British Gas questions: do they sent monthly meter reading requests?

BlondeHeadOn

I am a reluctant new British Gas customer, after People's Energy collapsed.  My account was taken over by BG on 19th October, when I provided a starting meter reading.  I don't have a smart meter.  

I have been expecting an email request from BG for a monthly meter reading, as I used to get from People's Energy.  All I've had so far  is a suggestion to set up a direct debit with British Gas, which I don't want to do yet.  I would like to pay for my energy every month for now, not least because I plan to move from BG as fast as possible (been a customer in the past, and they were a nightmare so don't want to stay with them any longer than I have to!)  I also have a credit balance from PE to be transferred over (no news on that yet).  

Should I just supply meter readings myself for the first month, and pay the resulting bill?  British Gas website 'Help' is not much use on this question!  

Are there any British Gas customers on MSE not paying by DD, and how does it work?

Thanks for any help!!!

emmajones1976

You will pay a higher unit rate/standing charge if you dont put it on a direct debit, btw.

wild666

Just send them regular meter readings either monthly, 30/31 days or weekly. Because they put a smart meter in for me in July 2015 there was no need to send in readings but when I left them in December 2018 my meter went dumb. I have only just got back daily readings after my switch after Avro went under and I requested readings in 30 minute segments. It seems that Octopus can read SMETS 1 meters.

BlondeHeadOn

emmajones1976 said:

You will pay a higher unit rate/standing charge if you dont put it on a direct debit, btw.

Thanks - do you know how much extra this is?  I can't find any useful information on the BG website at all on this.

emmajones1976

BlondeHeadOn said:

emmajones1976 said:

You will pay a higher unit rate/standing charge if you dont put it on a direct debit, btw.

Thanks - do you know how much extra this is?  I can't find any useful information on the BG website at all on this.

Not sure as I sorted mine with Eon NExt last week (after being sent there after Symbio going under) - from memory the standing charge was 16% less and the unit price 5% less for electric. Or maybe it was the other way round. Still, you get the idea.

dbks

BlondeHeadOn said:

I am a reluctant new British Gas customer, after People's Energy collapsed.  My account was taken over by BG on 19th October, when I provided a starting meter reading.  I don't have a smart meter.  

I have been expecting an email request from BG for a monthly meter reading, as I used to get from People's Energy.  All I've had so far  is a suggestion to set up a direct debit with British Gas, which I don't want to do yet.  I would like to pay for my energy every month for now, not least because I plan to move from BG as fast as possible (been a customer in the past, and they were a nightmare so don't want to stay with them any longer than I have to!)  I also have a credit balance from PE to be transferred over (no news on that yet).  

Should I just supply meter readings myself for the first month, and pay the resulting bill?  British Gas website 'Help' is not much use on this question!  

Are there any British Gas customers on MSE not paying by DD, and how does it work?

Thanks for any help!!!

If you are not paying by DD, then I think they bill quarterly.
They do send you an email requesting a meter read.
Once the bill is issued, you can pay it.

Surely better to keep the money in your bank account than give it to BG before you need to? (unless you move to payment by DD, which as already mentioned, will give you a lower priced tariff)

BlondeHeadOn

dbks said:

Surely better to keep the money in your bank account than give it to BG before you need to? (unless you move to payment by DD, which as already mentioned, will give you a lower priced tariff)

This is my view too. 
Also when I was with BG in the past it took me 5 months to get them to refund over £500 credit balance in my (DD) account, which I eventually had to take to the Ombudsman.  It was then all sorted out and I got my money back - but to say that I now don't trust British Gas much is an understatement!  

gt94sss2

When we were last with British Gas, they issued bills every 6 months.

I would just submit meter readings whenever you want even if not asked too.

Personally, we paid by direct debit to secure the cheaper rates.

dbks

gt94sss2 said:

When we were last with British Gas, they issued bills every 6 months.

....

Personally, we paid by direct debit to secure the cheaper rates.

I understood the OP is not currently paying by DD

gt94sss2 said:

I would just submit meter readings whenever you want even if not asked too.

Easier said than done if you can't do that online.
BG admit only 1.5million customers can access their online account.
BG have about 7m domestic customers in total

dbks

BlondeHeadOn said:

dbks said:

Surely better to keep the money in your bank account than give it to BG before you need to? (unless you move to payment by DD, which as already mentioned, will give you a lower priced tariff)

This is my view too. 
Also when I was with BG in the past it took me 5 months to get them to refund over £500 credit balance in my (DD) account, which I eventually had to take to the Ombudsman.  It was then all sorted out and I got my money back - but to say that I now don't trust British Gas much is an understatement!  

The other big issue is that you cannot contact BG except through their online account (see above), their webchat (also not working for many, and even then, it seems their chat operators perhaps are not to be trusted), or by snail mail.

No email, no phone contact.

If the BG website/online account does not work for you, you are more or less snookered.

Which is odd, because I don't hear of any issues with people using the BG Evolve online.

But you can't switch to BG Evolve from BG (at least not on any sensible tariff, such as tariffs offered to customers of other suppliers)

BlondeHeadOn

Many thanks for all the replies.  I have to say that the British Gas website is pretty pants, but I have managed to create an account so I can submit readings etc. 

I think I will submit readings to see what the charges look like for a month, and then wait for them to bill me - quarterly is fine by me if that's what they do.  I am definitely wary about setting up another DD with BG, having had so much trouble with them last time.  

I am going to really miss the Peoples Energy online offering, that was so straightforward!