British gas sent huge bill

witchwood

We are all electric and with British Gas. We have a smart meter, in place for over 5 years, and pay by monthly variable direct debit, which suits us. Last week they sent a representative out to read our old meter. I queried it and said we have a smart meter, but he said they just have to make sure they tally up. I was busy at the time, and sent him round to read it (it's outside in an old shed). Now BG have tried to take a direct debit out for 4000!!! I have looked at my account online and they say its from oct 23-dec 24! But we have been paying monthly, although on my BG account page there are no statements and the only thing showing is this new bill. This DD said British Gas 1st payment. Any thoughts?

witchwood

Baldytyke88 said:

Don't people get their gas supply capped and the meter removed in order to ditch their gas bill?

It sounds like you still have a supply of both gas/electricity.

We have NEVER had gas. There is no supply here. 

FlorayG

Are you saying this is a gas bill and you don't even have a gas meter?

Largs

I am reading the same original question posted and this is nothing to do with gas.  Why all the references to gas?

GDB2222

I’m curious how come you have what you refer to as an old meter? If you have had a smart meter installed they normally take the old meter away. Do you have two meters? Two supplies? I think you need to explain what is going on a bit more carefully. 

There was a time when the water company gave us a new connection, which bypassed their meter which was in our garage. They still sent people round to read the meter, which of course read the same figure every time. Eventually, we removed the redundant pipe work, but I kept the meter and used to hand it to the meter readers so that they could read it. 

Largs

It sounds like you have been moved to their new billing system.  You are given a new account number - mines began "A" rather than "85" on the old system and it did show as first payment on my bank staement too. 

It is a complete mess.  I lost online access to the new bills and could only see old bills from last year.  I left the company to stop any more problems as they were causing me nothing but stress.  The only advice I can offer is make a complaint, British Gas staff will be able to see all your history but it's unlikely you will.  Be very careful as British Gas report to the credit reference places and clearly they cannot take £4000 from your bank.  It will not be easy dealing with them.  Good luck.

witchwood

FlorayG said:

Are you saying this is a gas bill and you don't even have a gas meter?

No! Where do I even mention gas?? Our electricity supply is with BG. We were moved over when our old supplier went bust. This is an electricity bill. We are supossed to be on monthly DD. 

witchwood

Largs said:

It sounds like you have been moved to their new billing system.  You are given a new account number - mines began "A" rather than "85" on the old system and it did show as first payment on my bank staement too. 

It is a complete mess.  I lost online access to the new bills and could only see old bills from last year.  I left the company to stop any more problems as they were causing me nothing but stress.  The only advice I can offer is make a complaint, British Gas staff will be able to see all your history but it's unlikely you will.  Be very careful as British Gas report to the credit reference places and clearly they cannot take £4000 from your bank.  It will not be easy dealing with them.  Good luck.

I think that has happened. Right mess. Apparently they didn't know we had a smart meter (or it hasn't been sending) and have been using estimated readings for a year!!! Despite the previous however many years of taking readings from our smart meter. 

witchwood

So... Last night got a call from hubby working a night shift to say that he cant buy his 'lunch' as there is no money in the account. He checked and saw this DD due to go out for near on 4k from BG. 
We have been on variable DD with BG for 3 years. They used our smart meter for readings and all was fine. 
I have just checked bank statements etc and found they haven't been taking our DD since last November 2023!!!!
Now before all you holier than though, never miss a penny etc start going on about checking... YES! Maybe we should have checked, but as a hugely busy family with 5 kids, loads of DD's going out, refunds for kids clubs etc etc going in our bank statement has 100's lines a month, and tbh when you set up a DD you expect it to be hassle free as that is pretty much their whole purpose. So yes, we probably do owe the money and not disputing that. However what A HUGE muck up!!!! HOW can they not take payment, when my statement etc says MONTHLY DD? Why just stop??? And why do they now say we dont have a smart meter?? Absolute shower of poo. Now I have to work out how to pay a 4K bill at xmas! 

tim_p

Tell us more about this other meter in the shed please, what’s it for?

witchwood

tim_p said:

Tell us more about this other meter in the shed please, what’s it for?

Sorry. My lack of understanding and hubby has just explained.. It is NOT the old meter. It is the smart meter connected to the display thing we have indoors. So not an old meter at all. That was taken away and replaced. I still wonder why they have to take readings from a smart meter? Surely that is the whole point of them?