Anomalously high gas bill - from British Gas

CazeryBird

brianposter said:

And if BG are being difficult simply send them your SAR.

And you might also tell us exactly what you have discovered.

I've been asking for this since it was first suggested on here and they ignore all my requests...
I've asked again this morning, but they haven't responded to any messages I've sent since they sent the one saying 'contact us now or we'll contact the debt collectors'.
I have spoken to someone at a newspaper who reports on energy issues and they are looking to see if they can help me. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 

brianposter

BG have one month to reply to a SAR. If they fail to reply you make a short and simple complaint to the ICO.

The experts on bailiffs and such like are in the motoring forum but my understanding is that you simply ignore bailiffs and refuse to let them enter your premises.

EssexHebridean

If a "debt collector" turns up at the door then you can simply tell them to go away - they have no right of access, and they are literally just there to try to scare you into paying something regardless of whether it is owed or not. Literally it is a case of "Please leave my property now". 

FreeBear

brianposter said: The experts on bailiffs and such like are in the motoring forum but my understanding is that you simply ignore bailiffs and refuse to let them enter your premises.

Unless they are collecting on a CCJ (and have the appropriate warrant), they'll just be regular debt collectors without any powers. To call them "bailiffs" would be inferring that they have powers that don't exist.

Petriix

FreeBear said:

brianposter said: The experts on bailiffs and such like are in the motoring forum but my understanding is that you simply ignore bailiffs and refuse to let them enter your premises.

Unless they are collecting on a CCJ (and have the appropriate warrant), they'll just be regular debt collectors without any powers. To call them "bailiffs" would be inferring that they have powers that don't exist.

Further to this, you can formally withdraw their implied right of access which, depending on the nature of your property, would make it a criminal act of trespass for them to approach your door. 

FreeBear

Petriix said:

FreeBear said:

brianposter said: The experts on bailiffs and such like are in the motoring forum but my understanding is that you simply ignore bailiffs and refuse to let them enter your premises.

Unless they are collecting on a CCJ (and have the appropriate warrant), they'll just be regular debt collectors without any powers. To call them "bailiffs" would be inferring that they have powers that don't exist.

Further to this, you can formally withdraw their implied right of access which, depending on the nature of your property, would make it a criminal act of trespass for them to approach your door. 

Trespass is a civil matter not a criminal offence - https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/trespass-and-nuisance-land

Petriix

FreeBear said:

Petriix said:

FreeBear said:

brianposter said: The experts on bailiffs and such like are in the motoring forum but my understanding is that you simply ignore bailiffs and refuse to let them enter your premises.

Unless they are collecting on a CCJ (and have the appropriate warrant), they'll just be regular debt collectors without any powers. To call them "bailiffs" would be inferring that they have powers that don't exist.

Further to this, you can formally withdraw their implied right of access which, depending on the nature of your property, would make it a criminal act of trespass for them to approach your door. 

Trespass is a civil matter not a criminal offence - https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/trespass-and-nuisance-land

Without wishing to derail the thread, since 2022 trespass is now (in some cases) a criminal offence. While the change was aimed at squatters, it could apply to debt collectors if they return after being asked to leave. 

CazeryBird

I'll remember the advice about refusing entry, should it come to that. I'm still messaging BG everyday and they aren't responding.

I'll be putting in an Ombudsman and ICO complaint as soon as I find some time.

EssexHebridean

I would suggest taking this to a formal hard copy letter. Send two copies, one by signed-for and one by standard 1st class mail. I think you need to get this beyond those dealing with messages, or even emails. Also if the messages are via your customer account/portal - screenshot everything, it’s an area that you do not have control over your ability to access and it would be a nuisance to need the messages further along the line only to find out that either you could no longer access them, or that they were simply no longer there. 

CazeryBird

Apart from the initial online chat (I have the transcript), I've done everything through my email. For the reasons you state. The only data I don't have a hard copy of is the smart meter data as 3nergy (or whatever its called!) aren't taking domestic customers at the moment so I can't get the raw data. I'm taking screenshots of every day, working my way forward in time from last January 🥴