How to cancel British Gas?

parking_question_chap

Hello

We have recently moved into a house and have just had a bill from BG for gas and electric. Unfortunately we have had so much to do sorting a new energy supplier got left until last. Anyhow, the meter readings they have guessed are way higher than the actual numbers. I have two questions

1) If I phone up with the actual readings are they obliged to re calculate the bill?

2) If we phone a new supplier to set up an account, will they contact BG and tell them they are taking over? My partner seems to think they will, but I would have thought we should be phoning or emailing BG ourselves.

Thanks for reading.

molerat

1) yes, they will do.
2) yes, you start the ball rolling with a new supplier and they do all the leg work.

Did BG have correct opening readings and dates, is the bill addressed to you or the occupier (or the previous occupier) ?

JJ_Egan

1 yes but they may want to send a meter reader first .Did you take meter readings when you moved in if not its all guesswork on your side .
2 yes that's the way it should work but unless you are on BG standard tariff you may have to pay an exit fee . Guess is that is what you are on the standard expensive tariff as you have not set up any account .
Just put your details in one of the many price comparison web sites .

parking_question_chap

The letter us addressed to the occupier.

We did not give readings when we moved in (mistake I know) but with the adjustments made when I give the new current readings, I think it will be a perfectly reasonable balance to pay.

macman

You can't commence a switch until you have registered with BG, which is what you should have done on day one. It then takes 4-5 weeks to switch,
You were in a deemed contract with BG from the day you moved in, but it appears that they are billing you as 'the occupier', as no a/c has been set up.
If you apply to AN Other supplier now, BG will block the switch.

parking_question_chap

What do you mean "register with BG"?

Why cant we just phone the new supplier and accept the fact it will take a month or so to swap over?

Is there a legal amount of time you must continue a deemed contract for?

molerat

parking_question_chap wrote: »

What do you mean "register with BG"?

Why cant we just phone the new supplier and accept the fact it will take a month or so to swap over?

Is there a legal amount of time you must continue a deemed contract for?

No, but you must register with the deemed supplier before you can move away from them. You could have registered with BG the day you took on the property and then commenced the move to a new supplier the same day but until you are registered with a supplier you can not move away from them.

parking_question_chap

Sorry, but I need to clarify what you mean by "register with them". As we dont want to get trapped in a 12month or more contract with a supplier we dont want.

Do you just mean we need to give them our names?

molerat

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Sorry, but I need to clarify what you mean by "register with them". As we dont want to get trapped in a 12month or more contract with a supplier we dont want.

Do you just mean we need to give them our names?

Yes, as simple as that. You do not need to be on any contract, just their basic standard tariff and pay by whichever method you choose. They may ask for a deposit though but as you are already on a credit meter and intend to move away there is not a lot they can do about that one.

parking_question_chap

Thanks for the info.

Just one final question if I may. As we are moving away from them shortly, could they take action against us if we declined to pay a deposit. I just want to play the current bill (once adjusted) and the final bill after the next 4/5weeks.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

Just one final question if I may. As we are moving away from them shortly, could they take action against us if we declined to pay a deposit. I just want to play the current bill (once adjusted) and the final bill after the next 4/5weeks.

It's unlikely (but by no means impossible) that BG will ask for a deposit. However, in the unlikely event that they do, and you refuse, they can force pre-payment meters on the property.

Energy companies can't intuit when people move house, you should have registered with them the day you moved in. It's in your interest to do so, whilst you will have an accurate closing read when you leave BG, you have no way of challenging whatever opening read they use.