What happens if you've been billed less than what you've used?

Conrad3000

Hi all.

British Gas seems to have billed me less than what I'd used (for both gas and electric). The difference was about £30.

Will that get carried forward to next month or will it be disregarded?

Thanks.

FrugaiMacDugal

It won't be disregarded

Sounds like an estimated bill, so take a meter reading and contact provider with readings, to get a correct bill.

If you get more underestimated bills it will mount up and you will be more than £30 under paid, so best to get it sorted now.

debitcardmayhem

How do you pay ?

Conrad3000

As your name suggests; by debit card 😊

debitcardmayhem

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81866219#Comment_81866219

Ah, that's more expensive than direct debit then. I believe that paying this way costs are about 7-8% more.

When BG get current readings then you have an extra £30 to pay.Have you not got a smart meter?, if not then I would send readings monthly until you do. I would also pay by variable monthly direct debit (if BG allow that) if you prefer paying the full amount.

WiserMiser

I understand that BG do not offer MVDD unless you had it on their old billing system. Still worth asking, the worst is that they say no.

But why pay so much more by choosing to pay on receipt of bill?

gpman

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6653323/what-happens-if-you-039-ve-been-billed-less-than-what-you-039-ve-used

How did the undercharge come about?

e.g. Estimated meter reading, Mathematical error by the supplier, etc

How did you arrive at the higher assumed cost?

Need more details to assist you.

gpman

@WiserMiser

"But why pay so much more by choosing to pay on receipt of bill?"

It may be that the OP does not have a bank account that supports Direct Debit

e.g. The Metro Bank Cash Account

Conrad3000

Hi guys. Yes, I do have a bank account but I doubt it'd make that much of a difference if I paid by direct debit instead.

I have a smart meter and the usage I get is when I log into the BG website.

As mentioned, the info on there states a higher amount than what I'm expected to pay. It's never happened before in all the approx 18 months I've been with them.

gpman

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81866578#Comment_81866578

Don't worry about what the BG website says, you owe what the bill/statement says.

Any difference in what you were charged this time will either be a correction based on an overcharge last month, or will be accounted for next month.

Just check that that closing meter read of one bill matches the opening read of the next bill.

FrugaiMacDugal

Are BG getting up to date readings from smart meter, could be a couple of weeks behind?