Cancelling D.D Payments with British Gas?

jazzy

I am having problems with the billing from British Gas, they seem to be increasing payments for no apparent reason. Currently, I am on Direct Debit monthly payments on the SVT rate.

I was hoping to do my payments through my smart meter and have my monthly direct debit billed through the monthly smart meter readings. However, British Gas do no offer this service.

I am now considering cancelling my Direct Debit payments with British Gas and pay monthly instead and providing regular meter readings on my online account. Any idea of the rates and standing charges for electric and gas for SVT non direct debit payments with British Gas?

Astria

Goto https://www.britishgas.co.uk/GetAQuote/tariff-information

Enter your post code and your available tariffs will be displayed, including the SVT.

Expect to pay between £60 - £70 a year more.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you can go onto variable DD at same rates as monthly DD, provide readings monthly and pay for what you use, bills will be higher in winter with heating, so be prepared.

pochase

What do you mean with direct debit monthly payments? I assume the fixed direct debit?

You are aware of the upcoming increases and the April 2022 increase. Very likely they are trying to adjust the direct debit so you will be in credit before the big bills in winter.

Not paying by direct debit is in average 7% more expensive than using the direct debit discount. It is the most expensive way of paying.

But you got a wrong information. BG offers the variable direct debit with monthly bills

With a variable Direct Debit, you can choose to pay a varying amount every month or every quarter, depending on the energy you use. You’ll pay for the energy you use, as you use it – like a phone bill. That means you may pay more in the winter and less in the summer. And we’ll send you a bill 14 days before we make the request to your bank to pay for your energy use. 

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/bills-and-payments/setting-up-a-direct-debit

Very likely you will need to call them/chat with them and insist on taking this. Seems a few people had problems with incompetent agents who told them the service is not offered..

jrawle

This is the second thread started by the OP on this. The first was here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377831/british-gas-pay-monthly-on-smart-meter-readings

It may be the case that BG won't use smart meter readings to produce bills for variable direct debit, but they should still allow manual meter readings. They certainly offer variable direct debit as that's how I pay!

jazzy

Just been speaking to British Gas online chat and they have confirmed that variable direct debits are now not available


.

jrawle

When did you join British Gas? I was moved to British Gas in November and signed up for variable direct debit in mid-December. If you have been with BG for longer than that, did they tell you that they were moving you to a new billing system at any point? Were you ever part of "British Gas Evolve"?

jazzy

December 2021

pochase

Maybe they need to update their FAQs than. 

Did you give them the link where it is listed as a payment option?