British Gas - Closed Account Final Bill Problem

EllMay

I'm hoping someone can help me a little here.

I moved out of my house back in December 2018, I closed my account with British Gas, well I thought I had. I told them I was leaving the property and didn't need to set up a new account as I was moving home until I had bought a house. That was literally it, I got a letter saying we were getting a refund of £80ish and that was it. I never heard anything from them until March this year, when I got an e-mail saying I owed £267.

I spoke to someone at british gas who asked for the final meter readings from when we moved out and the bill went up to £329. Absolutely livid, I asked to file a complaint because I was never asked for the meter readings and we had been refunded money - assumed the account was closed.

I've been e-mailing back and forth for weeks now and all I've had is a sorry for their agent not asking for the final meter readings. Obviously I'm still really annoyed because if they hadn't refunded us the £80, that bill would be cheaper and we would have paid it at the time of leaving the property. My point to them is that their agent made the mistake of not taking the meter readings and I also never received anything from them asking for them - so I don't see how this is my fault?

I know its energy we have used but I don't know if anyone can shed some light on where I stand with this?

They've advised me I can go to the FOS on 15th April but I just wondered if anyone could help a little more. I've never refused meter readings either, I'm annoyed that I feel like I'm being punished for their mistake and all they have done is say 'sorry'

JJ_Egan

< I moved out of my house back in December 2018, I closed my account with British Gas>


Did you give final meter readings when you moved .
I am reading your post as you gave no final meter readings .That would have generated final bill .

matelodave

In what way did you not feel it was necessary to give a final reading. It should have been obvious.

Did it not cross your mind, even for a fleeting moment that they couldn't actually close the account or produce a final bill without a closing reading which you should have had in your hand when you actually contacted them.

bonus2010

EllMay wrote: »

I spoke to someone at british gas who asked for the final meter readings from when we moved out and the bill went up to £329.

That's good, you knew the final meter reading. So, I'm puzzled as to why alarm bells weren't raised for you when the final meter reading on the bill you received did not match your final meter reading.

Benight

EllMay wrote: »

I'm hoping someone can help me a little here.

I moved out of my house back in December 2018, I closed my account with British Gas, well I thought I had. I told them I was leaving the property and didn't need to set up a new account as I was moving home until I had bought a house. That was literally it, I got a letter saying we were getting a refund of £80ish and that was it. I never heard anything from them until March this year, when I got an e-mail saying I owed £267.

I spoke to someone at british gas who asked for the final meter readings from when we moved out and the bill went up to £329. Absolutely livid, I asked to file a complaint because I was never asked for the meter readings and we had been refunded money - assumed the account was closed.

I've been e-mailing back and forth for weeks now and all I've had is a sorry for their agent not asking for the final meter readings. Obviously I'm still really annoyed because if they hadn't refunded us the £80, that bill would be cheaper and we would have paid it at the time of leaving the property. My point to them is that their agent made the mistake of not taking the meter readings and I also never received anything from them asking for them - so I don't see how this is my fault?

I know its energy we have used but I don't know if anyone can shed some light on where I stand with this?

They've advised me I can go to the FOS on 15th April but I just wondered if anyone could help a little more. I've never refused meter readings either, I'm annoyed that I feel like I'm being punished for their mistake and all they have done is say 'sorry'

If you owe the money, pay it
If you think there is an error in the bill, explain it to the supplier.

If the supplier is advising you to go to the FOS, check who you are talking to

If a supplier like BG is saying take the matter to the energy ombudsman, it's probably because they know you won't convince them either of your compliant.