I posted my meter readings yesterday and got an automated bill. At the moment, for both gas and electricity, I'm £942 in credit. They estimate my usage for the next year will be £2917. I'm paying £386.81 per month by direct debit. So including what I am in credit they will have received £5584. "What's wrong with this picture?" I went on the website, but found I couldn't reduce my direct debit through it. I can just tell my bank to do it. But I wanted "to have a word." I hung up the phone after half an hour. I just let it ring out whilst I did something else. We've an "all calls" tariff on our phone, so it wasn't costing me any more money. I tried "chat" on the site. Where you type in your questions and someone at British Gas or wherever, responds. I found I was number 619 in the queue. I'll sort it myself.
Mate, doesn’t this just.wind you up…all the way up! I find this sort of thing really irritating. I try not to do too much “automated”, including chatting with a bot. I just refuse. That is quite a credit you have there, I can see that you would want to reduce your payments. Situations like this make me a bit nervous, I understand that you wanted to have a word. it was so much easier talking problems out in the old days. Things always got sorted that way.
I've contacted my bank and cancelled the direct debit. I've written to British Gas and told them of my experiences. I've said they need to sort themselves out and set up a realistic direct debit. So the ball's in their court.
Hope the problem is solved soon. After reading the title, my first thought was about the after-effects of a meal...
I can't imagine how the folks who are not as diligent as you fare DHR. The company must rely on that. One of my examples of independent thought to my students being able to use their noodle ( brain) was if they received a $400 hydro ( power) bill, would they just pay it? or would they ask questions?. You're a great example of asking questions and being assertive. That's a ridiculous credit padding their pockets. Well done.
Didn't take long for them to react. Cancelling the direct debit, was like poking their computer with a stick. I got this auto generated e-mail. We’ve noticed your Direct Debit has been cancelled so we’ve changed the way you pay for your energy. This means you no longer qualify for the Direct Debit discount and the price you pay for your energy has increased. The bills we send to you will need to be paid in full using a debit or credit card within 14 days. Now this is from a supplier to whom I presently owe nothing and they have almost £1000 of my money. I do hate when these companies who don't actually know you address you in correspondence by your Christian name. I've written to them again. _____________________ I doubt if you will have received my letter I sent on Monday, which was prompted by the fact that I was £942 in credit and calculating what I would be paying for the next twelve months and your estimate of my anticipated usage, I'd end up £2665.95 in credit. Sick of hanging on the phone for three-quarters of an hour and being number 619 in the queue for an on-line “chat.” I cancelled my direct debit as your site wouldn't allow me to reduce it. Why not? I'm sure when you read the previous letter you'd be able to work out a sensible monthly payment plan, which you should have done before. However, today, I got a presumably auto-generated non-reply e-mail, with this nonsense. We’ve noticed your Direct Debit has been cancelled so we’ve changed the way you pay for your energy. This means you no longer qualify for the Direct Debit discount and the price you pay for your energy has increased. The bills we send to you will need to be paid in full using a debit or credit card within 14 days. That was like a red rag to a bull, as threats like this are so insulting to someone who is nearly £1000 in credit. Why can't you provide an e-mail address? I've no intention of hanging on a phone for an unreasonable length of time. I'm seriously considering changing energy supplier, there's enough of 'em. A copy of my previous letter is attached.
Hang tough, Riley. I think I would be looking for a different provider too. I do find it all a bit. If you do change companies, they woud have to pay you bac what they owe— what an interesting role reversal. Riley, I could derive pleasure from this.
I'm on a fixed price tariff at the moment, which expires on 1st January. All prices will move up then for all suppliers, They've just sent me an auto-generated e-mail to advise that I will be paying £150 a year more, if I stay on this tariff. It also says it will cost me £243 a month. Hmm, I was paying £386 until I cancelled the direct debit! I really think they don't know what they are doing. That happens when they let computers make the decisions. They say I have a choice of another eleven tariffs for different fixed terms. But I'll have a look around to see what other companies have to offer. There's no exit charges.
What a situation, Riley. While frustrating, I have to say that I am watching this space with interest.
I've got a quote from Octopus. I've had a lot of recommendations about them from friends. It seems theirs is the same as British Gas. "What were the chances of that happening?"
Do they have to refund any overage that you overpaid at the end of the year? They should. They have free use of your funds earning THEM interest, while you are out those funds and have no access to them. I agree with @Daniel W , they should be charged with grand larceny or embezzlement of funds... I HATE talking to bots and automated idiots. I have had some experience with them this past week. I am sure it sends my blood pressure UP.
Yes they do, when we were with Scottish Power who were taken over by British Gas I got my credit refunded. My only concern if I decide to change is that I've an "Economy Seven" electricity meter, a legacy of when I had the koi pool. I'm not on that tariff as British Gas don't have one, they add the two meter usage together. But Octopus do. I don't want to be on it with them. But I'm in no rush, my contract with British Gas doesn't end until 1st January. I'll wait to hear what they have to say.
