Pre-payment problems with British Gas

red909 · 30 June 2020 at 12:35PM

Hi

I’m in a pretty desperate situation and would really love some help in how I can go about sorting it out because I’m getting nowhere with British Gas and they are just mucking me about.

The background: I recently moved into a private renting property and found that the gas and electric are via pre-payment, the old school version (ie two separate meters and not smart metered). Because of Covid-19 I decided not to rock the boat and keep the pre-payment element until things got back to normal (plus it seemed useful for budgeting as I don’t have a lot of spare income available for surprise expensive bills). However I had some issues with the gas meter and am due a replacement pre-payment card which I’ve been waiting since early June(!) for. They say they have sent two in the post to me but they haven’t turned up (their letters have had no problem getting to me though). They said they would send an engineer out with a replacement card- they haven’t turned up. I’m now almost out of gas, have no idea how I am supposed to get a new card (the pay zone outlets in my area don’t supply cards) and am totally fed up with this bloody pre-payment system!!

As a way of resolving the impasse I asked British Gas to move me onto a credit based payment plan - I’ve never had a problem with credit in the past (and had to be credit checked to move into this property in the first place). Inexplicably they said that Experian’s credit check had turned me down! They wouldn’t say why and said I should check with Experian myself. So I am stuck on pre-payment. I then signed up for Experian’s credit score facility to investigate further and got a score of 909 - good. I’m now concerned about future property moves and being unable to get off this bloody pre-payment nonsense which is expensive and really badly supported.

So my questions:

Does anybody have any insight as to why I would get a good credit rating but be turned down for credit gas? Pretty much everyone I know has credit utilities so it’s not like they are that fussy usually. I’ve bought stuff on credit in the past and never failed to pay, very much in credit in my bank accounts. I’ve never had a credit card and this is the first time I’m the sole occupant and the utility bills are in my name, if that makes any difference. Experian say the decision is made by the lender so what the hell is the criteria to get utilities on credit? Are they fobbing me off because it’s in BG’s interest to keep people on pre-payment if they are already on it because the tariffs earn them more money?

What are my options now? I signed up to a contract with British Gas and am outside the cooling off period- can I still switch providers? Am I likely to get more luck with the credit check with another provider?

Frankly I’m really sick of BG’s poor service and just want to be rid of them whatever it takes!

Many thanks in advance!