Utilities

[rosinante]

Question to the illuminati, I have smart meters for gas and electricity, I pay by direct debit ,is it possible for me to pay monthly for what I have used rather than an estimate of future usage factored in , examining my account I have been paying too much for both, it seems I'm not alone and therefore there must be millions of pounds in the coffers of British gas that is essentially an interest free source of money . Smart meters should be able to generate accurate billing obviating the " estimate " based on usage . If I go to quarterly Billing I penalised with higher bills yet consume the same amount. Tried asking the help lines they arepermanently engaged and the "bot" ffs , just shuts down when asked
Rant nearly over
Chris

 

[qwakers]

yes, direct debit whole amount rather than the standard direct debit. its how i pay my electricity.

 

[rosinante]

yes, direct debit whole amount rather than the standard direct debit. its how i pay my electricity.

Hi , my direct debit is set by British gas and according to them will leave me in 300 pounds of credit , can't get hold of them to sort it , last year the water was paid on estimated , apportionment rates , I paid double what was required , included is a fee for meter reading ffs , yet they want me to scrabble about on the pavement lifting lids and looking at a meter 3 ft down to give an accurate reading , none of these meters carry a calibration certificate , imagine being given short measure a at petrol station or buying a pint of beer. Are Trading standards still checking scales and pumps etc ?

 

[Craig-SM]

I was with British Gas until today when I moved to Octopus. We were moved to BG when People’s Energy failed. It’s been hard work with them since day one. Bills wrong, direct debits not relating to usage and the worst customer service ever experienced. Took ages to correct and get the direct debit to what I calculated it should be.
6 month bill at Christmas showed usage and direct debits matched leaving a small credit on my account. Next direct debit announced on the bill was nearly double what I’d been paying! Couldn’t adjust online, only increase it. Customer services, all Indian, were useless said they would adjust the direct debit and I asked for an email to confirm. No email received and checking online my direct debit has increased from the amount on the bill plus what it was supposed to be adjusted to.
Enough was enough and transferred to Octopus. Direct debit calculated by them agreed with my calculations to a few pence. Only took a few days to complete and using a referral I get a £50 credit on my account as does the person who referred me.
BG sent me a final bill today that not only has the wrong meter reading but also doesn’t have the gas usage on. Beyond a joke.

 

[mike os]

BG sent me a final bill today that not only has the wrong meter reading but also doesn’t have the gas usage on. Beyond a joke.

my standard response to this is to return the bill with a note saying it is incorrect... no information or explanation..

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I also just moved to Octopus today, I suggest you ditch BG and go the same way. I was with OVO previously and cancelled their DD today, to which they responded with......so higher cost for non DD.

Set up a new Direct Debit, to carry on paying lower rates​

Hello RD,

Your bank let us know that you’ve cancelled your Direct Debit. That means we won't be able to collect your payments.

It costs less to pay by Direct Debit on your variable plan​

This is because it’s cheaper for us to manage your account when you pay that way.

Now you’ve cancelled yours, you’ll pay after your bill arrives instead​

We call this paying On Demand. It costs slightly more.

To avoid paying the higher rates, just set up a new Direct Debit online​

It’s quick and easy – head over to your online account.

Set up a new Direct Debit

We’ll recommend a monthly amount for your Direct Debit, to cover the energy we think you’ll use.

This simple tool will help you understand how the Direct Debit we recommend is calculated.

Unless you set up a new Direct Debit, you’ll pay higher rates from 3 February 2023.​

The costs of your variable plan, if you pay On Demand​

	Electricity	Gas
Unit rate per kWh	36.29p	11.18p
Standing charge per day	57.36p	33.53p
Estimated annual cost	£1076	£1788

The costs of your variable plan, if you pay by Direct Debit​

	Electricity	Gas
Unit rate per kWh	32.76p	10.27p
Standing charge per day	51.07p	28.48p
Estimated annual cost	£968	£1634

 

[stuvy]

I was with British Gas until today when I moved to Octopus. We were moved to BG when People’s Energy failed. It’s been hard work with them since day one. Bills wrong, direct debits not relating to usage and the worst customer service ever experienced. Took ages to correct and get the direct debit to what I calculated it should be.
6 month bill at Christmas showed usage and direct debits matched leaving a small credit on my account. Next direct debit announced on the bill was nearly double what I’d been paying! Couldn’t adjust online, only increase it. Customer services, all Indian, were useless said they would adjust the direct debit and I asked for an email to confirm. No email received and checking online my direct debit has increased from the amount on the bill plus what it was supposed to be adjusted to.
Enough was enough and transferred to Octopus. Direct debit calculated by them agreed with my calculations to a few pence. Only took a few days to complete and using a referral I get a £50 credit on my account as does the person who referred me.
BG sent me a final bill today that not only has the wrong meter reading but also doesn’t have the gas usage on. Beyond a joke.

