Switching TO British Gas - can they do this?

MiserlyMartin

Hello

Switching from Scottish Power to British Gas. They came out cheaper on Electricity on energy helpline. I gave SP a final meter reading and they are going to send me a final bill based on that. They say they have given BG this reading for use as a start reading.

BG are starting my supply using an 'estimated reading' that is nearly 400 units less than my final SG bill. Therefore unless these match I will be billed twice.

Phoned BG told them of problem. They said that I would have to phone SP and tell them to issue a refund for the electricity billed past the BG meter start value. Can they do this, or is this a way for BG to sneakily bill me for more electricity taking the money from SP??

PS never did get my money from energy helpline.

bristolleedsfan

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

Hello

Switching from Scottish Power to British Gas. They came out cheaper on Electricity on energy helpline. I gave SP a final meter reading and they are going to send me a final bill based on that.

BG are starting my supply using an 'estimated reading' that is nearly 400 units less than my final SG bill. Therefore unless these match I will be billed twice.

Phoned BG told them of problem. They said that I would have to phone SP and tell them to issue a refund for the electricity billed past the BG meter start value. Can they do this, or is this a way for BG to sneakily bill me for more electricity taking the money from SP??

PS never did get my money from energy helpline.

british gas operated on an estimated reading from me as well ( 2 lazy to ask for actual reading) mine was about right, your mistake was giving scottish power a reading because its for the new supplier to seek a reading ( or operate on a estimated basis)

your best bet is to ask scottish power to do what british gas have asked u to do. ( u can still contact scottish power via contact them even though u not with them) tell scottish power was their fault cos they know its for new supplier to seek/estimate reading .

here u can c what scottish power told me about readings.

"We closed your account with the readings British Gas provided us with, and the readings they are opening your account with. (Electricity 02834, Gas 004620)

When you change supplier it is up to the new provider to pass meter readings over to the old supplier. These readings were estimated"

cashbacks can take a few months how much were energy helpline offering.

Cardew

bristolleedsfan wrote: »

here u can c
.

2 ys u r
2ys u b
I c u r 2ys 4 me;)

tripled

SP have to use the reading provided by BG, be it a reading you gave BG or an estimate. They should amend your records to reflect this. However, if you wish you can insist BG send your reading to SP and amend their records to start billing you from that one.

MiserlyMartin

I'm switching from SP to BG. Did you mean the other way around? I'm confused now.!

espresso

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

I'm switching from SP to BG. Did you mean the other way around? I'm confused now.!

So am I, why?

tripled

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

Did you mean the other way around?

Nope. British Gas should have requested a reading from you around the date of the changeover, then passed this this to Scottish Power. If they didn't get one, a middleman estimates a reading. Again, Scottish Power then have to use this to close the account. It is pretty much irrelevant if you give Scottish Power a reading at the time of the switch as they have to use the reading they were given. They can dispute it, but this isn't often done unless there is a massive difference.

You can give British Gas the correct reading and insist they send that to Scottish Power as the changeover reading. However if BG's price per unit is lower than Scottish Power's you would probably be going to a lot of effort for no gain!

bristolleedsfan

Cardew wrote: »

2 ys u r
2ys u b
I c u r 2ys 4 me;)

Cardew

A gentle dig at the gahstly text talk;)

MiserlyMartin

I phoned SP and they were fairly helpful. I decided to keep things simple I phoned BG and told them to start the supply at SP's final reading. They said no problem so hopefully end of problem. Cheers all.