Gas Quantum Meter Help

simon8298

hi

On Thursday the 24th of Jan this year i had the British gas engineer in my flat to fit a gas prepay meter.

To be honest i managed to accumulate quite a large bill due to burying my head in the sand with all my bills, so now i am paying £5 per week to pay of the debt, and that is b4 i have even used any gas.

So far the gas even in the last couple of days has not been cheap ( i have not even been using the gas enough to stay nice and warm - just enough to stop me from freezing)

the rates i am currently paying:
Tier 1: = 7.501 per kWh
Tier 2: = 2.865 per kWh
Also it says that the pricing on Tier 1 applies for the first 2680 kwh's and all subsequent consumption is priced at Tier 2

so that effectively means that for at least 3/4 of the year i will be paying 7.5pence per kWh!! then if you take in account that spring and summer, it is looking like it will be 99.9% of the year i will be paying full price (it is a joke!!!)

Is it possible to have the weekly debt recovery rate reduced from a fiver a week to maybe a fiver a every 2 weeks?? (if currently not working)

Also, why is it companies like British gas like to make it more expensive for people who have the least money to start with - it makes me mad :mad:
cheers
Simon

Joyful

If you are not working and claiming benefits you can ask for your debt to come off the meter at £3 per week. You can also ask to go on the Essentials Tariff which will charge you a lower tariff.

Pixie28

Quantum meters work on a week to week basis so they will not be able to set the debt recovery to collect every two weeks. The minimum recovery rate that suppliers are allowed to set is £3 p/week. This rate is usually only permitted if you are on benefits, and also depends on your total debt amount. If you are not working, give BGAS a ring and see if you can haggle.

Pixie28

You beat me Joyful! Im a slow typer...lol!

SwanJon

simon8298 wrote: »

To be honest i managed to accumulate quite a large bill due to burying my head in the sand with all my bills.... why is it companies like British gas like to make it more expensive for people who have the least money to start with

Looks like you answered your own question.

The best way to spend less on your gas is to use less. There's plenty of energy efficiency advice out there - even try British Gas' website.

As Joyful said - if you qualify ask to be put on the Essentials tariff.

The 2680 is about 7.3 a day - about 2/3 of acubic meter.

simon8298

thanx for getting back to me with that information guys... much appreciated

anyone know of a free number to call british gas?? i did try looking on Saynoto0870 but i could not see one that was of any use

thanx again
simon

Joyful

Try this one although it does say it's unverified...0161 8554403

Regis77

You could always switch to another supplier. I am still amazed how many customers go to British Gas, because they think they are gas experts. Some suppliers, I'm not sure if BG are one of them, usually have some kind of hardship or essentials fund if you're on benefits and struggling. Also, check who fitted the meter, does it have a National Grid sticker on it. If so you could switch to a quartely meter and pay a direct debit amount which is lower than your usage recollection.