody who no doubt means well is very confusing and conflicting. Some are saying 'you're using a normal amount and £100 a month sounds right' whilst others are saying 'No this is crazy, it can't be right, you're not on the right tarriff'.

I would appreciate some continuity. Without being rude, I have to pay little attention to those who claim it sounds normal. If you knew the size of my home and the amount of gas I am really using (and just how !!!!!!!' cold I am for most of the day as a result) you would not be saying it was normal.

Munkee2

qwad4x4x4 wrote: »

I agree, it sounds like you are repaying someone else's debt.

gather all the evidence that you have concerning occupation dates etc and this will be resolved. It sounds like some extremely potential bad press for BT that they will act quickly on - to rectify.

good luck.

I have already said I have lived here for ten years and I am not paying anyone else's debt. I posted the figures from the relevent screen which said the debt owing was £0.00.

jalexa wrote: »

Sure about that? My understanding is that post #17 established that wasn't the case. But certainly something doesn't add up.

Indeed.

macman wrote: »

Until we get some actual consumption figures, it''s all conjecture.

I have already asked how I can get you those figures. I don't know what all the numbers on each of the screens mean so without guidance, I'm working blind. I'm also a bit thick when it comes to things like this. You need to treat me like an idiot on this occasion and have my permission to do so!

macman

In the time it took you to post that, you could have gone through the screens and found the only info that is relevant-your kWh usage.
No one can say whether your usage is normal or not, because we still don't know what your usage is. You've been given all the necessary advice above in order to interpret the meter displays.
To repeat, what you top up by in a month (this year or last year) is not relevant. Forget £'s, concentrate on kWh. Prices have soared in the past 12m, so you cannot assume that you are using more just because you are spending more.

jalexa

Munkee2 wrote: »

... If you knew the size of my home and the amount of gas I am really using (and just how !!!!!!!' cold I am for most of the day as a result) you would not be saying it was normal.

What the "old hands" are trying to say is that we don't yet know "the amount of gas". We know what it is costing you, but that is not necessarily the same.

To identify any error, it is essential to find and monitor the consumption screen. Help finding the consumption screen is the specific thing you should "put your foot down" about when you next phone British Gas.

Munkee2

macman wrote: »

In the time it took you to post that, you could have gone through the screens and found the only info that is relevant-your kWh usage.
No one can say whether your usage is normal or not, because we still don't know what your usage is. You've been given all the necessary advice above in order to interpret the meter displays.
To repeat, what you top up by in a month (this year or last year) is not relevant. Forget £'s, concentrate on kWh. Prices have soared in the past 12m, so you cannot assume that you are using more just because you are spending more.

I give up. I have asked at least twice how to give you that information. IF I KNEW HOW TO DO IT I WOULD HAVE DONE IT!