Britis gas transfer and billing issues

Sibbo46

I transferred to BG which was suppose to include smart meter upgrade but cancelled due to CV19. I already have a smart meter from previous supplier which is now dumb.
When I submitted my meter readings via the app I recieved a totally ridiculous gas bill. I worked out that they had 'converted' my gas reading from cubic feet to cubic meters (totally unnecessary as reading from my smart meter is already in m³). This then multiplied my gas bill by 2.8 times.  It has taken me hours and numerous departments to get them to acknowledge and correct their error.  Until the BG smart meter is fitted I now have no way of giving meter readings that will generate an accurate bill. This may also apply to other suppliers so please be aware.
 

Robin9

As BG has acknowledged and corrected their error I assume that their records are now correct and would carry on submitting readings

FullForce

Sibbo46 said:

I transferred to BG which was suppose to include smart meter upgrade but cancelled due to CV19. I already have a smart meter from previous supplier which is now dumb.
When I submitted my meter readings via the app I recieved a totally ridiculous gas bill. I worked out that they had 'converted' my gas reading from cubic feet to cubic meters (totally unnecessary as reading from my smart meter is already in m³). This then multiplied my gas bill by 2.8 times.  It has taken me hours and numerous departments to get them to acknowledge and correct their error.  Until the BG smart meter is fitted I now have no way of giving meter readings that will generate an accurate bill. This may also apply to other suppliers so please be aware.
 

If you already have smart meters installed at your property, no supplier will be in any rush to fit you new ones (unless there is evidence the current meters are faulty)

There's usually a basic difference between a metric and imperial gas reading; the metric reading has 5 digits whilst an imperial one consist of only 4 digits.
But whatever the cause of the error, you don't need a new meter to correct the billing error.

Sibbo46

Hi, I'm not too fussed about a new meter but I am about accurate bills. My point was that their online / app tool appears to automatically multiply the figure you enter by 2.8 as it seems to presume on old meter even if you enter a 5 digit reading eg 02435

Ectophile

There is a central database of gas meters, used by all the suppliers.  For some reason, your supplier's computer thinks you still have an old cubic foot meter and is automatically adjusting the readings.  Either that database is wrong, or your supplier's computer has failed to check it and still thinks you have an old meter.

If BG are still getting it wrong you need to make a formal complaint (or another one, as applicable).

brewerdave

There are obviously issues with these "centralised databases". When I switched companies last August, the utility company I was moving to, were picking up the details of an electric meter which had been replaced in Feb 2015 !! They were baffled as was I , as I had about 6 different electric suppliers between the dates, all of whom (even the very small and subsequently failed) had got the correct meter details.