Help, British Gas are robbing me

metsx5

British Gas have been over charging me for years and although I’ve been through the ombudsman they have for some reason let them get away with it. I’m lost and can’t afford it at all and can’t bare the injustice of how they can do this to me. The meter reading and the charges do not correlate at all, they are charging him three times more than I’m using. I also have solar panels and their is just me and my daughter and they charge £126 a month dd. They have also said I’m in arrears! I just paid for the second time 1,590 off for no good reason and no debt incurred. They told ombudsman it were bounced dd but I could prove they were wrong, some were late but still paid in full. It’s making me really ill the stress of not being listened to and being unable to afford basic living on my basic benefit. 

[Deleted User]

Sorry but your post isn’t very clear. Might I suggest that you make an appointment with a Citizens Advice Energy Advisor. CA will be able to review your old bills etc and they can advise how best to take things forward.

niktheguru

Agree with Dolor on this one.
You have a very longstanding issue, you've already been to the ombudsman who seem to have sided with british gas.
You need to get ALL the british gas bills together, get ALL the payments you've made british gas through bank statements, and you need to check all your documented actual meter readings (not estimates) then take them to citizens advice bureau or someone knowledgeable to go through this with you to get all the facts.
You should also check your electricity and gas usage. Do you have any high use or faulty devices in your home. Are you using immersion heaters, are they always turned on etc etc?
There is just not enough information in your first post for anyone here to help you.

rebel_2

Before you go to the 'Citizens Advice Energy Advisor', send British Gas a Subject Access Request, they will provide data on your account for a minimum of 6 years (might be more). The key here is getting details (final readings) regarding the meter exchange.  https://www.britishgas.co.uk/privacy-policy.html
Template - https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/preparing-and-submitting-your-subject-access-request/
Email it to - privacy@centrica.com

Tallerdave

British Gas are probably "robbing" most of their customers, simply by charging more than other (separate) suppliers do. I'm sure their business model relies on vast numbers of elderly customers who've been with them for life and are afraid to switch. 

Hasbeen

All energy companies "rob" their customers. But they call it a profit. The ones that don't go bust.

As for the elderly scenario it is also the younger generation who have no clue re switching and appear to stay with whatever supplier is supplying them at the beginning.

As long as the estimated bills come in are paid. Some  that have posted on here do not even know where their meters are let alone know how to read them. And even get confused between smart meters and IHD?

But without them all the forum would not exist LOL.

niktheguru

and as usual the original poster has vanished!

tacpot12

Switching suppliers would seem to the be obvious answer here. 

Hasbeen

tacpot12 said:

Switching suppliers would seem to the be obvious answer here. 

The OP has allowed themselves to get into debt so switching might not be applicable at this stage.

I think the op only came on here for a rant. As no questions or advice was asked for? And they have not responded to anyone.

They have already went down the ombudsman route. The outcome they did not understand?

"The meter reading and the charges do not correlate at all, they are charging him three times more than I’m using." 

 They have obviously been checking readings against bills, do not understand charging him part? But assume it is a large debt repayment being incorporated into bill as well? Which might confuse the OP regarding payments / readings

If OP ever comes back perhaps posting complete bill with personal details redacted, might help decipher what is happening?