British Gas haven't taken direct debit for 18 months

thrifty247

I set up  DD with British Gas I think back in early 2019, I have a specific bank account just for all of my direct debits, I transfer money in each month and let it roll on, I don't really examine it so I didn't realise that British gas have not taken any direct debits, so now I have a larger balance with them than when I set it up, I have had no letters from them but I did find hundreds of emails from them in my spam folder, all the same, basically saying there is a technical error on their side, they couldnt take the DD but all sorted now and they will retry, these are all automated emails by the look of them - I now have quite a big balance with them and when I checked my credit file it is on there - no  missed payments but a growing balance. I haven.t called them yet, I am going to ring them tomorrow. I am not happy at all, I thought it was being paid just ticking along.
This only came to light because I received an email from them the other day that didn't go into spam, saying I have cancelled the DD and I need to contact them.
Has anyone ever herd of this happening before?

Neil_Jones

Direct Debits expire if they don't pay out after 13 months.

You would do best to contact them because you've used the energy, but haven't yet paid for it.

All very well your being "not happy at all", but as its took you 18 months to notice, that's your fault to an extent, you should have paid closer attention to the bank statements and the emails.

greyteam1959

I would notice immediately if any of my DD were not paid out on the due date.
I also check my spam / junk mail folder every day.
No sympathy from me I am afraid.

thrifty247

I don't dispute that I have used the energy, but tis situation is not my fault, they have not sent me any communications by mail, only robotic emails - why have they not noticed that payments have not been received? I never check my spam folder, I don't know anyone who does. I will ring them tomorrow as been in the chat Q for ages now

JGB1955

thrifty247 said:

why have they not noticed that payments have not been received? 

It's  a 2 way thing....why have you not noticed that payments have not been sent?

Neil_Jones

thrifty247 said:

I don't dispute that I have used the energy, but tis situation is not my fault, they have not sent me any communications by mail, only robotic emails - why have they not noticed that payments have not been received? I never check my spam folder, I don't know anyone who does. I will ring them tomorrow as been in the chat Q for ages now

Genuine emails get flagged as spam on occasion.  That's how most energy companies communicate with the customers now.  Letters are effectively old hat communication wise now, unless there is a need to highlight to your attention something really really important.

As for checking spam folders... if you'd spotted the issue in the first place you would have highlighted it as not spam and future ones would have gone to the right place

And they probably have noticed, that's probably what the emails were about.

thrifty247

greyteam1959 said:

I would notice immediately if any of my DD were not paid out on the due date.
I also check my spam / junk mail folder every day.
No sympathy from me I am afraid.

Well I have better things to do with my time

greyteam1959

thrifty247 said:

greyteam1959 said:

I would notice immediately if any of my DD were not paid out on the due date.
I also check my spam / junk mail folder every day.
No sympathy from me I am afraid.

Well I have better things to do with my time

Haha

Like trying to sort this mess you have landed yourself in ??
For a split second & a click of a mouse on your spam folder ??
Come on........

[Deleted User]

thrifty247 said:

I never check my spam folder, I don't know anyone who does. 

I can't imagine anyone reaching adulthood and not checking their spam folders, unless all their correspondence is handled by their parents.

[Deleted User]

thrifty247 said:

I dont check my spam folder - I am not that sad, 

Yet you're sad enough to not be able to find thirty seconds every few weeks in their packed schedules to check through your emails. How on earth will you find the time to call them?

I don't know anyone sad enough to have to phone their utility provider to sort out payment in this day and age.

thrifty247

Deleted_User said:

I can't imagine anything sadder than someone not being able to find thirty seconds every few weeks in their busy schedules to check through their emails.

You really cant imagine anything sadder? what a sheltered life you live - enjoy your spam folder