British Gas refuse to bill me monthly

Healthynotwealthy

…. It’s exactly that - so I can monitor usage really and act accordingly - I think I’m just shocked that they are unable to do that .. and actually ( for background) frustrated because I initially requested this back in October time and was told it was fine and I received a bill .
when the next bill didn’t arrive , I called again and they set it up again and I had bills in November / December / January and then they stopped again ….
called today to query why they had stopped again to be told that they couldn’t do it - hence my rant !!! 

I am over it now though - I will wait until July and then switch 
and I do think I’m more angry at the principle of it - I just think they should be working with their customers , particularly with costs as they are currently ….I just think they should have a social conscience 

[Deleted User]

Bills generate phone calls to the supplier so wherever possible they will send as few as possible, keeping the costs down.

One of my first jobs a couple of decades ago was in the call centre for British Gas, the amount of time wasted by people phoning up querying a bill that was 100% correct and required no intervention was ridiculous. 

Worst is the regular fixed monthly DD - half the year people phoning up demanding a refund because they were in credit but weren't due a refund but couldn't get their head around being in credit in advance of larger winter bills.

The other half of the year was spent dealing with customers moaning about a debit bill claiming they should have no "debt" because they pay a fixed monthly fee for all their energy.

And of course old 'Arthur' who would phone up every month to tell us which day he was going to the post office to pay the bill and why it would be Wednesday this month because 'Betty' has an appointment with the chiropodist on Tuesday. 

I'm not siding with the suppliers but honestly, if you spent a week in one of their call centres listening to nonsense from customers then you would probably understand why they send as few bills as possible and encourage you to do everything self-service online.

Healthynotwealthy

Hahaha… totally agree - would be my worst nightmare - however I am always ultra polite as I realise the amount of abuse they must get .
it doesn’t make it right though - I still wholeheartedly believe that asking for a monthly bill is not unreasonable .

Swipe

Why not just create a spreadsheet that works it out for you and take a meter reading on the last day of each month? 

[Deleted User]

If spreadsheets are not your thing, and you have an IOS device, then spend 99p on the excellent App ‘Meter Readings.’

Healthynotwealthy

@Dolor- will check it out . Thank you 

SAC2334

Healthynotwealthy said:

@frugalmacdugal … thanks so much - will give it a go …
and I’m definitely switching in July 😃

Do your best to get switched to Octopus.One of their main plus they advertise are  "transparent billing " something that Eon, EDF, Scot Power have never done ever since they moved into the UK. They like 6 month billing because its cheaper that way .

BG was always quartertly billing and they have recently succumbed to following the French German and Spanish ways of 6 monthly billing .
 Its hopeless for the type of people who are not too computer literate and they can get  way behind on bills  and end up getting force fitted prepay meters .

Octopus will generate a proper bill, the sort you used to get in the post , when you want one , not when they decide you get one .
Just send in a a couple of reads and two days later a proper bill is produced and it is deducted from whats in your credit .  Transparent billing ! it works great . 
Switch away from the old school big 5, the new boy is much better .

[Deleted User]

SAC2334 said:

Healthynotwealthy said:

@frugalmacdugal … thanks so much - will give it a go …
and I’m definitely switching in July 😃

Do your best to get switched to Octopus.One of their main plus they advertise are  "transparent billing " something that Eon, EDF, Scot Power have never done ever since they moved into the UK. They like 6 month billing because its cheaper that way .

BG was always quartertly billing and they have recently succumbed to following the French German and Spanish ways of 6 monthly billing .
 Its hopeless for the type of people who are not too computer literate and they can get  way behind on bills  and end up getting force fitted prepay meters .

Octopus will generate a proper bill, the sort you used to get in the post , when you want one , not when they decide you get one .
Just send in a a couple of reads and two days later a proper bill is produced and it is deducted from whats in your credit .  Transparent billing ! it works great . 
Switch away from the old school big 5, the new boy is much better .

Octopus billing has always been top notch for those on standard tariffs but less assured for those on time-of-use tariffs.

Given that E.oN Next is now using the same billing system as Octopus and EDF will start to move its customer base to Kraken from this summer onwards, I would hope that billing standards amongst some of the old school Big 5 has/will improve.

Qyburn

Remember you can switch without penalty up to 49 days before the end of your contract. But of course that might mean a price rise earlier than necessary.

Healthynotwealthy

@Qyburn... Thanks for that- That was going to be my next question to British Gas. My friend has a £50 credit referral code for Octopus, so I am going to switch to them as soon as I can .