British Gas switch confusion

slypig

Hi folks. We recently switched to British Gas dual fuel from EDF and completed the online form requiring us to input the gas and electric readings from the chosen day of the switch.

We did so and I was expecting a quick turnaround (as advertised) and a prompt refund of something like £400 from EDF. This was a fortnight ago and I have had a final gas bill from EDF, but nothing as yet for electricity. Querying this with British Gas they tell me that they have no record of my having submitted an electricity reading, despite the fact that I know I have. Unfortunately, being a trusting soul (or stupid possibly) I threw away the post-it with the initial reading on, so I have had to send a later reading. This apparently (according to their on-line 'help') has to go to arbitration so that EDF and British Gas can haggle over who gets to charge for what proportion of 5 days electricity.

Apologies if this comes over as a rant (it is), but I was wondering whether anyone else has had such an experience with British Gas and what happened to resolve it? In the meantime EDF hold on to our £400 of course. Ever felt stitched-up?

Swipe

One of the downsides of not having a smart meter. Take it as a lesson learned and always take a date embeded photo of meter readings when switching, especially when dealing with British Gas.

RelievedSheff

I wouldn't expect a quick resolution. British Gas billing and meter reading system is woeful.

Even with smart meters they can't produce a bill based on actual readings!!

slypig

Thanks both. Yes, seems I have much to learn about the switching process and British Gas! Certainly I've learned my lesson about making a note of my meter readings (Swipe's suggestion about taking a photo is excellent and one I will be employing henceforward, but I'm not trusting the smart meter technology just yet, it's too open to all sorts of abuse).

Ildhund

@slypig wrote:

I'm not trusting the smart meter technology just yet, it's too open to all sorts of abuse.

What sort of abuse are you referring to?

I've not been that long in these forums, but I've frequented others dealing with domestic energy supply for several years. Not once have I come across a case of what might be called abuse of smart meter technology. I've had a smart meter for more than ten years …

luci

I'm not sure which scaremongering sites you have been reading, but I've never read on here of any abuse in relation to smart meters.

slypig

Thanks, your comments are appreciated. I don't frequent scaremongering sites (unless you can count Twitter as one these days!), but I'd still rather trust the evidence of my own eyes.

RelievedSheff

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82062789#Comment_82062789

What evidence?

Ildhund

… and what abuse?

slypig

'Evidence' as in the fact that I've taken the reading myself, not any evidence of wrong-doing. Though I'm not discounting the latter as a possibility either.

debitcardmayhem

You can still read the meter even if it's a smart one 🤷🏻 , just to remove your doubts.