Anyone know 'owt about dealing with gas companies?

Having all sorts of issues with British Gas - not accepting our direct debits then demanding a lump sum after 12 months, over charging us - making us pay everything at the higher rates, incredibly bad service - not returning calls, not sending letters when they are adament they have</p>

What would have to be done with regards to legal advice or formal complaints? We are getting invoiced even though we moved out about 5/6 months ago
</p>

 

Dont deal with British Gas

go somewhere else!

 

RE: Dont deal with British Gas

Yeah but they're reducing bills by 10% (once the winter is over of course)

Who said selling off the family silver was a bad idea??

 

Worse idea than

signing Kayode Odejayi

 

RE: Dont deal with British Gas

Well, yeah, but doesn't help the current problem. All this dates back to when we had a previous shop, so it's not current issues, but we're still paying the price

 

having same problems! they reckon I owe £2500. Fecking useless! This bill was received this month even tho I closed the account and paid up to date in August last year!

 

If BG say that they have sent the letters out then there is nothing you can do. If your Direct Debit was not set up correctly then surley you knew. You should have sent them a cheque every quater and just paid in the normal way.
You will need to ask them to recalculate your bill on the Direct debit tariff (as long as they take responsibility for the DD not being set up). Any recalculation of a bill will stop the debt process and a new bill will be issued.
As far as legal action and complaints are concerned, I wouldnt either bother, It will get you no where, they are feckin useless!

 

Be wary of Npower

You are supposed to pay the higher rate on no more than 4500 units per tariff year, but they keep starting a new tariff year as and when they feel like it (eg in 2007 their tariff year only lasted 7 months). There's also an issue about people who have had their imperial meter changed, still having the metric conversion calculation done in error and ending up paying too much.

Edit: They also increase your monthly payment by ridiculous amounts when it isn't necessary. I gave them my meter readings which left my account in credit by £70, yet they wanted to put my Direct Debit up by £20 per month! When I tackled them about it, they said it was a fault they were trying to rectify and left the payment as it was.

 

They were VERY obstructive when I was leaving

They got up to all sorts of "tricks" to make it difficult for me to move to another supplier. It's poor business practice, because it puts people off returning in the future...

 

I will NEVER entertain the set of charlatans

I cant believe anyone still does.

Unrequited brand loyalty and consumer apathy I suppose. While it remains they will never change.

 

They sent me some free lightbulbs

Even thought I am no longer a customer. Show's how incompetent they are....

 

My agent finally got them to put her aunt's gas bill down from £128 to £85 a month which is still too much. Then we got a letter this morning saying it was going to be £213 a month ! They'd added em up instead of cancelling the old debit. Then you ring up and listen to a message about it going down 10% !!!

That was the final straw. We are going to make the aunt freeze instead and then they'll be sorry.

 

I'll second that

I had a three year battle with British Gas to get a credit meter installed in my house. In the end I came to the conclusion that they only employ morons. Some of the responses I got were baffling. I have letters from them that would stump the enigma machine. Actually I suspect their problems stem from an inadequate networked computer system so that customers details and requests aren't stored correctly. But really, that's making excuses for them.

 

On a more positive note I feel I could earn some brownie points if I give my agent a list of power companies that are nice.

Anyone got any recommendations for when we get ready to switch ? for a small house, elderly customer, account dealt with by someone 30 miles away !

 

I have had dealings with British Gas worst company ever..
We use EDF and they are great. They have pleasent customer care staff ( English speaking ) get discount for direct debits, you can view your account online 24/7, give meter readings whenever they are due. Cannot fault their service.
But this is only my opinion, others may be different!

 

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/british-gas-to-let-you-eat-200901221530/

 

I think our house is with Atlantic. They have caused no grief but always send separate bills on same day for electric & gas in different letters which seems a waste.

 

agreed, they came out to fix the boiler and left us with a gas leak in the fire the other week . . .

cnuts!</p>

 

Re: Get with EDF

Moved to them about 18 months ago. Not once had to pick the phone up to them.Any problems (which not had any major)deal with it all online, send them an e-mail and issue is resolved in 3 days max.</p>

</p>

 

British Gas sent me a bill 12 months after moving out

12 months after I moved out, they sent me a letter and tried to query the final meter reading and said they'd been disputing the new tennant from the very start.</p>

I told them that my account was closed and if they had an issue with it at the time they should have raised it a long time ago. Told them unless they could prove I owed them the money they'd have a hard job getting anythning out of me never heard anything back ... not sure whether them not replying was incompetence, or them realising they were onto a loser - probably the first option</p>