Gas Bill?

Andyfmcg

Hello all 
please can I have some help / advice. 

We recently had a letter from British Gas saying there was an issue or problem reading this smart meter and that they would send someone out to read the meter. I’ve now had a bill over £1400 and a demand saying that they’re going to start legal action is there anywhere from any standing where I have a genuine complaint here

la531983

Andyfmcg said:

Hello all 
please can I have some help / advice. 

We recently had a letter from British Gas saying there was an issue or problem reading this smart meter and that they would send someone out to read the meter. I’ve now had a bill over £1400 and a demand saying that they’re going to start legal action is there anywhere from any standing where I have a genuine complaint here

Are you disputing that you used the gas?  If they were billing you on estimated and now this bill has caught up with your actual usage, the bill is correct.

MeteredOut

If you've used the gas, you'll have to pay the bill. But, check into back-billing rules - you *may* be exempt for usage taking place over 12 months prior to the bill.

Andyfmcg

la531983 said:

Andyfmcg said:

Hello all 
please can I have some help / advice. 

We recently had a letter from British Gas saying there was an issue or problem reading this smart meter and that they would send someone out to read the meter. I’ve now had a bill over £1400 and a demand saying that they’re going to start legal action is there anywhere from any standing where I have a genuine complaint here

Are you disputing that you used the gas?  If they were billing you on estimated and now this bill has caught up with your actual usage, the bill is correct.

I’m disputing the fact that when we moved in they had the readings and we never received a bill. They then recently sent a letter mentioning an issue with the smart meter. Then the next week sent this demand. We have had no comms at all with this since we moved in. Electric and water ok. 

Robin9

Have you got access to your online account ?

Is the £1400 following the meter reader visit?

What readings did you give BG when you moved in (when was that) and what are they now ?   A few simple sums will give the cost -   deduct what DD's you have been paying to see what you owe.

Andyfmcg

No access to account and no DD set up
1400 followed the BG meter reading after the initial letter saying there was an issue with SM. 

Andyfmcg

Issue is they had the readings and did nothing until the letter recently and then this bill. 

TheElectricCow

Just for clarity, have you made any payment towards your gas usage since moving in and how long have you been in the property? Do BG supply the electricity too or just the gas?

Andyfmcg

We have had no bill to pay this whole time for gas but they send the electric 🤷‍♂️ been in the property for 16 months 

la531983

Andyfmcg said:

We have had no bill to pay this whole time for gas but they send the electric 🤷‍♂️ been in the property for 16 months 

Right so you have used the gas then, you should really have been putting money aside to pay it when it inevitably came.

MeteredOut

Andyfmcg said:

We have had no bill to pay this whole time for gas but they send the electric 🤷‍♂️ been in the property for 16 months 

First thing is check your actual usage for the past 16 months and check the £1400 fits with that. If not, give BG the evidence and ask them to sort that.

If the usage is correct, you might be in a good position to have usage > 12 months from the bill wiped from your account, but you'll have to pay for the subsequent 12 months. Make a complaint and you might get £50-£100 compensation too.

As BG to apply back-billing rules to your bill. Note its 12 months from the date of the bill, not 12 months from when you contact them.

(the above assumes they've not already done so).