Please Help!! No Gas connected for 4 years but BG want over £500 for standing fee!!

mollykin

Hi,

Im really hoping someone can advise me, I cant get a straight answer from British Gas!!

My very vulnerable friend (he has mental health problems and is on benefits of under £70 per week). He left his flat for a few months to look after his dying mother, only to return to a gas meter bill that was almost £70. He would have to pay this before he could credit is prepayment meter and use gas, something he couldnt afford to do. So, he didnt recharge his gas meter, and as the standing charge went up incrementally day by day, he felt overwhelmed and totally unable to catch up payments. That was in 2009. It is now 2014 and he still hasnt used any gas! It is freezing cold in his house and he cant cook on his stove. it is a travesty!! :eek:

Im trying to help him get it reconnected and after talking to british gas, they said they he will still have to pay the debt (now over £700):mad: but they will spread it out so that he pays it at £3.50 per week, on top of his regular fuel payments.

I just cannot believe that this extremely fragile, ill and vulnerable person who stopped using gas coz he couldnt afford it, still has to pay for it anyway, a standing daily fee of around 26p!!!

There MUST be a way to fight this!!?? it just dosent seem right! PLEASE please anyone who can help advise us, i would be soooo grateful and so would my friend. thank you.

ollski

I would genuinely make citizen's advice first call, I think they can negotiate on your friends behalf to go for some goodwill. I'm sure if your friend had contacted bg in 2009 there would have been some action available to have prevented the build up of arrears.

sheffield_lad

Try this https://bget.app.charisgrants.com/home/index

This is a trust set up by some of the big utilities (inc BG), to help reduce debt for folk on benefits and/or struggling.


GL

macman

How has he been managing without gas since 2009?