British Gas, Ridiculously large bill £1336!!!

Kazzalondors

Hi,
I am very new to forums as a whole, I tend to read to get advice but cannot find any thread with something similar to my situation.
I have a gas statement dated 26 Jan 12 for period 24 Sep 11 to 21 Dec 11 with an Actual reading showing that I am £108 in credit.:jJoy of joys! I thought, wow, I've got the hang of it now as I am paying a steady £49 per month (after an initial mistake when I first moved in and ended up paying £180 per month to pay off a debt of underpaying)
I nearly had a heart attack today to receive a statement dated 19 Apr 12 for period 22 Sep 10 to 13 Mar 12 showing that I owe £1336!!! :mad:After calling to complain, they were less than helpful saying they tried to contact me on 26 Jan as thought there must be a problem with my meters?!?! No message left (apparently due to data protection) and they only tried to contact me once (apparently company policy to only try once) and yet I received that statement from the same date showing I was in credit. Now, as I have this in writing, surely this is their error. I am absolutely raging about this and will be complaining to BG in writing. However, I would just like to know if anyone knows where I stand with regards to paying this large debt before I write my letter. Thank you in advance.

penrhyn

So does you current meter reading agree with the one from BG?

Is it a metric meter or an imperial meter?

The meter will be marked M3 or 100's Cuft.

Check on the bill that the appropriate conversion has been done. Its possible that if you have a metric meter and BG have assumed Imperial that the bill is 3 times larger than it should be.

Kazzalondors

Hi, I think the meter readings do match, where can I find this on the statement? (sorry I normally look to see if I'm in credit or debit) It is a metric meter Gas

penrhyn

It will say something like 365 metric units used over 104 days.
Gas units converted 4085.12 Kwh etc...................

Followed by the cost.

Kazzalondors

Ah, thanks yes. It does state metric units so appears to be correct, I will need to study my bills over the last couple of years.

Cardew

Is the 'actual reading' on 21 Dec 2011 from a meter reader or yourself?

Also are you sure that it is not an estimated reading on that date?(21/12/11) normally shown by an 'E' against the reading.

It seems unusual that they would wait 5 weeks(from 21/12/11 to 26/01/12) to produce a bill if the meter was read by a meter reader.

Also why produce a bill covering 18 months - again with a 5 week delay from the meter reading.

Terrylw1

If your meter matches to the bill, the obvious question is why have they removed all your bills and replaced it with this one?

There are various possibilities that could include them rebilling but not including your payments or your opening reading moving but its impossible to say right now. There could also be an issue regarding billing over 12 months and the billing code rules but we need more info.

I would suggest holding off the complaint for a day until you can post so you can get some advice to held you formulate it.

Kazzalondors

Sorry, I wasn't online yesterday. I took a meter reading when I received this large bill and they said it's gone up from the last meter reading in December...durrrr, state the obvious seeing as I didn't stop using gas after the last reading! That's what I dont understand why I received an actual reading statement in January showing the credit and then a bill covering 18 months! Surely they are not allowed to do this. The t&c's confuse me. Terrylw1, what billing codes do you refer to? Thanks for the replies so far

p00hsticks

Kazzalondors wrote: »

I nearly had a heart attack today to receive a statement dated 19 Apr 12 for period 22 Sep 10 to 13 Mar 12 showing that I owe £1336!!!

Presumably you were in the property in September 2010 ?
And you've been receiving statements quarterly from September 2010 until the one you mention for period for period 24 Sep 11 to 21 Dec 11 ?

Assuming you have, I agree that you are entitled to a better explanation from BG as to why they re suddenly demanding more money for a period of eighteen months.

Kazzalondors

Yes, I have been in the property since 2007, and apart from the initial underpayments in the beginning as it was a bigger house to what I was used to, I did learn from that mistake and was, or so I thought, quite vigilant on my payments. I have been receiving quarterly statements since I moved in and have been £20 in credit/£15 in debit here and there with actual statements. I should at least have a better explanation as you say from BG and not accept more of their standard BS! Thanks for all the help/advice so far. I guess I need to be more vigilant in future but I'm so angry at this.

jalexa

Kazzalondors wrote: »

I have been receiving quarterly statements since I moved in and have been £20 in credit/£15 in debit here and there with actual statements.

Sorry I missed the "18 months" until others referred to it. The "Billing Code" referred to is this...http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills/412-the-code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills-back-billing-for-domestic-customers.html

Subject to certain qualifications unbilled energy supplied more than 12 months prior cannot be charged for. On the face of it you are entitled to backbilling relief, though individual circumstances vary.

You need to make a claim via the British Gas Complaint's process asking for "Billing Code" backbilling relief to be applied.