BG & Reversed Charges?

joe2cool

Hi just wonder if any one could help. On the 28th June I switched from British Gas to EDF. On still awaiting my final bill, I kept checking my old BG account, which a few days a go showed that I was over £1200 in credit? (obviously wrong) & from the 4th July four amounts of 'reverse charges', which checking through transaction history were previous electricity charges. On checking the account today it showed I was £309.48 in debit? still showing reverse charges. I have always given accurate readings & last mth for some reason when the meter was read by BG, I noticed they had got the readings the wrong way round (Day/Night) After a call it was corrected. This was the only time I noticed anything wrong with the readings.
After a call to BG today which didn't seem very clear, he just said it must be because they had got the readings the wrong way round since opening account? But I always gave accurate readings & checked all bills & the only time the readings were wrong when BG read them was in May & it was corrected?
When I gave my last readings to BG (27th June) the estimated bill showed £109?
If matters aren't resolved could you explain the correct procedure to complain? & what happens if I refuse to pay until I am satisfied with the final bill amount?
Appreciate any help

Thx

Terrylw1

Was it the transposed reads that created the large credit? That's unlikely since they cause the readers to "clock" not wind back.

Its difficult to say what this is without understanding how the readings created the kwh values.

Reverse charges could be a general term for someone adding a debt value to cancel out an erroneous credit but you really need to understand what caused and why. You also need to check they haven't wiped out any of your payments by doing this.

You could raise a complaint and if unresolved after 8 weeks you can take it to the ombudsman.

joe2cool

Hi all the meter readings have been accurate from the start except once when BG read it & I noticed straight away. So just can't understand how they can say any other readings were the wrong way round Day/night, hence the 'reversed charges' when I always gave accurate
readings. Thx for your help appreciated

joe2cool

Hi managed to get a list of previous readings 2 lots plus the last ones I gave them were the wrong way round Day/Night (have corrected a few times), so sent them the correct readings.My account now says £12180.40 in credit? Obviously wrong again! Just wait & see again, just as well the direct debit is cancelled

anmarj

we had the same problem with NPower, even though we gave them the correct readings, they swapped them about, never heard from them for six months after the discovery of the problem (advised at the time they could not give time scales on the problem being resolved), and only got it cleared after we got a call for a reading, in which they did use them the correct way round and tried to get us to pay an £800 bill for eight months use. Within 48 hours of us complaining they got the bill sorted and came down to £400, we then got £100 off for compensation. We were told that they could only go back one year on this, so makes me think that when we had a pre payment meter they had mucked up the readings then.

BG may of credited the payments you have made so far until they have got the readings the right way round.

Terrylw1

This is strange.

If you submit reads transposed it won't cause a credit since meters don't go backwards. It would cause the meter to "rollover" by going past 99999 and then billing up again.

This sounds more like something they are doing in their system. It must be errors they are making in correcting the transpositions.

joe2cool

Well my account now says £283 in debit with estimated readings the wrong way round again plus my last reading still also the wrong way round. Its just tedious having to repeat myself, sure they just hope you give up.

Terrylw1

Raise a complaint, then after 8 weeks you can take it to the ombudsman.

joe2cool

Hi, the latest is even though I had numerous emails saying they would look into the situation & alter the readings, after putting in a complaint on Sunday someone rang yesterday & the readings were corrected & £203.35 is now to be refunded. I do think they hope you might give through the tedious repeating of oneself.

Thx again guys for advice

joe2cool

Hi latest...........Good news, I have received the cheque for £203.35 from BG. Online, the final balance did show £0.00, I've just received an email saying latest bill ready to view, which says I'am 1p in debit, looks like one digit as been changed along the readings. So if I pay by credit card it will cost far more for them? After the hassle they have given me, you'd think they would just scrap it?

[Deleted User]

where I work in Yorkshire its standard practice to put any eco7 meter which shows rate 1 into the night field and rate 2 in the day field on the handheld.They have this strange idea that British Gas etc know whats what and will sort it themselves.