Anomalously high gas bill - from British Gas

CazeryBird

brianposter said:

How many gas bills do you believe to be erroneous ? Just one or more than one ?

There was one period (26/4/24-15/6/24) in which they claim I used 23194.6kWh of gas (the smart meter recorded 3765kWh of usage). This is the main one I dispute.

But, when I started checking usage in all the billed periods I have they all show differences between the kWh usage BG state on the bill and that recorded by the smart meter (BGs is higher in all but one period), but this period is the greatest and matches up with when they erroneously transferred my account to another provider (and in another persons name).

I have asked them to consider revising this to a usage figure which matches my previous usage during this period (I now have the year preceding and will soon have this years). Both of which are at a level expected for our house at this time of year.

I've also asked them to explain the discrepancy between the usage they record and that recorded by the smart meter and also why when the IHD is turned on all the data for that day immediately shows as 'incomplete'.

In the meantime they won't let me set up a direct debit to cover our usage so my bill has accrued to just under 4k, which they are now demanding through their solicitor. I don't have this much money. I am in the depths of my overdraft and their markers on my credit record mean I can no longer get a loan to cover the bill, or extend my overdraft.

I want to set up a reasonable direct debit to catch up with some of the usage while I continue to dispute the bill and smart meter readings at their end, but they won't do this. I'm not sure why though. The Ombudsman told me that should be fine and should have been offered. He also added a note to his case file to say something was clearly wrong with the high readings as there is no way our house could use that much gas.

CazeryBird

well BG now say that I can't dispute the bill as the Ombudsman case is closed. I specifically checked with the Ombudsman before accepting and he said I could still dispute the anomalous period.

brianposter

CazeryBird said:

well BG now say that I can't dispute the bill as the Ombudsman case is closed. I specifically checked with the Ombudsman before accepting and he said I could still dispute the anomalous period.

Is all this in writing or by telephone ?

CazeryBird

brianposter said:

CazeryBird said:

well BG now say that I can't dispute the bill as the Ombudsman case is closed. I specifically checked with the Ombudsman before accepting and he said I could still dispute the anomalous period.

Is all this in writing or by telephone ?

BG in writing, Ombudsman was by telephone

brianposter

That might come in useful later. What communication have you had with the BG solicitor ?

CazeryBird

Just that I am in the debt collection process and have to resolve things immediately.

BG say I have to pay them 630 a month from now on. 288 a month for ongoing usage and the rest to pay off the debt. I don't have this much money. Unless I stop feeding my family. I also don't know how they have decided that our annual usage will be £3459.07 when it's returned to a normal rate of usage since that anomalous period last Apr/May.

brianposter said:

That might come in useful later. What communication have you had with the BG solicitor ?

CazeryBird

Before the anomalous period we were paying 130 a month and that left us 500 in credit for the winter.

CazeryBird

So, having spoken with my partner (it's only taken him 7 months to let me ask him...) he thinks I need to ask for:
1. readings from the period in which the meter jumped up hugely (april-June last year). So I can look for any one off large jumps. Especially anything which exceeds the volume my boiler can handle.
2. whether this jump coincides with the return of my account to BG after the erroneous transfer.
3. the smart meter to be replaced as it's at the end of it's battery life anyway and we don't have a functioning UHD
4. a dd for ongoing usage which reflects accurately what I am using

(edited following a chat with my partner)

CazeryBird

Just rang Eon: the installers of the smart meter and they say that is completely incorrect and BG should both check it and replace it while I am their customer...so why are they ignoring every request I make for this and telling me they can't replace it. It's at the end of it's battery lifespan anyway.

brianposter

In my opinion it would be to your advantage to be taken to court whilst the SAR is still outstanding. Consequently you can ignore any threats and requests for payment from BG although that may screw up your credit report for a bit.

The first thing that is needed is to understand your current bills and this forum is as good a place as any to investigate those bills. I suggest that you post here one pair of figures from BG along with your version of the corresponding meter readings and an explanation of how you arrived at those readings.

I assume that you have checked that you and BG are looking at the same meter.

The BG solicitor should be a potential source of assistance, but you need to make it clear to him/her that that there will be no payment until you receive a reply to your SAR (which is a serious legal matter) and that if he/she wants to go to court you would be delighted to do so.