Help and advice required regarding British Gas

Wannabedebtfree

I know this is going to sound stupid, but I changed to British Gas in January 2007 for both gas and electric. The gas side of things has not been a problem, but the electric has been a real headache.

After months of telephone calls and eventually a complaint to energywatch, I finally got a bill in August 2007 which was for January to June. I informed them that I thought it was wrong and gave them all the readings from my meter (the rate 1, rate 2 and total figures). They told me I was wrong as I did not have a two rate meter, so again I told them the readings and again was told that I was wrong.

I've been telling them for months that the bills are wrong and I've now written to them asking why should I wait for a huge bill to arrive one day stating that I owe them money when I've been telling them all along that the meter is 2 rate and they are only charging me for one.

I've asked for a response deadline and that I will go to energywatch again if required.

Any suggestions? I'm getting worried....

ifonlyitwaseasier

only thing i can suggest is that you put a little extra aside just in case they do come back at you with a large bill,

good luck!

Cardew

You have done the correct thing in writing - phone calls are useless.

You are now in a win/win situation.

You can easily work out roughly what your bill should be and stick the money in a bank and earn interest.

BG accounts are pretty good at writing off a percentage of a large bill where they have been at fault.

Wannabedebtfree

BG have just telephoned me. Allegedly it has been passed to a specialist team to look at and I will be contacted within 7 days and then it's a case of looking at the repaying of the huge bill!!!!

Premier_2

When you originally switched to British Gas, you should have received details of the contract (including cancellation details) confirming the tariff your electricity would be charged at. i.e. Standard rate or E7 rate.

Obviously if you were promised E7 rates, then BG are making a mistake if charging you at the flat standard rate.

But if the contract stated you would be charged at the standard rate, it could be possible that you have a dual rate meter and BG simply add together the consumption figures to charge at the standard rate.

Have you done the calculation to check whether paying on E7 rates will save you anything? E7 only normally becomes beneficial if you use about at least 25% of your units during the cheap rate period. If you have gas heating, its unlikely you will use this amount of cheap night-time electricity.

I'd hate to think you've been disputing the BG electric bill all this time, only to end up with BG agreeing with you and resulting in them issuing you an even larger bill!

Wannabedebtfree

I had a new meter fitted at the same time that I switched. BG arranged for the meter to be put in and it would be suitable for the "standard single rate" tariff.

When after months of asking for and getting Energywatch involved to get a bill, I checked the meter readings against what they had stated to find that I had a 2 rate meter, and this is where the problem comes, I've been telling them for ages and no one listens! Since Jan 07 until 10 June 08, the readings were

Total 11175, Rate 1 8059, Rate 2 3116.

I had a meter reader arrive on my door yesterday and I questioned him about the two rates and I was informed "On my paper work it says to read one and I read the rate 1 reading".

I've been trying to work this out and it's doing me in and I'm insisting that everyone sits in the dark because I can't even begin to work out how the hell we're using all this electric. The heating is Gas, and the only things that run on electric the whole time are the cordless phone base, freezer (2 yr old) and a fridge (3 yr old). I use the washing machine everyother day or less as I only do that when we have a full load. I really wish I hadn't switched now.

Premier_2

Oh dear, from your response it appears that BG may be right in billing you on a standard single rate, irrespective of what meter you have or how it operates.

I'm a bit confused by the meter itself. I have a similar digital meter that records 2 rates (plus total), but then I also have E7.

On dual rate meters, Rate 1 records the consumption used during the low/night period and Rate 2 records the consumption recorded during the day/normal rate period. (Normal rate on E7 is more expensive than standard single rate). The total does what it says.

With your installation, I would presume the meter reader knows what he is doing. Perhaps, although you think you have a dual rate meter installed, all electricity is actually measured only on the Rate 1. This would explain why you otherwise appear to have possibly used over twice as much electricity at night (7 hours) compared to the day (17 hours).
You can check this for yourself - check the meter tomorrow and the Rate 2 should still show as 3116.

If it does change, perhaps the meter reader should have recorded the total, rather than the Rate 1 reading

Wannabedebtfree

I had a look at the meter this morning and both readings have gone up! so it seems that according to the meter I'm on E7 and BG say I'm on single!!

In theory I should be hearing from BG within the next few days (not that I'm holding my breath!) so I'll keep you all informed.

Cardew

Wannabedebtfree wrote: »

I had a look at the meter this morning and both readings have gone up! so it seems that according to the meter I'm on E7 and BG say I'm on single!!

In theory I should be hearing from BG within the next few days (not that I'm holding my breath!) so I'll keep you all informed.

I am with BG and have two readings.

I was on Economy 7 but decided that it wasn't worthwhile(I also have gas) so reverted to a 'normal' tariff.

In my case they add the totals obtained from the two readings and it is treated as one total.

e.g. 1000kWh on day meter, 200kWh on night meter and I am billed for 1,200kWh.

This is a common arrangement.

NICKYS32

:mad: Don't wait for British Gas to call you back, they won't. I have been getting my Gas supplied by British Gas since March and they have still not opened an account for me. I have had so many promises from them and nothing happens. Go to Energywatch and get them to make an official complaint on your behalf things might start happening then. British Gas are a waste of time even their specialist team do not return calls, energywatch have taken over my complaint now and are dealing direct with British Gas for me. They gave them 10 days to resolve the problem and we are on day 7 so lets see what happens next.

Premier_2

Wannabedebtfree wrote: »

I had a look at the meter this morning and both readings have gone up! so it seems that according to the meter I'm on E7 and BG say I'm on single!!

In theory I should be hearing from BG within the next few days (not that I'm holding my breath!) so I'll keep you all informed.

Oh dear, that's even worse!

Your consumption is being measured on a dual rate meter (which also displays the total). The type of meter you have does not dictate what tariff you are on - that depends on your contract, not your meter.

It sound like BG are correct in billing you on a standard, flat rate, but the meter reader has recorded the wrong value. It looks like you could end up owing about 50% more if this has been going on for some time. (i.e. all the unbilled units recorded on Rate 2).