Alternative fuel payment British Gas

ceh209

2 minutes on live chat tonight, the agent confirmed my account was eligible for the £200 and would send it to my bank account straight away (fingers crossed that actually happens!). Even though I couldn't see it on my online account - he said I wouldn't see it there. Odd we're being told different things but hopefully everyone will get it sorted out one way or another

Spoonie_Turtle

The_Unready said:

dunstonh said:

The_Unready said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

The_Unready said:

Hi

I'm with BG and my address is on the 'off-gas' s/s, but I've neither had an email or seen a credit to my account as of this morning.

Is anyone else in the same position?

The next criterion for the automatic payment is that your area predominantly uses something other than electric for main heating.  If you use an alternative fuel and don't get it automatically, you'll have to apply next month via gov.uk

Thanks for the info - I use oil, but I presume that I'm in a minority in my postcode.

If you are a minority in your postcode then your postcode wouldn't appear in the list.  To be on the postcode list, every property in that postcode needs to be off the gas grid.  If there is even just one property on the gas grid, the postcode isnt in the list.

Ok - thanks.

That's strange, then, as my postcode is definitely on the 'no gas' spreadsheet. That is likely to be correct as to my almost certain knowledge none of my 'neighbours' have mains gas.

However, when I searched for my postcode on the link to the census data that has been posted on a similar thread the extent of the postcode on the accompanying map was much larger than my 'actual' postcode and contained a number of houses on a nearby street that does have mains gas connectivity.

I think the census data made reference to an 'OA' that is apparently the smallest 'unit' that could be shown, so I suppose it will come down to whether BG are using the spreadsheet, the census data or a combination of the two (or something else).

I'll wait until the end of the month and see whether the AFP materialises in my account.

Thanks to all for the help.

As far as I understand, it's the combination of the two: postcodes off gas (XoServe spreadsheet) which are in areas where the predominant form of heating is not electric (census data).  For you, it may come down to what the next most used form of heating is in your area - in our area apparently 30.6% have mains gas (I don't know who!) but the equal most common is oil (30.6%) and electric way down at 4.8%.

Incidentally it's BEIS, the government department that produced the list, not suppliers - they just pay who they're told to.


('OA' is 'output area' but I don't know how those are formed.  Coincidentally the one where I live follows the parish boundary but none of the others locally do that.)

[Should also clarify for accuracy that it's for meters determined to be domestic supply only, there's a different £150 alternative fuels payment for non-domestic meters about which I know absolutely nothing.] 

kassy64

British Gas have refused to pass on the full £200 AFP to me even though my a/c is currently in credit. They have agreed to refund £137 to my bank ac as they expect my account to be in arrears later in the year. This was via Messenger chat. Poor from BG in my opinion the AFP is for customers to use on their alternative fuel for me LPG, it’s not their money to be retaining in my opinion, just a channel
for the funds to reach the customer. 

sgun

kassy64 said:

British Gas have refused to pass on the full £200 AFP to me even though my a/c is currently in credit. They have agreed to refund £137 to my bank ac as they expect my account to be in arrears later in the year. This was via Messenger chat. Poor from BG in my opinion the AFP is for customers to use on their alternative fuel for me LPG, it’s not their money to be retaining in my opinion, just a channel
for the funds to reach the customer. 

Put in a complaint. It's not their money, particularly if you are in credit. They've suggested I could reduce my d/d to £55 a month from £85 as I'm so much in credit with the extra AFP. No chance, I'll have my money thanks! 

kassy64

sgun said:

kassy64 said:

British Gas have refused to pass on the full £200 AFP to me even though my a/c is currently in credit. They have agreed to refund £137 to my bank ac as they expect my account to be in arrears later in the year. This was via Messenger chat. Poor from BG in my opinion the AFP is for customers to use on their alternative fuel for me LPG, it’s not their money to be retaining in my opinion, just a channel
for the funds to reach the customer. 

