British Gas are they wrong?

[Acidmouse]

I have been paying by DD on my gas bill for a couple of years. Overpaying in the summer and underpaying in the winter months, generally always staying around evens.

The current direct debit is 24 pounds / month. Last week I got sent a letter telling me its going uptp 122 / month. Erm a big increase. I rung them and the bullshit line they fed me was the lowest DD i could pay would be 75 / month. She said it was their policy now you have to OVERPAY for your gas use in the winter. I dont understand say gas went up 50% why have they told me the lowest I can pay is 300% more?

Anyone else has same problem? I am going to change suppilers..

[Robert HM]

They still think they are a monopoly! Can you imagine them doing that to a pensioner?

[rex008]

Unless it's vitally important you pay the same amount every month, cancel the budget plan and go to quarterly DD on the actual bill amount. Those "budget" plans are designed simply so that the company has extra cash to earn some interest on. If that isn't the case, they start to panic. Blatant rip off, frankly.

[thetank]

My friend works for one of these energy companies and she would rant about British Gas as if they were the anti-christ.

Apparently they are generally the most expensive supplier (although it depends on what area of the country you live in) yet they boast about lowering their prices more than any other company. May be true, but they're still more expensive.
People buy this shit because they trust British Gas.

Oh, and if you do change suppliers, British Gas will hassle you on the phone and tell you lies to try to win you back. There have been occasions when they've even signed people up without their consent.

Other stuff like that, it bores me, but yeah, probably a good idea to switch your supplier.

They all have 50 different ways of making price plans and packages sound good. Cut through the bullshit and switch to whoever has the lowest unit rate. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU gotta switch

youswitch.com


Oooh, if you do switch, then don't bother your arse hasslin' British Gas and compainin' about the direct debit increase. Whoever the new company is will sort it out and you never have to speak to them again.

[byronkincaid]

i have heard that many people have switched from BG only for BG to keep on charging them even after repeated complaints.

[thetank]

Lastly, some companies will let you enter meter readings yourself online. (They still come to check every so often)

Entering a meter reading every month is a good way to dodge all this direct debit increasing fivefold nonsense.

[thetank]

i have heard that many people have switched from BG only for BG to keep on charging them even after repeated complaints.

Doesn't surprise me, the people who give you the "winback" calls are on an aggressive commision based pay scheme. Often they will sign you back up with British Gas on their computer even when you have not given your consent to do so.

They get the comission for a "winback" (between five and twenty quid I think), you get a truck load of hassle.

On rare occasions when British Gas operatives are caught doing this, they are not prosecuted for fraud. The only disincentive is a possible dismissal. That's no big deal, they walk into another comission based telesales job down the street.



The people who come to your door are the biggest scare mongering fibbers out there. They make the phone sales people look like a government funded independant advisory service.
This is true for all utility companies to be fair, not just BG. (Often the door2door peeps will not be working directly for the utility company but are sub-contracted out.) They lie all day long, don't listen to them and don't fekkin' sign anything.
Sort oot yer utilitys on t'internet.   

[ScottMGee]

This is true for all utility companies to be fair, not just BG. (Often the door2door peeps will not be working directly for the utility company but are sub-contracted out.) They lie all day long, don't listen to them and don't fekkin' sign anything.

I know they are just doing their job, but they are a pain in the ****.

I have two signs on my door saying 'no door to door sales'. Last monday night about 8.00 pm (playing HU's SNG) door bell rings and its two muppets from NPower. I explain the sign and shut the door.

Next night, same time, still playing HU's SNGs, the door bell rings again. This time it's three people from NPower. I explain, not so nicely about the sign and then ring NPower to complain!

[byronkincaid]

i hate npower after one of their door knocking reps blatently lied to try to get me to sign up and will never ever in a zillion years give them any of my money

[kinboshi]

This is true for all utility companies to be fair, not just BG. (Often the door2door peeps will not be working directly for the utility company but are sub-contracted out.) They lie all day long, don't listen to them and don't fekkin' sign anything.

I know they are just doing their job, but they are a pain in the ****.

I have two signs on my door saying 'no door to door sales'. Last monday night about 8.00 pm (playing HU's SNG) door bell rings and its two muppets from NPower. I explain the sign and shut the door.

Next night, same time, still playing HU's SNGs, the door bell rings again. This time it's three people from NPower. I explain, not so nicely about the sign and then ring NPower to complain!

Don't answer the door.  Same way if someone calls, you don't have to answer the telephone.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I only answer the door if it's someone I know, or Jehovah witnesses/Mormons so I can have a laugh.

[AndrewT]

Don't answer the door.  Same way if someone calls, you don't have to answer the telephone.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I only answer the door if it's someone I know, or Jehovah witnesses/Mormons so I can have a laugh.

Here's a photo of Kinboshi having a quick look out of the window to see if there's anyone he knows at the door.

[kinboshi]

Don't answer the door.  Same way if someone calls, you don't have to answer the telephone.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I only answer the door if it's someone I know, or Jehovah witnesses/Mormons so I can have a laugh.

Here's a photo of Kinboshi having a quick look out of the window to see if there's anyone he knows at the door.

You like my pearl necklace?

[AndrewT]

Don't answer the door.  Same way if someone calls, you don't have to answer the telephone.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I only answer the door if it's someone I know, or Jehovah witnesses/Mormons so I can have a laugh.

Here's a photo of Kinboshi having a quick look out of the window to see if there's anyone he knows at the door.

You like my pearl necklace?

What are you wiping off that window?

[Claw75]

Don't answer the door.  Same way if someone calls, you don't have to answer the telephone.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I only answer the door if it's someone I know, or Jehovah witnesses/Mormons so I can have a laugh.

Here's a photo of Kinboshi having a quick look out of the window to see if there's anyone he knows at the door.

You like my pearl necklace?

I do.  Who gave it to you?

[kinboshi]

Don't answer the door.  Same way if someone calls, you don't have to answer the telephone.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I only answer the door if it's someone I know, or Jehovah witnesses/Mormons so I can have a laugh.

Here's a photo of Kinboshi having a quick look out of the window to see if there's anyone he knows at the door.

You like my pearl necklace?

What are you wiping off that window?

Now you know what the shower cap's for.