British Gas £91/yr standing charge to zero-gas users

Bark01

benefitquery wrote: »

NADIA666, you appear to have strong bias in favour of British Gas.

I don't know if you work for them or not.

I already replied to your strange post of 2-11-13. I said :

"in reply to the last post someone made: my gas is cut off and i immediately told british farce, sorry british gas, i want their meter removed. how can they charge standing charge when my gas is cut off at the mains?"

Now, as BG are prepared to lie to me and they don't reply to emails specifically addressed to individuals, they're obviously prepared to illegally charge me.

If they do, I'LL *PAY* to take *them* to court and I'LL contact the media about it to.

I hope everyone noticed debbieblueeyes post about British Gas **pretending** they turned up to an appointment.

If anyone is with British Gas, I'd recommend switiching right now.

Unless your meter is removed from the network system it will generate a fixed cost even if you are not using it.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'cut off', if the lines been capped by an authorised professional then it should have been removed the system. Until this happens you will be charged for it by any supplier, this is not a BG policy.

benefitquery_2

Come of folks, you have heard of the expression that the people get the government they deserve. It also applies to companies. If we don't kick up a fuss every time they mess us around, they'll keep messing us around. Get switching from BG, get emailing the right people about your experience with British Gas.
Here's a start: [EMAIL="watchdog@bbc.co.uk"]watchdog@bbc.co.uk[/EMAIL]
Get emailing the local papers and radio too.

benefitquery_2

In reply to bark01, the gas has been physically turned off at the meter by a gas engineer. It cannot be used.

You say that "Until this happens you [i.e being capped] will be charged for it by any supplier"

Well, I disagree. Ecotricity have no standing charge for Gas.

Also, BG lie. They say they'll call; but the *don't*. They say they'll take complaints, but they *don't reply* to them. They *pretend* they turn up to appointment (see debbieblueeyes). They won't tell me if I have to pay a standing charge (for zero gas use) before the meter is removed. Judging from the way they've treated me, I doubt they'll even turn up to remove the meter on the 16-12.

Fine. Bill me, British Gas. I WILL take YOU to court. I'll gladly pay the court fee.

2010

Nada666 wrote: »

Ofgem are intending to increase the standing charge from £91 to £157 odd and not allow suppliers any leeway.

This is a wild statement.
Under Ofgem`s proposals they will set a standard S/C for all companies and to date no amount has been mentioned.

Letting the likes of B Gas set a S/C would be like asking Dracula to only take a pint of blood, he`d bleed you dry.

Nada666

Why on earth should customers of British Gas switch? Should customers of every other supplier who have also introduced standing charges switch? Is that 98 or 99% of Britons?

What about those who need hot water and cooking 365 days per year. You want to destroy their lives?

Nada666

2010 wrote: »

This is a wild statement.
Under Ofgem`s proposals they will set a standard S/C for all companies and to date no amount has been mentioned.

Letting the likes of B Gas set a S/C would be like asking Dracula to only take a pint of blood, he`d bleed you dry.

But entirely feasible. Tory moaning today about direct debit discounts. Ban those discounts and ban differential payments on prepayment meters and £157 is a perfectly fair sum to charge. Ask the Co-op.

oldwiring

If placing a standing charge is helpful to the poorer consumers, I am a monkey's poop.

2010

Nada666 wrote: »

---

and £157 is a perfectly fair sum to charge. Ask the Co-op.

You stated that this is what Ofgem is going to do, charge £157 and it`s not true because they haven`t decided yet.
£157 for two meters maybe but even that`s too high!
You`re just plucking figures out of the air.
Ofgem will (eventually) impose a meter standing charge on all power companies and the amount will apply across the board and the lower the better.
At the moment different companies charge different SC with B Gas being one of the highest.
People who don`t use or use seasonal gas (Nov - March) should switch away from those charging the highest SC.

Do the maths.

C_Mababejive

From what i have read, there is a clear misunderstanding by some as to how markets work.

So you dont use gas..fine..

You still have to pay for the hire and maintenance of the meter and the incoming service pipe.

Your gas supplier is charged for these items so they are simply passing it on to you.

Want the meter removed...? Fine...

Supplier will charge for its removal. They have to send man in van,he has to be paid.

When the meter is removed,a year or so downline the distribution network will cut off your service. They are obliged to do so by law.

Want gas in future? Fine..pay for new service to be laid and pay for new meter to be installed..

Nada666

2010 wrote: »

You stated that this is what Ofgem is going to do, charge £157 and it`s not true because they haven`t decided yet.
£157 for two meters maybe but even that`s too high!
You`re just plucking figures out of the air.
Ofgem will (eventually) impose a meter standing charge on all power companies and the amount will apply across the board and the lower the better.
At the moment different companies charge different SC with B Gas being one of the highest.
People who don`t use or use seasonal gas (Nov - March) should switch away from those charging the highest SC.

Do the maths.

Why on earth will Ofgem advocate a low standing charge? Even if Co-op's standing charge is too high (£314 dual fuel) (I don't deny it's unlikely) I hardly think about £80 per meter is too much. What info do you have to think that Ofgem will be charging less than the market charge now?

Also, if British Gas is charging £91, what makes you say that is 'one of the highest'? As far as I can see that is bang on the average standing charge for most suppliers.

Edit, yup, as far as I can see five of the six suppliers charge about £90. Only SSE is cheaper.