[Stissy]

Originally Posted by Ryancoyle

Not too sure how it work's but I would ring them back and advise them you can't afford £200 monthly. If it was there fault then they should be liable but you know how much of a cunt companie's can act these day's. Citizen advice?

I’ve tried that and I’ve opened a complaint with the company. I received a letter the other day saying “your complaint is still under investigation”, and that’s as far as I’ve got at the moment.

Originally Posted by Manu

My mum went through the exact same story a few years back. She was overcharged to the tune of £800, they did not budge until she called watchdog and it was sorted within the half hour.

Surely they should offer more flexibility, as they often overcharge people under the guise of spreading out the cost throughout the year and give you affordable bills during winter. Well I think that's more like a smoke screen for them to score more money than what is due, and when it is due.

I don't think you should be penalised for their lack of accurate estimates. They should have sent someone to read the meter. I think you have reasonable grounds to complain.

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/energy.html

http://www.which.co.uk/switch/energy...w-to-complain-

Anyone else find their bill statements extremely hard to understand?

It’s fucking disgusting that they can get away with it. To be honest, I’m not too bothered myself, but if this happened to an elderly person, or person who was already living on the edge of their budget, it could seriously mess them up financially. I intend to open a claim through the ombudsman (thanks for the links) and potentially seek legal advice from a solicitor if it’s relevant.

Originally Posted by 0rang3peel

So have you been giving metre readings?

as when you put in a metre reading it adjusts the debit on your account as Chompy said (I'm with BG and it's the same)

If you haven't given any readings then it's surely an estimate?

I gave readings. At one point, when I was complaining my bill was too low, I gave them a reading to correct my bill and received an email shortly after saying “thanks for the reading, we’ve added this to your account and your new bill is now available online”. I logged in, and the bill still ridiculously low.

At that point, as far as I was concerned, that reading was correct. That’s what I budgeted for, and being happy with that monthly amount, I continued to use gas and electricity at the same rate. Had I known that was incorrect, I would’ve used gas and electricity more frugally to save myself money. I basically got conned by British Gas. I feel like I’ve been ripped off my some dodgy dealer.

Originally Posted by nicole_

you're in charge of the amount you pay though arent you?

Npower put my bill down from £60pcm to £19 recently, I called up straight away and asked them to put it back up. Lucky really as they'd used estimates and got it horribly wrong.
I guess just call and calmly ask to set up a payment plan, but one that you can afford?
I work in collections but its for housing and the minimum we accept for arrangements as laid out by the government is only £3.65 above rent a week!

I am in charge for the amount I pay. But if I’m being told the price is £X, why would I pay £X+Y? It’s like walking in to a store and buying a loaf of bread priced at £1, but then paying the cashier £5, just in case they got the price wrong – it’s ridiculous.

With regards to your second paragraph, I did contact them, on several occasions, to confirm that the bill was correct. After being constantly reassured that it was, I took it as fact. I’m no gas or electricity provider, nor do I have any experience in the field, who am I to argue with British Gas?

Originally Posted by L33h

Get a credit card with 0% interest on new purchases for 24 months (or 12 if you can only get one of those). Pay the amount on that and cut it up. That way you'll be able to have longer to pay the bill.

That is an option I guess. I’m not too bothered about paying the cost. Even outright. It’s more the principle.

Originally Posted by Mickswan

put her meter readings in online […] and her bills were far too low. Kept calling them and they insisted she was fine. […]After a few months went by she got hit with nearly a grand

This sounds like exactly the same scenario as myself.

Originally Posted by Mickswan

She rang up and complained. Fair enough she has to pay for what she's used but as they fucked up they agreed to half it.

Go the ought their complaints procedure and if you get no joy it goes to an ombudsman which I think is ofgem.

May go in the favour of British gas but if you don't try you don't get.

Remember to use the words inconvenience, stress, worry and panic. They are the key things which push a complaint forward.

Thanks for that mate. I definitely plan on taking it up with the Financial Ombudsman because it’s outright ridiculous. As I said above, I genuinely feel like I’ve been conned by British Gas.

Originally Posted by Gandi699

I had something similar with electricity. Was paying under what I should have been paying but the meter was "read" as normal by leaving the card in the window for the meter man - Not that he ever read the card the bellend and thusly I was undercharged. Come april this year I was stung with an 800 quid bill. In fact Im still paying over the odds, as I've paid the debt off now but they wont alter the figure until the next quarterly bill so i'm going to be 4-500 quid in credit.

Basically dont trust them to take meter readings, do it yourself online or on the phone as this is the situation you can get into if left

I did submit my readings online, and even after doing so, British Gas still insisted it was correct.

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

Happened to us.. They kept us at £35 each for gas and electric and then dropped a £700 bill on us.. They do it to most from everyone Ive spoke to on the run up to winter so they can hammer you over the winter.. They do it as they know most ppl can't afford to pay the lump and leave them for another provider

My advice would be to try pay it in on go and just leave.. We did

They should be investigate for this it's shocking behaviour

Thanks for the reply. You’re right, it is shocking behaviour. Something needs to be done about it. I’m planning on taking this as high as I can. Out of interest, I plan on switching provider, who did you swap to?

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

theyre all greedy bastards mate..but some are decent enough

i looked into british gas alot when we were going through this and seems nearly everyone has been done like this or knows someone who has

i genuinely cant believe it goes on with the amount of ppl it happens to... can only assume someone is getting some decent back handers over it

do some googling its scary lol

It’s disgusting. For all British Gas know, I’m living my life financially on the edge as it is, this £1000+ bill could tip me over into financial ruin. As I said, I’m planning on taking this as high as I can. Not for the money reimbursement, that’s by-the-by, but for the principle.