I was with octopus as the ex set it up

They charged a different amount for the 14 months we lived there…

 

[rosinante]

My beef is that with a "smart meter" estimated bills or payments in excess of usage in order to boost the cash holdings of companies who's shareholders are in receipt of unprecedented dividends doesn't sit well, with me , yet trying to get them to play fair is very difficult , after all their ads hype the ability of the consumer to manage their usage and ultimately the bill .Currently left alone my total overpayment aka free money to them Inc water will be approx 600 pounds . If millions of households are doing this tye money managers at these utility behemoths are cruising easily along making even more in interests and diversification investment .

 

[mike os]

My beef is that with a "smart meter" estimated bills or payments in excess of usage in order to boost the cash holdings of companies who's shareholders are in receipt of unprecedented dividends doesn't sit well, with me , yet trying to get them to play fair is very difficult , after all their ads hype the ability of the consumer to manage their usage and ultimately the bill .Currently left alone my total overpayment aka free money to them Inc water will be approx 600 pounds . If millions of households are doing this tye money managers at these utility behemoths are cruising easily along making even more in interests and diversification investment .

Last time they tried to get me to have one I told them I would not accept estimates following it's fitting and if the bill was estimated it wouldn't get paid until corrected ...

 

[ajlelectronics]

If people are unable to get utilities to respond, just use the Direct Debit Guarantee. Call your bank and ask them to reverse whichever transactions are in excess. If you REALLY want to get the attention of a utility company, cancelling the DD is a method of achieving that.

 

[rosinante]

If people are unable to get utilities to respond, just use the Direct Debit Guarantee. Call your bank and ask them to reverse whichever transactions are in excess. If you REALLY want to get the attention of a utility company, cancelling the DD is a method of achieving that.

The snag is cancelling dd results in higher charges , also how do you know what the excess charges are ?

 

[Robotstar5]

I assume all utility companies have an online account managing facility (saves them answering emails, phone etc.) and if you dig deep enough there will be an option to adjust your DD.

 

[Craig-SM]

I assume all utility companies have an online account managing facility (saves them answering emails, phone etc.) and if you dig deep enough there will be an option to adjust your DD.

problem is the adjustment is within their preset parameters

 

[bricol]

AS I keep saying on similar threads - my mum is with British Gas - I have to say both email and phone they have been helpful, both with setting up the direct debit, and then adjusting it to pay the actual bill, not their suggested average amount to even out payments over the whole year.

Similar with Octopus.

 

[vw-al]

I’ve been with BG for both gas and electric for years now, never had any problems, they send me an email and text reminder at the end of the month to submit my readings , I submit my readings for both and 10-14 days later they take the money, so I only pay for what I use. The app and the website work for me with no issues.

 

[rosinante]

Do you need to send in readings with smart meters ? If so why were they fitted , ?

 

[Screwdriver]

The obsession with "smart meters" is a gigantic con. They just want the extra control and a data connection into your life.

Why is it that once a property has had a "smart" meter installed it can NEVER be changed back for a good old fashioned regular type?? (rhetorical question, I know the answer but the swear filter won't let me post it here).

As for the excess billing by "estimate" that is also a massive con. How is it their estimate always ends up with you in credit so that they're hanging onto your money for years. Another rhetorical question...

I was forced to subscribe to Shell energy and they have a payment scheme which allows you to pay the amount based on the precise readings you submit and not an estimate or fixed regular monthly amount.

The excuse is that they take an "over estimate" based on your annual usage so that you don't get a huge bill in the winter. Since they're gonna send you a huge bill anyway, might just as well stick to paying only for the energy you use at the time...

 

[gaz1]

6 month bill at Christmas showed usage and direct debits matched leaving a small credit on my account. Next direct debit announced on the bill was nearly double what I’d been paying! Couldn’t adjust online, only increase it. Customer services, all Indian, were useless said they would adjust the direct debit and I asked for an email to confirm. No email received and checking online my direct debit has increased from the amount on the bill plus what it was supposed to be adjusted to.

thats the part i dont like

theres no need to adjust the dd to a higher amount whe its fine to pay that amount that your paying

but for some reason they dont want it that way i presume profit for them so they force it higher automatically

trying to get it back down is a different matter as its nothing but trouble getting it done

cancel the direct debit 3 times and you loose the dd contract and have to renew on the new prices

 

[Morrisman]

I set my monthly direct debit with Bulb, now Octopus. I go to the website, set the required sum, and hit save.

Currently £1 a month for electric.

I simply do not understand how or why people allow themselves to get hundreds of pounds in credit, when they don't want to be.

If you're really that bothered, cancel the direct debit. The company WILL be in touch with you to sort things out, and NO, they can't shut off your electric or gas.

I think nowadays, that people are simply too scared to upset 'the man' so they just keep on handing over their hard earned, rather than rock the boat.

 

[gaz1]

they will attempt 3 times to get there payment from you,

then they will cancel your reduced payment contract with them and you have to create another new payment contract with them at the new price levels

is what will happen