shocking electric bill

elliemay29

Does anyone know what I can do about my electric bill that I got for £898.
When I spoke to someone at BRITISH GAS I was told that it is the amount I owed since Jan 06 for the electric that I didn't cover in my direct debits I was paying. Surely this is not right to give me a bill 2 years later when if they told me 2 years ago I would have altered my direct debit to cover the amount.
I don't know where to turn to, or who to ask...please help

carlostot

elliemay29 wrote: »

Does anyone know what I can do about my electric bill that I got for £898.
When I spoke to someone at BRITISH GAS I was told that it is the amount I owed since Jan 06 for the electric that I didn't cover in my direct debits I was paying. Surely this is not right to give me a bill 2 years later when if they told me 2 years ago I would have altered my direct debit to cover the amount.
I don't know where to turn to, or who to ask...please help

Hi, why was the bill so big, had the bill been underestimated. If so why has it been estimated. Have they not been around to read your meter or sent you a bill. Have you checked that the reading is okay. There are certain rules that must be adhered to. So if they have been around but not used your readings then you will be entitled to a lot of that money knocked off. Let me know why it is so big and I may be able to help

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

This comes up time and again and if you do a search on this site you will find lots of information.

For you to run up a debt of £898 your Direct Debit was(obviously) not high enough and the bills you have received since Jan 06 will presumably have been based on estimated meter readings.

So part of this situation is your fault in that you failed to check your bills and notice it was based on estimated readings, and presumably failed to check the meter readings were correct, or tell them correct readings.

That said the Utility companies have a responsibility to ensure that customers don't get in debt like this; and they shouldn't have based bills on consecutive estimated readings.

What to do!

Ring Energywatch(you can find the number on their website) and explain the position to them - they are excellent and will probably contact BG on your behalf.

With any luck they will be able to negotiate a reduction in the amount you owe, and allow you to pay back BG over 2 years.

Good luck.