British Gas underbilling

[Deleted User]

Consider the "incorrect gas meter units" that we often see. 

If it's been assumed you were imperial, but were actually metric, you would have been overcharged.  Everyone agrees that you should be refunded.

If it's been assumed you were metric, but were actually imperial, you would have been undercharged.  And people are arguing that it should just be "oops, never mind, you can have all that for free"?

Seems some people's principle is mistake that benefits the customer - business pays, and mistake that benefits the business - business still pays.

sheramber

YorkieDave said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

£7000 since the beginning of the year is a massive £700 a month.

What are your actual meter readings for that period, no estimates, please.

I don't have the start of year reading. But it is correct. I guess I should have set money aside for it. It is a large amount per month and includes charging 2 cars. 

That would have been the sensible thing to do since you must have known your bills were a lot less than previously for the same use, particularly with the increase in price there has been this year.

YorkieDave

[Deleted User] said:

Consider the "incorrect gas meter units" that we often see. 

If it's been assumed you were imperial, but were actually metric, you would have been overcharged.  Everyone agrees that you should be refunded.

If it's been assumed you were metric, but were actually imperial, you would have been undercharged.  And people are arguing that it should just be "oops, never mind, you can have all that for free"?

Seems some people's principle is mistake that benefits the customer - business pays, and mistake that benefits the business - business still pays.

I think the assumption is that the experts should know better and can better foot the bill of their incompetence. And I think that would be right. Looks like we're not going to agree on this one. 

YorkieDave

sheramber said:

YorkieDave said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

£7000 since the beginning of the year is a massive £700 a month.

What are your actual meter readings for that period, no estimates, please.

I don't have the start of year reading. But it is correct. I guess I should have set money aside for it. It is a large amount per month and includes charging 2 cars. 

That would have been the sensible thing to do since you must have known your bills were a lot less than previously for the same use, particularly with the increase in price there has been this year.

I did until I put in the complaint, and they concluded I was wrong. Then I spent it.  

[Deleted User]

YorkieDave said:

Deleted_User said:

Consider the "incorrect gas meter units" that we often see. 

If it's been assumed you were imperial, but were actually metric, you would have been overcharged.  Everyone agrees that you should be refunded.

If it's been assumed you were metric, but were actually imperial, you would have been undercharged.  And people are arguing that it should just be "oops, never mind, you can have all that for free"?

Seems some people's principle is mistake that benefits the customer - business pays, and mistake that benefits the business - business still pays.

I think the assumption is that the experts should know better and can better foot the bill of their incompetence. And I think that would be right. Looks like we're not going to agree on this one. 

There was an error in the billing that meant you were not paying enough.

You knew about this error but chose to spend the money anyway.

You told them to correct the error.

They corrected the error and are now billing you the right amount.

You don't think you should pay because?  It took them too long to fix it, which they did inside the time frame allowed by legislation?

Yeah, we won't agree on this one.

QrizB

YorkieDave said:

Meter readings are: 
Opening on 07/12/21 93630
Reading on 17/11/22 114516
20886kWh over that time

Even with two electric cars, that's a lot of electricity.

How do you heat your house?

Could we have that photo of your meter, please?

rothesy

Not much tea & sympathy around these parts......

tightauldgit

I don't think you could seriously argue that you shouldn't pay for the actual electricity that you have used but I do think some compo would be in order for the hassle and them being generous in terms of repayment arrangements. 

Eldi_Dos

rothesy said:

Not much tea & sympathy around these parts......

Was wondering if anyone else thinks that unit rates for electricity and gas should rise in bands with consumption, bit like income tax rates go up with earnings. We look to be facing a difficult couple of years and should all be trying to cut our consumption.

[Deleted User]

Eldi_Dos said:

rothesy said:

Not much tea & sympathy around these parts......

Was wondering if anyone else thinks that unit rates for electricity and gas should rise in bands with consumption, bit like income tax rates go up with earnings. We look to be facing a difficult couple of years and should all be trying to cut our consumption.

No, because increasing consumption only has a weak correlation with 'ability to pay'.

Tiered rates penalise the wrong people.