Can BG just decide a new DD?

flossy_splodge

:eek: I have an elderly father who has been with British Gas since time immemorial. He has always paid by DD but there has been a deficit between his payments through DD and his actual usage. BG have now written to him and "TOLD" him his new DD will be over £200 per month (previously about £50 per month). Can they do this? It was enough to give him a heart attack. Over half his pension per month! At the "suggested" new rate his underpayment would be cleared off in 3-4 months. Any advice please?:eek:

tripled

They can tell him his dd will be £1000 a month if they want to, there is nothing to stop your father cancelling the dd if he disagrees.

I can only suggest he contact the collections department and tries to negotiate a longer repayment period.

Cardew

He can pay off his debit balance and then fix the DD at a realistic amount.

The only requirement for any company is to inform you in advance of any change in the DD amount.

In practice, as tripled above states, a call to BG will probably get the DD reduced to reclaim the arrears over 12 months