British Gas and excessive direct debit

Maincarer

Hi Everyone,

I apologise in advance if this topic has come up before.  I was transferred from People's Energy and after a shaky start had got DD set up for duel fuel at £287 per month.  I am currently £1300 in credit.  British Gas say that I will be in debit during the winter but I have not agreed to increase the amount.  My son who lives with me is getting the £650( He is severely disabled and unable to work.) and we have had the £150 credit via our Council Tax.  We will also get the £400 along with everyone else.

This morning I have discovered British Gas has taken £476 from my bank account leaving me overdrawn.  I will now have to pay fees and charges.  I tried ringing them first thing and was told there is a six and a half hour wait to be connected.

What are my rights and how quickly can British Gas reimburse me?

Thank you for reading.

brewerdave

Did they give you advance notice of the increased DD ?If not ,you can claim it back via your bank under the DD guarantee.

The_Unready

Would a request for redress under the Direct Debit guarantee be the first port of call ( on the assumption that BG have taken more than they said they would)?

Troytempest

£1300 in credit and DD of £487 - as above ring bank and get DD reversed and then formal complaint to BG, unless you live in a 20 bedroom mansion?

Alnat1

You may even be able to reverse the DD through your online banking if you have that

TheMilkmansDad

Maincarer said:

Hi Everyone,

I apologise in advance if this topic has come up before.  I was transferred from People's Energy and after a shaky start had got DD set up for duel fuel at £287 per month.  I am currently £1300 in credit.  British Gas say that I will be in debit during the winter but I have not agreed to increase the amount.  My son who lives with me is getting the £650( He is severely disabled and unable to work.) and we have had the £150 credit via our Council Tax.  We will also get the £400 along with everyone else.

This morning I have discovered British Gas has taken £476 from my bank account leaving me overdrawn.  I will now have to pay fees and charges.  I tried ringing them first thing and was told there is a six and a half hour wait to be connected.

What are my rights and how quickly can British Gas reimburse me?

Thank you for reading.

How & when we're you told this? How did you respond and was that response acknowledged/discussed?

Alnat1

Energy companies usually tell you they WILL be increasing your DD either by a message on your bill or a separate communication (letter/email) they don't ask if you want to. You say you were notified your account would be in debit during winter so I assume at this point they told you the new DD amount.

Did you contact them when you received notification of the increase and dispute the amount?

Alnat1

Also, I think BG only bill every 6 months, are you £1300 in credit showing at the end of a bill or is that just the DD amounts you have paid and nothing has yet been taken off for energy used?

Maincarer

Hi,

I am £1300 in credit after first bill was paid.  I have set the amount via the app and when they have previously tried to increase it I stopped it. There is no reason to increase it.  They have never suggested the figure of £476 before. They will be crediting £400 plus the £625 from my son which means £2325 in credit on my account without the direct debit payments. We live in a small bungalow.  I will try my bank to get this £476 reversed.  When I looked at the BG app this morning it said there was a glitch so I don't know if others have been affected but BG service is appalling.

jbuchanangb

If you had not been previously advised that £476 would be debited, then definitely contact bank and claim under DD guarantee. The £650 payable to your son will not go direct to the energy company, your son has to make that payment if that is what you have agreed with him. First instalment of £324 should have been paid to him by now. The method of payment for the £400 (in 6 instalments from October) will be as a credit to your electricity account, but for monthly direct debit payments, there will be an equivalent reduction in the amount debited.

Mstty

Maincarer said:

Hi,

I am £1300 in credit after first bill was paid.  I have set the amount via the app and when they have previously tried to increase it I stopped it. There is no reason to increase it.  They have never suggested the figure of £476 before. They will be crediting £400 plus the £625 from my son which means £2325 in credit on my account without the direct debit payments. We live in a small bungalow.  I will try my bank to get this £476 reversed.  When I looked at the BG app this morning it said there was a glitch so I don't know if others have been affected but BG service is appalling.

Can you state the date you were £1300 in credit and does it say actual or estimate on the bill readings?

Check your emails and online account as BG will have had to give you notice of the amount they have taken.

Just a point of clarity the £400 will be paid direct to your electricity account in the form of 6 monthly payments from October.

The £625 your disabled son receives will be paid direct to your son so won't go straight to your energy supplier.