Extortionate Bill - Help!

hillscrimer

I've just received a bill after submitting a meter reading to British Gas and they are trying to charge me £715 for 6 months of gas. Surely this can't be correct.

The meter readings suggest that we've used 1348 units, which I believe converts to roughly 15000kWh. To me this figure seems very high considering we don't use gas to cook with, and from what I've read this seems to be what people use in a year. I understand it's been a particularly cold winter but to charge us roughly £120 per month for gas to me seems extortionate.

I've contacted British Gas regarding this and the only thing they can suggest is that I agree to send the meter for testing to a third party. However, they've said that if the meter comes back as working perfectly then I will have to foot the bill.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this (high gas bill, faulty meter)? Can anyone suggest any action I can take?

notbritishgas

Was the start reading of this bill an Actual or Estimate?

I presume you have gas CH, how do you use that.

You are correct it has been a very cold, long, winter.

Edit: just checked and we have used 13765kwh of gas in last 6 months.

Nada666

But the six months of winter is when you use your heating. Many people use eighty to ninety percent of their gas over six months.

Gas use for cooking is, for many, trivial.

As you have read, that is pretty much on target for a national average figure. What makes you think you should be using less than average?

hillscrimer

The reading at the start was an actual reading. We use the central heating pretty normally I'd presume, on average 3-4 hours a day (ish). It's nice to know you've used a similar amount though, at least I can be sure that the meter works corrently so I don't have to take the chance in sending it for a check up.

My next question then would be what's the average charge for such usage? We moved into the property at the start of last year and I haven't made any amendments with BG so I think we're on a standard tariff. Could this be the reason they're charging me so much?

StuC75

Standard Tariff will be making your gas more expensive -use comparison sites to see what could be paying.

My Peak months can be about £110 per month, but next to nothing in summer as gas for hot water & heating only..

Also what is controlling the heating? trvs, room thermostat - they say 1degree extra on heating can increase usage by 15%?? how efficient is the system, how controllable is the timers for any 'wasted' usage - is it kicking in when no one in..

hillscrimer

Nada666 - I'm not saying I'm using less than average, I can probably bet I'm above average, but my query is by how much........ and how much should I be charged for it.

My usage since moving into the property last January (15 months in total) is roughly 25715, which breaks down to roughly 20572 over a 12 month period.

Nada666

hillscrimer wrote: »

My next question then would be what's the average charge for such usage? We moved into the property at the start of last year and I haven't made any amendments with BG so I think we're on a standard tariff. Could this be the reason they're charging me so much?

Seems a relatively normal price - £7.50 standing charge and 4.3p per kWh would convert to 15,000 kWh over six months.

Cheaper tariffs will be available but that is not an unreasonable price for a quarterly standard tariff.

hillscrimer

Stu - if you're paying £110 at peak times then I suppose £120 on a standard tariff must be about right. Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll have to do some looking into changing my tariff.

Nada666

Have a look on a comparison site to see how much a direct debit tariff would cost you for that usage in your postcode.

StuC75

Use the British Gas online account portal to look at your usage, you can put in House Type, bedrooms, occupants & age of property to see the averages..

For the Last 3 months it shows the average for my type as £250 - 6,160kwh, and mine comes in at £266 - 6,587kwh.. So look at more at current season rather then full 12 months. This site \ tariff does have you input monthly readings to get a better gauge month to month.. Although I know my annual usage for last 2 years has been just under 15,000kwh..

hillscrimer wrote: »

Nada666 - I'm not saying I'm using less than average, I can probably bet I'm above average, but my query is by how much........ and how much should I be charged for it.

My usage since moving into the property last January (15 months in total) is roughly 25715, which breaks down to roughly 20572 over a 12 month period.

Wywth

hillscrimer wrote: »

I've just received a bill after submitting a meter reading to British Gas and they are trying to charge me £715 for 6 months of gas. Surely this can't be correct.

The meter readings suggest that we've used 1348 units, which I believe converts to roughly 15000kWh. To me this figure seems very high considering we don't use gas to cook with, and from what I've read this seems to be what people use in a year. I understand it's been a particularly cold winter but to charge us roughly £120 per month for gas to me seems extortionate.

I've contacted British Gas regarding this and the only thing they can suggest is that I agree to send the meter for testing to a third party. However, they've said that if the meter comes back as working perfectly then I will have to foot the bill.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this (high gas bill, faulty meter)? Can anyone suggest any action I can take?

15,000kWh of gas over the winter is not particularly high.
You are probably only using a small fraction of this amount at this time of year.

£715 for this amount of gas is not particularly cheap. Consult a comparison site to find the best tariff for you.