Unexpected Enormous Electricity Bill - British Gas

markin

The big mistake was not picking up the bill said estimate and not 'Smart', Or 'Are read'

Ofgem have also told them all not to hold large customer credits anymore, So most companies have taken that too far, giving big refunds or lowering DD's extremely low, leaving some customers confused and then in debt. The most you will get from the complaint is £100-200 but more likely ;£60.


I'm going to guess you didn't have a fix?

Swipe

I even check that the smart readings on my bill are in line with my meter. These days, trust no one.

BellaBlondykeTheThird

Sadly this could end up being another "lessons" learnt type post and a warning for others.

Hopefully the estimates are wildly out in the OP's favour when they get home and have a chance to read their meter and the estimated given.

I do wish they would teach some basic household management at school.

twopenny

Apart from reading the meter, check your direct debits going out to the company.
And get all the information down on paper (or document)
Dates, when you moved in, when amounts paid and amount. 
Also mark which were estimates.
Reading on the meter now.

It's a grim job but doable in one go. 

I've had two run ins with BG who insisted I hadn't paid. Once was their fault and one the banks but it was an unpleasant fight each time as it came down to me to prove it. They wouldn't listen to me or speak to the bank.
Just had a run in with broadband that sent a letter last year saying 'no need to contact them, my contract would continue at the same price.' - it didn't and I didn't check. 


As someone said, trust no one. 

And there's always an estimate that's lower than usage before a price rise. It's been the same for decades. I look out for it now.

Qyburn

BellaBlondykeTheThird said:

Hopefully the estimates are wildly out in the OP's favour when they get home and have a chance to read their meter and the estimated given.

In the first post the OP stated that this large bill came immediately after the new smart meter was fitted. As such that means (a) the bill was probably based on the old meter's reading at that time rather than an estimate.

And unfortunately (b) the OP probably can't confirm that reading for themselves, but can only read usage since the meter change. Unless the OP happened to have photographed the old meter immediately before. 

MultiFuelBurner

Qyburn said:

BellaBlondykeTheThird said:

Hopefully the estimates are wildly out in the OP's favour when they get home and have a chance to read their meter and the estimated given.

In the first post the OP stated that this large bill came immediately after the new smart meter was fitted. As such that means (a) the bill was probably based on the old meter's reading at that time rather than an estimate.

And unfortunately (b) the OP probably can't confirm that reading for themselves, but can only read usage since the meter change. Unless the OP happened to have photographed the old meter immediately before. 

Most if not all leave a sticker with the old meter reading on it.

Perhaps the OP can confirm?

QrizB

MultiFuelBurner said:

Most if not all leave a sticker with the old meter reading on it.
Perhaps the OP can confirm?

We did point them in that direction back on page 1. If they can share their moving-in-day readings and those from the sticker, we might be able to help them double-check their bill.

MultiFuelBurner

QrizB said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

Most if not all leave a sticker with the old meter reading on it.
Perhaps the OP can confirm?

We did point them in that direction back on page 1. If they can share their -in-day readings and those from the sticker, we might be able to help them double-check their bill.

Yeah but that involves some two way interaction and a bit of nudging 😂

MWT

markin said:

Ofgem have also told them all not to hold large customer credits anymore, So most companies have taken that too far, giving big refunds or lowering DD's extremely low, leaving some customers confused and then in debt

... and always remember that even if they do give a 'big refund', they are entitled to reclaim it later and use it to cover actual use if it is later found that the estimated bills were too low...

Robin9

@AmyK  I do have the habit of reading my meters - even with practise I get the readings wrong -  I read the same meter wrong twice. And as QrizB has kindly quoted me "never pay on a estimated bill".  That involves some effort in responding to emails and looking at the suppliers online bills.

Once the present problem has been resolved do get into the habit of reading the meters every month - watch out for any decimal point -  keep your own records, use a spreadsheet and do rough sums - read and understand those bills. Be very wary if you are apparently in credit - some suppliers show as a credit the balance from the last bill plus the DD's but does not include the cost of energy until a new bill is produced !