British Gas Electric Drivers Jan 2022 tariff

Beaglebrox

Very exasperated with British Gas. On 10 December 2020 I switched to their Electric Drivers tariff which has a peak and off peak rate. On the day of the switch (the 10th) they reconfigured my meter so that it can record two different rates, but in so doing they recorded two wildly different readings for that day. The discrepancy between the readings equates to £411.66! - for one day! I also feel that since the reconfiguration the meter is over reading. On receiving the first bill I spoke to four different customer service agents - including one from the 'Electric Drivers tariff team' - and none could explain my bill. I made a complaint and the complaint's agent, despite speaking to his managers and various others over the space of several days, could offer no explanation either. Has anyone else had problems with this tariff?

[Deleted User]

I cannot help with your meter problems but that is a very expensive EV tariff that you are on. 

Beaglebrox

I plan to switch but don't feel I can do that until I sort things out, otherwise they will make me pay money I don't feel I owe.

niktheguru

So where has the complaint left you. 
I assume you have a smart meter which has essentially been changed to an economy 7 type meter, or are they taking readings every 30mins?

Did you take a meter reading before it was "reconfigured", how are the readings changing with use during the day? How can they make u pay £411 worth of usage in one day?
You need to start taking reading every 24hrs and seeing how it increments. Then you can tell them what you actually use and therefore what you should be paying.

Beaglebrox

Thanks. They have had 7 days worth of daily reading from me but appear to be more confused than I am. I have opened a complaint with the regulator and they will look into it at eight weeks from my first contact with BG over this. On 9th Dec 2020 my reading was 09582. On 10th Dec, "reconfiguration day", they reckon it was 12490! - a jump of 2908! Considering usage for the previous 4 months was only 538 (no new appliances or usage patterns), they are SO wrong but seem unable to unravel it!

[Deleted User]

Beaglebrox said: I have opened a complaint with the regulator and they will look into it at eight weeks from my first contact with BG over this. 

Err no. Ofgem does not look at individual consumer complaints. You are dealing with Ombudsman Services, a private arbitration service, which has no statutory powers. Be very careful before you escalate a complaint: you need to ensure that you have all the evidence to support your case.