BG tactics

caerleon9176

After being a customer for about 8 months now on Dual Fuel i have decided to shop around for better pricing. I have had alot of issues with BG overcharging me in thier billing i.e.charging me for the same unit twice, incorrectly working out the amount of days of use of services so that they charge more on the 2 tier charging system as an 'Average User' that they have.

We live in a 1 bed flat and i have paid nearly £900 in Gas and Elec in less than a year, yet were totally frugal with our useage, but because of the unknown charging system they use - im moving.

Here's the thing - made a complaint about the overcharging and it took 2 months to respond so i elevated it and got a reply the next day - they will not accept my point that they are overcharging given me the reply and i quote "We have always charged that way!". I couldnt give a flying ferret, they are overcharging me every time they bill me and i'm not having it.

I decide to respond telling them that i switching supplier who has a clear charging system and i will get to pay only for the serivces i use. I then find my online account locked - well i opt to pay online, they have blocked my access therefore putting me in the position where i cannot pay the bill. I call them and they say that this is a standard practice for them "To prevent me from giving them a false reading!". Well logic would dictate - if i have an online account and cannot access it, i cannot pay the bill! They said they would take payment over the phone - no chance! I want to see a bill in print and check it for the overcharging that i know it contains. This is also blocking my move to the Co-op.

I spoke to them 4 days ago and still have not got my bill! Do i have a case to complain to the ombudsman that they are intentionally putting me in a position where i default on my payments? I'm sure that this is a breach of contract on thier part by doing this!?!

Bottom line is they wont lift thier objection to me moving until i pay my final bill, it can only be final if i have a transfer date right? I see a continuous loop emerging!

Cardew

In what way are they are 'overcharging?

If you care to give details we can check your reasoning.

All your correspondence seems to be on the phone, and it is very easy to get misunderstandings - on both sides.

For instance BG do not operate an 'unknown charging system' and 'nearly £900 in a year' is below average.

jalexa

caerleon9176 wrote: »

they have blocked my access therefore putting me in the position where i cannot pay the bill. I call them and they say that this is a standard practice for them "To prevent me from giving them a false reading!".

Although Advisers "speak for their company" that does not mean what they say is right. In a transfer (of course you have scored the own-goal of getting blocked) the transfer reading is provided to the gaining supplier who handles the protocol of agreeing the closing reading with the losing supplier.

So IMO the adviser spoke nonsense.

Joyful

You could ask to change to the clear and simple tariff. This has a daily charge and every unit charged at one price. This sounds like what you are looking for.

Terrylw1

Its really unclear what the issue is, so until you add some more details, here are a couple of useful factors.

- no supplier can charge you twice.

- if the Outstanding Charges when you apply to switch are disputed by you, the supplier is not allowed to object. If the Outstanding Charges are an accrued amount due to the suppliers errors, they are classed as Supplier Error Amount and they are not allowed to object. If they object in either case, they have to lift the objection. If they fail in any of this, they have breached Standard Licence Condition (SLC) 14.