British Gas got me over a barrel...I need help

SwanJon

alien28 wrote: »

With regards to the DD amount. I originally was paying £20 a month for gas. I took the last 2 years of usage and using BG own calculations worked out that I should be paying around £25.

Firstly, don't apologise, everyone feels the need to vent now and then.

When you worked out what you use each year did you use kWh or pounds and pence? The price per kWh has changed a lot over the last 2 years (up Sep 06, down Mar & Apr 07, up Jan 08), so pounds and pence will not always give an accurate picture for the coming year.

The plan always looks to recover the balance by the end of the plan, so if it was adjusted too low for the first 6 months, it will try to make up this in the second 6 months, not 12 months. So £150 over 12 months would be £12.50 extra a month, but £25 extra over 6 months. Nothing jumps out to say this is the middle of one plan or the start of the next. Did they break down the consumption vs repayments?
Make sure they are using accurate readings - there is a freephone number (must find that) or you can use their website.
You could see if you can negotiate it down, or try cancelling this plan and starting a new one (careful with this as you may lose the DD discount if the balance is old).

Keep on top of it - what about the online tariff? It's cheaper per kWh, so you might find you can pay less per month, or clear the balance quicker.

cappielow-doc

Get your bill to under £100 and you should be able to move no problem,i work for Scottish Power and we wont let anyone move if their bill is over £100,under......cheerio

emmee3

I have a prepayment meter for electricity supplied by British gas. I realise prepayment is more expensive but it was here when I moved to my 2 bedroomed flat several years ago. I have paid over £500 this last year when it was approx; £240 a couple of years ago. I am putting in £10 a week in my meter and have complained over and over again to british gas to send someone to read it and then change it to a credit meter. They want to talk me through reading it and Ihave done this once and they said it was wrong so I insist they send someone........ no joy and I am still feeding this meter like no tomorrow! I am heated by gas so electric is not for heating. its for cooking washing machine shower tele lighting and two computers so shouldn't be as much as it is. help!

Ken68

emmee3 wrote: »

I have a prepayment meter for electricity supplied by British gas. I realise prepayment is more expensive but it was here when I moved to my 2 bedroomed flat several years ago. I have paid over £500 this last year when it was approx; £240 a couple of years ago. I am putting in £10 a week in my meter and have complained over and over again to british gas to send someone to read it and then change it to a credit meter. They want to talk me through reading it and Ihave done this once and they said it was wrong so I insist they send someone........ no joy and I am still feeding this meter like no tomorrow! I am heated by gas so electric is not for heating. its for cooking washing machine shower tele lighting and two computers so shouldn't be as much as it is. help!

You can ring them for free...08005876567, or maybe another number from here..

http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php