British Gas won't allow bills to be paid other than online - made two complaints

400ixl

Either pay by variable direct debit or switch supplier to another which does easily allow what the neighbour needs.

GaleSF63

Well, I wish I was getting paper bills from British Gas as they seem utterly incapable of dealing with my online account. What's the difference between a customer number and an account number? They are swapping back and forth. Can't change my direct debit again - I don't have one apparently. 

ariarnia

Grandad2b said:

Bankrupts can't have bank accounts? Really?.

i think its complicated but if i understand right then theres a period of time between starting the process and having it all set up where any account you open can be frozen. and it depends on whats led up to the bankruptcy. I dont really know. i just know there are legitimate reasons why someone might not be able to open a bank account which is why the suppliers have to offer other payment methods like the post office. 

KxMx

I pay by quarterly bill, got paper bills in the post without asking for them. 
In fact I just recently had to specifically request to go paperless, which they set up for me via Live Chat. 

Grandad2b

ariarnia said:

Grandad2b said:

Bankrupts can't have bank accounts? Really?.

i think its complicated but if i understand right then theres a period of time between starting the process and having it all set up where any account you open can be frozen. and it depends on whats led up to the bankruptcy. I dont really know. i just know there are legitimate reasons why someone might not be able to open a bank account which is why the suppliers have to offer other payment methods like the post office. 

The important word there is "can". It's not that anyone declared bankrupt can't have a bank account, it's that there are circumstances where they can be denied one. Very different.

t0rt0ise

Nobody has considered that some people can't afford to buy a computer or smart phone. I'd suggest you try the Citizens Advice Bureau. They can contact suppliers directly and get some sense from them.

wild666

My mother was paying on receipt of bills until her death in 2019. She wouldn't have it any other way and BG did this even though her bills were slightly higher per kWh than mine.
If the person wants to pay on receipt of bill then they should be able to do so. If she complains through resolver and wins she could get compensation, which she could put towards the next bill.

Neil_Jones

t0rt0ise said:

Nobody has considered that some people can't afford to buy a computer or smart phone.

You don't need to buy anything.  If you can get to the post office you can probably get to the library and it'll almost certainly be free there.

diystarter7

Parsnip1 said:

I fully appreciate that many older people can and do many things online, and many are a lot more capable than I am.
But it is very difficult for people with mild dementia to learn something so completely new, and they are being prevented from doing what they have been able to do - and could continue to be able to do - independently. And sadly, in my community at least, that is a large proportion of people. 
I fully accept things have to change, but I just wish the pace slowed down a bit so that those who are unable to catch up have other alternatives.

Hello
Excellent post.
However, it is not only people with "mild.." it can be anyone, especially if their first languae is not English
I know of people, in partuclar ladies that came from overseas with hubby and were always housewives/mothers and never went to work. They can manage very well to communicate when shopping, gp's, taking grandkids to school and using a mobile to make and take calls but as they have never mastered English, they cant do it online. It was always their hubby workig, doing the bills often going down to the bank etc. Therefore there are many people even without a medical condition that still need paper
billing and now have the capacity to go to the bank but not online billing

I've used computers and the net since I think 95, poss early 95 judig by the car i had but I cna't use/trust apps. We are all different. (I have a few apps for Goolge home, Alex, and security but no banking/shopping apps etc.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

wild666 said:

My mother was paying on receipt of bills until her death in 2019. She wouldn't have it any other way and BG did this even though her bills were slightly higher per kWh than mine.
If the person wants to pay on receipt of bill then they should be able to do so. If she complains through resolver and wins she could get compensation, which she could put towards the next bill.

They can - or at least there has been no suggestion that they cannot.

Pay on receipt of bill doesn't mean "a paper bill will arrive in the post".  It would also include a pdf bill paid online with a debit card etc..