can you help with a british gas pre-pay meter question?

Question

i am on a prepay key meter.

they changed my meter last month from a swipe card.

they have wrote to me a number of times since i moved into my flat in may05 to say they would be coming to update my meter on certain dates and always between 8am and 8pm. sometimes i stayed in all day and no-one turned up.

then on saturday i recieved a letter saying that since my meter wasnt updated since 2003 i owe them £113.
im on benefits at the moment so i cant afford to pay that much.

i havent even been in the flat that long.
i dont think i should have to pay it.
what should i do?

should i have to pay this money?

its an eletricity meter.

Answer 1

Pre-payment meters are the most expensive way to pay for your utilities. get them changed as soon as you can afford to do so and you will save a packet!
Contact the CAB with regards to the snotty letters they are sending you, if they are asking you to pay for time you weren't even living in the place then you have a case.

Answer 2

Good idea to go to CAB , I think that you will have to pay for the gas that was used and i guess that the meter was set at a lower rate since the gas prices have gone up.
If you dont get satisfaction you can contact the gas regulator the contact details should be on your bill.
I am sure that if you have arrears you will be ab le to arrange payment over a period of time.

something else you should consider is the fact that prepay meters are the most expensive way to pay for gas or electric.It is much better to set up a monthly payment plan with direct debit with he gas company. That way you pay a set monthly charge over a year the same amount every month summer and winter so you wont get a horrendous bill in the cold months.
nce you have cleared off any arrears with british gas I suggest you dump them they are the most expensive on the market .

ps if they have made appointments and failed to turn up I am sure you should get compensation for this although you may have to ask for this. When I worked in the electricity company it used to be £20 for a missed appointment

Answer 3

Ring them up , i had a similar problem , but it turned out that the letter`s are computer generated ( sent out by the computer automatically ) a simple phone call solved the problem straight away ( well after about 20 min`s waiting on the phone ) make sure you mention that the meter reading was not down to you and you waited in at the agreed time`s but no one turned up . i got a £20 goodwill payment off them as an apology ! Good Luck

Answer 4

Try calling the customer service number on your bill and talk to them. It could just be an error on thier part. If that doesn't work try searching online for a consumer affairs commitie. Your country should have some public office dedicated to helping citizens with consumer concerns.

Answer 5

you need to contact energy watch, I had a similar problem to you, contacted energy watch and they were brilliant they acted on my behalf and in the end the bill was written off by British gas,(it won't cost you a penny for their services) they are on the web. or you can get their number from the back of your gas bill.

Answer 6

if you have used it you will have to pay but in instulments i have these meters and use 80 a month for both its the worst form of gas and electric good luck

Answer 7

no i wouldnt pay them a penny. go and try and get some advice mabee consumer advice dont phone them i was on the phone to them last week and it took me 45 mins to speak to someone good luck.

Answer 8

you will have to pay the money back but if you phone them they can adjust the key so you repay it over time..

Answer 9

don't pay, got the c.a.b and get help and it's them at fault not you.