British Gas

[in a mo]

We pay our Gas by Direct Debit our payments were �28.00 per month now we have been informed that the figure will rise to �61.00 amonth ,this is supposed to be due to the Gas price rise which is 35%.I have spoken to British Gas who have agreed to reduce the payment to �57.00 a month .I feel that this is outrageous any thoughts please.We are being held to ransom by BG .
I look forward to your replies
In A Mo

[Postdog]

I considered paying by direct debit rather than getting a bill every so often, but, for the reasons you give, I decided against it as I didn't want them having that much control over my money. In the big scheme of things, paying gas can wait and I am not having other, more urgent, payments jeopardised by them taking money.

So I am still on periodic billing, but I pay my bills online, including british gas, and for the last three years I have done my own "direct debits" so to speak by transferring money to my gas account on a semi regular basis or as and when I feel I need to chip in extra - for instance, if I know I have had the heating on a lot.

This saves me getting a huge bill, as most has already been paid, and what needs to be added is usually affordable. With the last bill I owed �5.41.

Of course this only works if you have online banking as I do, and set up the bill paying facility.

Incidentally they have never queried this - as long as they get their money, I think they are happy.

[terambulan]

I work that out to being �37pm?

[gina32]

by paying when you get the bill you pay more, most companies give you a discount for paying by direct debit, find out first

[Ethel]

You are not being held to ransom - it is a fact that the price of gas has gone up considerably several times over the past year.

Get on to the switching sites and see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere.

If you can, switch supplier.

And find ways of reducing your gas consumption.

[Panic Button]

Are you in credit?

There was an item on the BBC news recently about BG putting peoples DD's up too high. When challenged they usually agreed to bring it down. One of the people they did i to was an MP. Mistake.

However if you bring it down too much and we get a cold winter you could end up in debt to them.

Personally, after so many bad stories about BG, I would never be a customer of theirs. Try one of the price comparison switching sites.

[juill]

the same happened to us, b,gas put our direct debit up 63% and after a tele call reduced our payment by �26. definitely a racket to have the benefit of our money. by the way we were in credit by �58

[natalie_1982]

I think this is quite common, I had the same from BT re our phone line last week except they decided they would put our monthly �35 payment up to �161!!!! Needless to say I phoned them and the payment has been reduced to �35 again.

As for gas and electric, as has been outlined already you will get a small discount for paying by Direct Debit. Have you given a recent meter reading to ensure that BG have the correct information? The prices of fuel have gone through the roof recently and as such it will be reflected in your bills but you can keep an eye on it by regularly taking meter readings yourself and doing online comparisons.

For example, at the start of this year my husband and I were paying �20 electric and �25 gas via DD per month, we both work full time so fuel useage M-F daytimes was minimal. However, in April I had a baby and subsequently, six months maternity leave so obviously bills were going to rise as I was at home during the day. Coupling that with the price rises I called Southern Electric myself and doubled our payments so as to ensure that we didn't get into debt, when we got our bill through this month it was pretty accurate.

Try and keep one step ahead so that you can be aware that you might have a large bill coming, and obviously be careful with your energy useage and you may end up in credit and actually able to lower your monthly payments.

[in a mo]

Ethel re 1.10.08
Just to clear up a point ,I feel we are being held to ransom as the increase in the standing order is far to high,I called BG and they have lowered it to �57.00 ,this is still far to high when we are on a fixed income .Surley it would be fraud if I allowed them to take what they want ,when I know it will not be there,also we would be paying over ths top for something that we have not used. Thank you
in a mo

[LoftyLottie]

I don't pay any utility bills by Direct Debit. I want to be in charge and they do make dreadful mistakes.

What I find disturbing is that a lot of people will just accept these increases to the Direct Debit - especially old people who were used to honestly and correct bills being sent years ago.

[smurfchops]

Get a quote from Eon for gas and electricity combined (dual fuel) with Direct Debit, it might be cheaper. British Gas are very expensive.

[Totterdown]

I don't pay by direct debit (hate the system) but pay by card in the Post Office the same amount each month all the year round. (Last year �29). Last year I got a letter from BG saying my payments should be �51 in future. I am always in credit, (albeit by a small amount in winter). So I was immediately on the telephone and threatened to take my business elsewhere. They then said a "little mistake" must have occurred and I should continue paying �29. I have continued to be in credit and refuse to be part of their little games with my money. This year they say I should pay �35, which I will do so considering the amount gas will be going up. They just try it on, and then have all the interest on the overpayments. Don't let them do it.

[in a mo]

Does anyone know if there is a charge to have a pre pay meter installed, I would prefer to be in control of our payments,even though British Gas has agreed to take �50.00 a month this is still way to much.
Thank you
In A Mo

[natalie_1982]

I don't know if there is a fee for getting a pre-payment metre installed but I would sttrongly urge you to seriously consider the cost implications before doing so; fuel is more expensive when using a pre-payment meter. My friend lives in a two bedroom flat with her partner and son, during school hours the flat is unused as everyone at work or school yet last week she spent �32 in one week on the meter. She stays up late to do her washing in the middle of the night so it is at cheaper rate but it still costs a fortune.

When I moved into my house last summer we had pre-payment meters and I wanted to go DD so had neww meters installed and it didn't cost me anything to get new meters installed the opposite way to how you want. (sorry, cruddy English there but it's still a bit early!).

Just make sure you keep an eye on your meter readings and be careful with your energy consumption; use energy saving light bulbs, turn the heating down and only use it if really needed, etc.