British Gas doubled direct debit!

Robin9

All electric -  is that storage heaters, panel heaters, underfloor ?????????????   What is that consumption please / 

Where are you getting that credit info from ?   The online info can be misleading -  it will show the DD's made but not the cost of energy used. 

witchwood

Reed_Richards said:

How do you heat your home; is it just with the log burner?

You should be able to claim back some of your credit if it is more than your monthly direct debit.  Given your actual usage and the amount of the DD that should happen very quickly. That action might alert BG to the fact that they are overcharging you.    

Yes. Just with log burner. No other heating available! Credit is always showing at around £600 but not eligible for refund as it will be used against future usage apparently. They have now put us on to a variable dd, so hopefully we will only pay what we use and not what they think we will use. 

markin

'Computer says no' The people on the phone often just do what the system tells them to say. But it would be very simple to give us a bill reading and today's reading so we are sure of the actual usage, and what your DD should be.

witchwood

Robin9 said:

All electric -  is that storage heaters, panel heaters, underfloor ?????????????   What is that consumption please / 

Where are you getting that credit info from ?   The online info can be misleading -  it will show the DD's made but not the cost of energy used. 

As said in  my original post we don't have any heating other than a log burner. Only basic household appliances... No tumble drier, dishwasher microwave etc. Not even a toaster! I am getting info from my online account and what my smart meter says. All corresponds to bills etc. We were paying 199 a month dd, which covered it all and our credit in the account has always stayed around 600. How they can justify putting it up so much, even with the rises is beyond me. 

Robin9

@witchwood - it really would be helpful if you could give us that basic info info of meter reads please.

That DD of £199 is suggesting that you are a heavy electric user -  but without that basic info its difficult for the forum to help.

pochase

£199 for electricity only is not the described low usage, especially if it was at old SVT rates. That is in the region of 800Kwh per month.

From your description of 3 hours immersion heater per day that is already 270KWh every month. 

That still leaves 500KWh, that is what I use in a high usage household, with dozens of gadgets, and several fridge/freezers and freezers.

QrizB

witchwood said:

They have now put us on to a variable dd, so hopefully we will only pay what we use and not what they think we will use.

Hopefully your first 2 or 3 months will br a nil DD as it'll be pasid from your credit. Just keep an eye on things and make sure it's all working as intended.

Alnat1

Slightly off topic but to help cut your costs, do you actually use all the hot water you heat? 3 hours is quite a long time.

You don't say how many live there so might be different to us, but we only heat water for 40 minutes, plenty for a couple of showers, hubby's shave and some left for cleaning etc. We manually put it on for 15 minutes if either of us wants a bath. You could try cutting the time down bit by bit to see if you can manage with less as this sounds as if it could be a big part of your bill.

witchwood

pochase said:

£199 for electricity only is not the described low usage, especially if it was at old SVT rates. That is in the region of 800Kwh per month.

From your description of 3 hours immersion heater per day that is already 270KWh every month. 

That still leaves 500KWh, that is what I use in a high usage household, with dozens of gadgets, and several fridge/freezers and freezers.

I know! That is what is so confusing about it all. We have recently adjusted the immersion to 3 hours a day... during a powercut earlier in year it knocked the timer out and was on constantly... No heating, I fridge/freezer and 1 chest freezer ( all new and efficient) and other basic appliances. Not multiple gadgets etc! Monthly kwh range from 480 ( June) which I think is about right to over 900 in January. Yes the lights are on more but thats it really. Just spoken to someone and they are going to check smart meter etc. 

witchwood

QrizB said:

witchwood said:

They have now put us on to a variable dd, so hopefully we will only pay what we use and not what they think we will use.

Hopefully your first 2 or 3 months will br a nil DD as it'll be pasid from your credit. Just keep an eye on things and make sure it's all working as intended.

They have said we will pay nothing til December when they do a new bill... so only 2 DD a year?