British Gas Debt Collection Policy?

chanz4

Its a suppliers choice what payment terms you are supplied under ofgem only state 28 days and a rights of entry notification is given.

The notification that is required is rights of entry gas and electricity boards act 1954

Terrylw1

Standard Licence Condition (SLC) 27 places obligations on the supplier to offer a wide range of payment methods including cash. Suppliers with less than 20k customers can get out of some of this.

Honeydog

chanz4 wrote: »

You have to look at it this way, if a company disclosed their collections process would you ever pay a bill on time or would you wait until the last second where they are applying for the warrant?

Its the same with credit cards, they wont tell you exactly when they are about to send a default notice or sell your debt as you would just at that point pay it

I think I'm going to stick you on ignore on the basis that if I can't actually see your posts - they won't make me sigh out loud anymore.

Thanks for your thoughts but goodbye.

SwanJon

I don't think it is a conspiracy, possibly just one (or both) of the agents not fully appreciating your payment history.
For example, if you have got into the habit of only paying on the red reminder there is an incentive for the company to send the red reminder earlier.
If you have a similar habit, the agent may not have appreciated this and given you the wrong advice.
Best answer is go onto some sort of regular payment scheme and spread the payments out.

Honeydog

This what I received in my first email from BG. I didn't ask for it but it was given freely. I'm posting it here in case it is useful to anyone.


I want to draw your attention to the British Gas debt collection policy. Unpaid bills will result in you receiving letters and phone calls from us to recover any unpaid bills.

·14 days after bill is issued you will receive phone calls

·28 days after bill is issued you will receive a reminder

·35 days after bill is issued you will receive further phone calls
.
·42 days after bill is issued a letter will be sent

·56 days after bill is issued you will receive a further letter and phone calls

·63 days after the bill is issued you will receive a further letter.

·70 days after the bill is issued the debt will be sent to a 3rd party debt collection agency

·During this period you may incur late payment charges and collection agency admin fees

·During this time we will also report any unpaid bills to credit rating agencies.

The way my account was handled followed this completely. I had a threat of a £14 charge in the day 56 letter but it was refunded.