Charged £20 for dumping British Gas!

thriftychick

After a year long catalogue of incompetance, I have switched to Southern Electric and have just received my final (and only! despite asking for a bill for months!) bill from British Gas, they set up, cancelled and changed my direct debit 5 times over the year but haven't taken half the payments and so now have a bill for nearly £400 to pay. AND they have charged me £20 for closing my account!!!:mad:

tripled

You would have been on a capped price scheme, in which you agreed to stay with them for a certain period in exchange for them guaranteeing to hold your prices. That is why you have been charged a fee, because you have broken the agreement. You may also find you are paying more for your power with Southern, although I guess if you've had that many problems you'd be glad just to get away!

reformedsplurger

Hi Thriftychick

It might be worthwhile taking a look at the Energywatch website: http://www.energywatch.org.uk/help_and_advice/how_we_can_help/index.asp; they have advice on how to make a complaint to an energy provider, and how to take it further if you don't have any joy with them.

After all the trouble BG has given you, I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect them to waive any exit fee.

Good luck

farhad1965

tripled wrote: »

You would have been on a capped price scheme, in which you agreed to stay with them for a certain period in exchange for them guaranteeing to hold your prices. That is why you have been charged a fee, because you have broken the agreement. You may also find you are paying more for your power with Southern, although I guess if you've had that many problems you'd be glad just to get away!

Tripled is right - same happened to me a few years ago. If you break the agreement they will penalise you and it is what you had originally agreed to, so there are no real grounds for complaint in this case.

Funnily enough I have just applied for a switch from npower to BG Click Energy through Money Supermarket. Seems to be the best rates for me for dual fuel.

Poppycat

I didnt no there was a charge for leaving even on cap rates, is that normal for all suppliers or just BG?

I am with SP dual fuel capped which I recently joined because I was with them in Jan but moved house in Feb and inherited BG.

I am beginning to think I am being ripped off by SP having heard of them not reducing there prices by Ofgem

Michael_Nottingham

Most deals dont charge, but as I remember there were some of the BG deals that did include an exit fee in the T&C

tripled

BG isn't the only one that has had a leaving fee, some do and some don't, so best bet is to contact your provider and ask.