When you move from BG Freetime....

Scatty

So I moved from British Gas Freetime in March, they couldn't offer a better deal (I have gas but only use a cooker so needed somewhere with no standing charge). Outfox the Market fitted my purposes, notwithstanding their recent increases.

So move forward to my first statement last week. To my horror the amount was £270 for two months.

What BG do when you transfer to another provider is they send the reading for the non-freetime plus the freetime. For instance, my energy was 5007 units plus the freetime 1406 units. OTM are only applying 5007 so you can imagine the disparity between that and my opening reading of 6426 created a near panic attack.

OTM have opened a dispute. They then email me to advise I have a two rate meter. Oh no, I don't, I tell them. I have a smart meter, here's a photo of my opening reading. This is how Freetime works. Please contact BG.

My question is, if we end up in stalemate, should BG get in touch with OTM to explain the freetime and why there is two readings?

Scatty

And they are STILL insisting on two readings!! I don't know where to go from here.

House_Martin

When you were with BG on the freetime tariff the smart meter would show 2 readings. R1 and R2 ( the free 8 hrs total ).
My fellow meter readers also thought that this referred to an Eco 7 meter when they came across a Freetime tariff meter
Looks like even a supplier has also fallen for this basic mistake. If OTM can t even work this out I think maybe its time you left these newbies. If they can t understand the basic essentials of BG s Freetime tariff what else will the mess up ?
I take it that now you have left BG the smart meter has reverted back to displaying a single rate reading only which would be the total kwhs used since the smart meter has been installed.

Scatty

Yes it just shows one reading on the meter front anyway (I don't scroll, I can just about take photos of it to read it, it's that high). I may stand on something and have a little scroll through.

I've been in touch with BG who say that they submit two readings but they will now alter the national data base to show the combined readings. It's so frustrating as OTM had a copy of my final invoice showing standard and freetime and it's hard to get it into their heads that I don't want to pay for the freetime through OTM

As for leaving them, once they've sorted out this situation I will look at my position.

I have chat transcripts for both conversations with BG and OTM to keep track of what is happening.

bwff

You need to ask BG to ensure the smart meter is switched to single rate (assuming that is what you want from the new supplier)

Scatty

British Gas have very kindly written an email for me to send to OTM confirming it is indeed a single rate meter. They say OTM should have known this as the account was set up correctly. I've also sent my final invoice to OTM showing the two readings which should be added together. It's exhausting. And stressful.

Scatty

SO BG confirm it is a single rate meter, they have my final invoice from BG, they have the email from BG, they have a photo of my meter and my readings and they're still prevaricating!!! Aaargh! I dread to think how many BG Freetime customers are being charged for all their BG freetime by their new supplier and not realising it.