British Gas & AIC

saucytrace

Hi
Am stuck with a British gas problem and wondered if someone can help.

Me and my Boyfriend lost our jobs late 2011 just as I found out I was pregnant good timing I know. We went on JSA and tried our best to keep on top of our bills. I contacted everyone regarding my financially difficulty and found the only account thats been an issue is British Gas. We struggled to keep on top of our bills and contacted British Gas regarding a payment plan. It was initially manageable with electric £53 a month and Gas £27. The monthly payments went up without any warning. £94 electric and £35 gas and now its £119 electric and £35 Gas. These figures were not manageable and just paid what i could towards the debt. I then had to come off JSA and receive maternity benefits. I wrote to British Gas explaining all I could afford and that I was in receipt of benefits. All I got was basically this is the monthly amount you need to pay it. No explaining other options such as a pre payment meter or how to reduce my monthly bills etc, just an automated email this is the amount you need to pay. Now the account is £464 electric and £156 Gas. They have now passed my account to AIC?? which I only found out by when I wrote to British Gas again to state my benefits have been reinstated and the amount I could afford. It would have been nice to know that they were planning to do this. Anyway I wrote a complaint mentioning how I have been dealt with the last couple of months and not had much help from British Gas explaining options of paying. I asked several times for some payment cards so i can pay easily at a paypoint and never received those. Anyway British Gas are saying they cant deal with my complaint as the account is managed by AIC and wont answer any of my questions just keep saying contact AIC. Is that right they dont have to deal with my complaint? I'm still being supplied by them so why are they ignoring me? Ive offered £50 a fortnight for electric and £15 gas and have turned the gas boiler off so we dont spend anymore.
I'm angry that I've just been ignored and how unhelpful they have been with my situation.
Maybe I am over reacting but just worried. Now its being managed by AIC will they cut us off? They probably wont tell us there doing that either.
Hope someone can help

Thank you

Joyful

If you are on benefits ask for the debt to be brought back so you can go on Fuel direct. This will take whatever your weekly consumption is plus £3.55 for the debt.

saucytrace

Thanks joyful
Why don't they give you these options soon as you say your struggling? Prob wouldn't be in this mess now if they did.

Can they cut me off if it's with AIC now? Can they refuse fuel direct?

Joyful

If you show you are applying for Fuel direct or a PP meter you will not be disconnected. As long as you accept the FD amount and are on the correct benefits they will not reject it. Remember though that if your usage is high your payment needs to cover it.