British Gas back billing

THEINCREDIBLESULK247

Hi folks! Hoping for some advice or if someone has similar experience.

I've experienced a few issues with British Gas (they only supply our gas) over the last 18 months but this latest one not only takes the biscuit, it takes a whopping cream cake.

Allow me to explain.

On 23rd June '25 I gave BG my gas reading as I do every month, and the amount comes off the direct debit I pay per month. For some reason, the last time they produced a bill with info was in February.

The following day 24th June '25, they sent me an email with a bill of over £200 with the invoice detailing a charge for £175 for the use of ELECTRIC between Jan 2021 and August 2023.

I've phoned them twice about this now to explain how I paid off my exact electric use before leaving for another company in Aug 2023, and both assistants have stated they will log the complaint and get back to me asap. On both occasions, the assistant stated that it's my gas usage only and I should ignore the invoice which is absolutely rubbish as my gas bill for exact use is usually around £30. They then say 'oh yes, the computer system mis-calculated your usage so you owe more'

It's only when I argue the point that I wouldn't expect to walk into a restaurant and be handed a bill from 2 years ago - saying I owe more, that they side with me and 'understand what I am explaining'.

My simple mathematics of looking at February's gas bill for gas usage and looking at my meter right now, that I can see it's increased about 60 kwh which you'd think BG would be able to do.

I wonder if anybody else has experienced anything similar?

QrizB

Yours is one of several recent complaints about head-scratching catch-up bills from BG.

All I can suggest is to follow their complaints process and, if you don't get resolution after eight weeks, to escalate it to the Ombudsman.

Scot_39

Given this seems an increased bill for electric and from 2023 - wouldn't back billing apply as over 12m ago ?

What is the justification for the final demand in 2023 being corrected vs this revised demand in 2025.

Was the final reading wrong in 2023.

BG account system changeovers have produced some amazingly stupid bills over last few years. 

Have they falsely estimated additional usage or standing charges since, you left that you now pay another supplier for.

Have they applied you'd reading as electric and not gas say.

Hopefully you kept bills - old final and new supplier first and readings details around the supplier change
(I do for at least 6 years - around supplier or meter swaps - normal court action limit for energy bill debt) 

MWT

Scot_39 said:

Given this seems an increased bill for electric and from 2023 - wouldn't back billing apply as over 12m ago ?

Generally, yes, the only exception would be if there was a refund when the OP left them back in 2023, they would be able to reclaim that, but nothing more. 

Doesn't seem likely that this was the case though as the OP mentions paying off what was owed back then...

THEINCREDIBLESULK247

Hi folks, just to update you. British Gas have not contacted me personally, but have sent me an updated bill today removing the £175 electric charges to now leave my account with a plus balance, as it should have been. For anyone out there who has been sent a bigger than usual bill, or if it doesn't seem right, make sure you download the PDF that British Gas send you and investigate what they are charging you for. If I wasn't so alert, they would have gotten away with this.