What Can We Do? British Gas Problem!

SambaRamba

Hi. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for us??

We moved into a new house just before Christmas that had prepayment meters installed. In January we had the token meters taken out and normal ones put in.

Both gas and electric are with British Gas. We've had a gas bill but have never had an electricity bill, despite phoning four times to give them a meter reading and having someone out to read it.

If this continues we're going to end up with a gas bill that we may not be able to afford. We're making estimates and putting money aside but we currently have 7 months worth of electricity to pay, it's becoming a joke.

Each time we call them they say a bill is being prepared and will be sent within so many days.

We can't even switch supplier because we need a reference number to do this and they won't give us one.

I don't know what to do about it and i'm very worried that we won't afford the bill when it comes.

Does anyone know what I can do? Thanks

Cardew

Just carry on putting the money(your estimated sum) in an interest earning account.

Knowing BG it might be a long while before you get a bill and you will probably get a reduction in the amount owed.

So you will only gain from BG's inefficiency.

If you don't want to do as above, write to them - there is no point in phoning.

din_dons

Hi I had the same problem with my mum, I kept speaking to the prepayment people and eventually they advised me to contact the ombardsmen. Definately keep the money that you think you should pay. Also, keep diary notes of time, date and who you speak to and what was briefly said as if you end up writing to the ombardsmen you need to supply them all the info.

It took a year to get it sorted as in between time British Gas changed their computer system over, 18 months later she is getting a electricity bill ok but the meter number for the gas meter is wrong.

It is really quite stressful dealing with this as you get kept waiting in a phone queue so take notes of how long you wait. Try and get a manager and ask them for thier direct number then it is much better.

If you need anymore info please ask Good luck!!

SambaRamba

Thanks very much, i'm not suprised to hear others have had the same problem, but I am suprised that British Gas take so long to deal with it. Your advice is appreciated.

tripled

You don't need to get the mpan from BG if you want to switch, you have a local MPAS service which can give you the details.

discobaby

Hi I have just left BG and the problem is there have been locks/blocks added to a large number of accounts by mistake on the new system(hence all the bad recent media), next time you call ask for the block to be removed and they may ask for another reading and then they will bill you todate, if they cannot emove the block themselves ask for a manager/supervisor callback once the block has been removed because when they bill you they can tell you the exact amount of the bill that will be on its way to you, hope this helps.;)

discobaby

Also they can give you a timescale in which you will receive the bill, callbacks are normally within 48hrs

martin123

Hi
I Thought it was just me who was banging my head against a brick wall.
I have been waiting 10 months for a bill now,I must have phoned then 10
times to try and sort it.One time they told me they were notsuppling me so i phoned Transco and guess what British Gas supply me. "Idiots"
2 month ago my account was referred to the front line team to sort out,
They told me they would have it sorted within 2 weeks and they took a gas
reading of me but nothing changes.My know it all mate has told me if i don't
get a bill within a year i don't have to pay which i can't believe.Sorry about going on but its good to talk.

tripled

martin123 wrote: »

My know it all mate has told me if i don't
get a bill within a year i don't have to pay which i can't believe.

He's partly right. New regulations come into force within a few weeks which mean if the utility company is at fault for not sending a bill, they can only backdate charges 12 months. So if it took them 3 years to sort out, they can only backbill you a year (giving you two years free).

Currently they can backbill two years.