British Gas new Direct Debit system

helplessone

Hi at the start of the energy crisis British Gas recommended i upped my direct debit from £190 to £302 per month, yesterday received email on there new direct debit system my payment is now £126 per month, on going on their website to check my payments i see they took the £302 payment this month but now i`am showing £914 in credit should i claim a refund ?

Jyana

It's difficult to tell with so little info I am afraid. Can you give us two - accurate, not estimated - meter readings from 12 months apart, and confirm your tariff details. Then the more knowledgeable people on here can see what is what.

ariarnia

i agree with jyana. your new dd might be worked out based on the amount of credit you have. so if you get a refund of the credit then your dd might have to go up if that makes sense? 

if you can give us the meter readings then we can work out roughly how much energy you use in a year. that will give an idea of what your dd should be at if you had no credit and what your dd should be at with your current credit. then you can decide if you would want a refund now but to pay more each month or keep the credit and pay less each month. 

[Deleted User]

Hi,

be nice to get a refund just now, heading up to Christmas, but as said, your DD will be bumped up, your choice.

helplessone

This a copy of my last bill THANKS

Brie

Problem is there's nothing on there about what you use is like in the winter when you've likely to use a lot more.  

That said - I'd be asking for a portion of that credit back at least.  I like my money in my account not theirs.

ariarnia

i don't know what your rates are at the moment (are you on a fix at those prices or the cap?)

but assuming your are on the cap and assuming your use will stay about the same as it was for the 6 months march to september (during the summer). according to your bill you used about 4848 kwh of gas and 2086 of electric. 

at current cap prices thats about £500 for gas at 10p and £709 for electric at 34p plus about £137 for the standing charge. so about £1346 for the 6 months which is about £224 a month if you had no credit. 

but i'm guessing you will use more energy over winter when you are heating your house. so can you tell us how you used on the previous bill for the 6 months between september and march (during the winter)?

then we can work out your full 12 months usage and try to give a forecast (as much as we can given no one knows what the price will be from april)