Put in a complaint. It's not their money, particularly if you are in credit. They've suggested I could reduce my d/d to £55 a month from £85 as I'm so much in credit with the extra AFP. No chance, I'll have my money thanks! 

I might well do just that sgun. Doesn’t really matter either way to
me but it’s the principle that has got my back up more than anything else. However, probably fighting a losing battle as I understand it the energy companies ARE entitled to not pass on the funds if the account is in arrears. BG seem to have got round this by saying they anticipate my ac to be in debit later in the year so are within their rights to hold the funds in the electric account. Not happy particularly with all the negative press they have had recently. 

thrope

I pay by variable direct debit. Received the £200 credit. On phone to british gas and they are refusing to refund any credit. They say it is a contribution to the bills and they are not authorized to refund it. Any advice on what to do?

I guess a complaint to OFGEM is in order.

Kennyn1980

I've spoken to British Gas as well, as with the alternative fuel payment my account is now £1050 in credit. They have refused to refund any of my credit, and the best they can offer is lowering my £130 per month DD by £33. 

hazeofvenuss

I have had the same issue with EDF & I have put in a formal complaint today.

I am a variable DD customer, in credit & paid my last bill on 18.01.23. Despite this EDF would not release my AFP.

I went through the Government guidelines & it looks like there is a loophole whereby the supplier can choose to release it or not, despite the AFP being for alternative fuel.

I don't think the customer has to be in debit or arrears, either for this to happen.  As long as the credit shows somewhere on the customer account they seem to be covered. What I don't know is if the guidelines created this ambiguity deliberately. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1130933/domestic-alternative-fuel-payment-scheme-suppliers-guidance.pdf

The other advice I've been given my Winter Warmth Team conflicts with this, so I will see what EDF say. 

I don't agree with suppliers using this to store credit towards customers' electricity usage when its specifically for alternative fuel. 

D4rkS4v4nt

ceh209 said:

2 minutes on live chat tonight, the agent confirmed my account was eligible for the £200 and would send it to my bank account straight away (fingers crossed that actually happens!). Even though I couldn't see it on my online account - he said I wouldn't see it there. Odd we're being told different things but hopefully everyone will get it sorted out one way or another

Nothing showing in my online electricity account with British Gas. Just been on live chat with an agent who pointed me to the .gov website telling me to apply for the AFP there and that I wouldn't receive anything from British Gas...

I smell scam, how are these companies continually allowed to get away with ripping off their customers year after year!

Officially they have one day left to make the payment so I will make a complaint later in the week if I've still not heard anything.

Anyone from MSE picking up the stories around the AFP? it seems that some of these companies are using it as another means to make huge profits by holding on to money they have been given by the Government which is supposed to be paid out to customers!

kassy64

D4rkS4v4nt said:

ceh209 said:

2 minutes on live chat tonight, the agent confirmed my account was eligible for the £200 and would send it to my bank account straight away (fingers crossed that actually happens!). Even though I couldn't see it on my online account - he said I wouldn't see it there. Odd we're being told different things but hopefully everyone will get it sorted out one way or another

Nothing showing in my online electricity account with British Gas. Just been on live chat with an agent who pointed me to the .gov website telling me to apply for the AFP there and that I wouldn't receive anything from British Gas...

I smell scam, how are these companies continually allowed to get away with ripping off their customers year after year!

Officially they have one day left to make the payment so I will make a complaint later in the week if I've still not heard anything.

Anyone from MSE picking up the stories around the AFP? it seems that some of these companies are using it as another means to make huge profits by holding on to money they have been given by the Government which is supposed to be paid out to customers!

I was 'allowed' to transfer £137 across to my bank account after the AFP was credited into my BG electricity account. The £200 AFP put me some £275 in credit but BG were adamant I could not have the full £200 sent to my bank account. It appears they are permitted to get away with this policy, I was only given the £137 after threatening to make complaints etc. I'm not desperate for the money but the principal of the situation and being walked all over by BG really does get my back up. I can sort of understand them holding on to funds of customers who owe them money, but in my opinion they have no right to withhold funds from me. Rant over