Sainsbury/British Gas issue

Shotz

Hi guys help/advice needed plz,basically I joined sainsbury energy july 2018.
Paying £147 a month direct debit
In October I was told my direct debit would be going up to £190.
In December I was told my energy was moving to British Gas but my plan/deal would stay as it is till July 2019
At this time I stopped direct debit and decided to pay quarterly, British Gas offered me a smart meter so I decided to have it installed, however in early February,I received a bill for 3200 for gas and £700 for electric.
Whilst I was still looking into this British Gas changed my electric meter to pay and go so the £700 in electric is coming off my top ups weekly.
As for the gas I am saying I don’t owe that amount as I have been always been paying 1700-1900 for gas and electric
The £3200 bill for gas was till feb I received another gas bill for 600 so total outstanding on gas is 3800; so over the course of the year including payments made I would be paying almost £5000 just for gas how can this be right.

Sorry for long post had a lot of stuff to say.
I live in a 5 bed detached house 3 adults 3 children.
This has been the case for last 5 years and the usage has always been consistent

It

Shotz

Just spoke to British Gas again they are saying the amount owed is from a pre payment account ????
I have never had a prepayment account ever.

Robin9

I suspect this has has a lot to do with estimated bills. If you haven't been reading your meters no-one will have done so.

Can you go back in time - this should be July 2018 when you switched to Sainsbury - until you have a bill where the readings have a letter A against them. What is the reading today ?

Shotz

I have been sending regular readings I have emails dated August and September from Sainsbury’s thanking me for sending my read

Robin9

Are these shown on your bills as actual.

If you can give the July 2018 readings and those today we might be able to work out what your bill should be

Shotz

I can’t get readings from July 2018 as that account was with Sainsbury’s but has since moved to British Gas

Shotz

British Gas are saying it’s a debt from a previous pre payment account. I have never had 1 then they saying it might be from a different supplier from some time ago.

Can they bill me for something which I may or most likely have not had a debt from

matelodave

No they cant - but if you don't keep your own records or copies of bills and statements it becomes really difficult to backtrack especially when online accounts get closed, go wrong, energy companies go bust or you change suppliers without saving stuff like final bills or meter readings.

It can also be a problem if a meter gets changed and you don't keep hold of the final reading from the old one and the new reading on the new one - the fitter should supply a card with the info on it - it's vitally important that you save it and don't chuck it away.

It really is a good idea to download and save PDF copies of your monthly statement (every month) so you've got an ongoing record - don't chuck them when you change supplier, keep them for several years, just in case.

I've got bills and statements going back nearly 20 years (possibly an bit excessive) but it's evidence which has served me well when there have been queries - I just had to give 10 years worth of P.60's to the taxman, easy when it's filed away impossible if you've chucked them.

Shotz

Thanks. So can i refuse to pay old amount? As some of that would be this later quarter which i am willing to pay say about 700ish.
I havent a record of my meter reading as i used to imput them on my account via website.i only have confirmation of each reading being recieved.
Also my old gas meter is still fitted in house just been disconnected. Wouod it still show a reading as it was a numerical one

Robin9

Shotz wrote: »

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Also my old gas meter is still fitted in house just been disconnected. Would it still show a reading as it was a numerical one

Most odd - have a look - there should also be a card left by the meter installer showing the readings together with the reading of the Smart meter (Probably 00000.0) These readings should be on your bill.

While looking at your bill check that the serial number shown is the same as the meter itself.

Shotz

Very silly question but i dont know anything when it comes to meters etc. Basiaclly i had a gas meter with numerical numbers and a elctric 1 with numerical numbers. When my meters where changed to smart the electric 1 was removed and a smart 1 installed however the gas 1 was disconnected as in all wires etc removed but it wasnt replaced with anything. Is that electric smart meter the same 1 for the gas?

Also am waiting on british gas to call me with regards to where the debt has come from.