British Gas £66 Refund

[smurfchops]

I haven’t had this promised Government refund deducted from my Direct Debit, either for October or November. Haven’t had my December statement yet. How can I get it other than hanging on the phone waiting to speak to someone? Thanks all

[Hopkirk]

Check your current account statement for money paid directly to you.

[goodgoalie]

Have you checked your online account with your energy supplier?

If you don't have one, then open one - it's easy, and will let you know exactly what is happening with your payments etc.

[goodgoalie]

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/identity/register

[diddlydo]

My £66 rebates have gone straight to my current account about 10 days after the Direct Debit has been taken - they haven't changed the DD payment.

[goodgoalie]

It works in different ways for different suppliers: with some the £66 is paid by the government straight to the person's bank account, with others (like mine) they pay it to the supplier.

[Hopkirk]

BG pays it into your bank account.

[Buenchico]

There seem to be different ways that the energy companies are handling the payments, possibly depending upon whether they think that your existing direct debit will already be sufficient to meet the costs of your energy bills without needing any top-up from the government.

(There's some discussion about it here: https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Business-and-Finance/Question1818906.html )

Basically, it seems that one of three things can happen:

A. If your energy supplier gets the £66 but their computer says it's not needed (because your direct debit is already sufficient to pay your bills), they'll refund the £66 to your bank account ; OR

B. If your energy supplier similarly thinks that your existing direct debit is high enough to meet your bills, they'll hang onto the £66 payments but then reduce your direct debit payments by £66 throughout the period that you're receiving government help; OR

C. If your energy supplier thinks that your direct debit isn't set high enough to cover your fuel bills on its own, they'll simply hang onto the £66 payments in order to top your direct debit payments up.

As I read it, you seem to be expecting 'B' to happen but it's likely that 'C' is actually happening instead. You need to check BOTH your energy supply account AND your bank account to see if you can make sense of it.

[Maydup]

Check your electricty statement?