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Original poster

British Gas account in credit - should I claim it back?

28 replies

WednesdayWitch · 30/12/2022 11:40

Monthly payment is around £230 and account is in credit by £1400.

Should I leave it where it is or just leave 2 months worth in there and get the rest back? Clueless with this stuff!

OP posts:

BiggerBoat1 · 30/12/2022 11:42

Leave it where it is. We're only at the start of the cold weather and it likely son't be in credit for long!

dementedpixie · 30/12/2022 11:42

As its a large credit balance I would either ask for some back or lower your direct debit to run down the balance that way

Limer · 30/12/2022 11:44

When did you actually last pay a bill? British Gas are notorious for only billing every six months. That credit could be wiped out (and more) by your next bill.

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GolfEchoRomeoTangoIndia · 30/12/2022 11:44

Do you have a smart meter? If not, when did you last report your meter reading?

If you've got a smart meter or reported your reading in the last week or so and you're still in credit then yes maybe reclaim some of it.

If you don't have a smart meter and your last reading was in early November then no, don't reclaim it yet, because it will be needed to pay for December's useage in the cold snap and you'll need a buffer for Jan/Feb.

Original poster

WednesdayWitch · 30/12/2022 11:51

No smart meter, but have sent in meter readings within the last month.

BG also take the DD every month, so we're not awaiting an outstanding bill.

I understand its a good idea to have a buffer, but I feel slightly aggrieved that my money is sat in their account and not mine!

Our bill is capped for the moment, so should I be expecting costs to dramatically shoot up?

OP posts:

ChessieFL · 30/12/2022 11:57

Them taking the direct debit every month isn’t the same as them actually billing you. When was the last time BG actually told you how much gas and electric you have used? If this hasn’t been for a few months then the credit you can see isn’t a real credit as they haven’t yet offset your recent usage against payments made. You

Limer · 30/12/2022 11:59

...so we're not awaiting an outstanding bill.

Are you 100% sure about this? Can you go online and check?

dementedpixie · 30/12/2022 12:02

How often does BG produce a bill?. Just because you give a reading doesn't mean they are using those readings to produce a bill. Your credit balance may not be as large as you think

OhmygodDont · 30/12/2022 12:05

You will be due a bill February ish time. We pay by dd but they only bill 2/3 times a year.

dementedpixie · 30/12/2022 12:06

I've checked their website and they either bill every 3 or 6 months. When did you actually get a bill showing your usage and costs?

It says they store meter readings for using at your next billing cycle so just because you submit a reading it doesn't mean they are adjusting your balance when you they get them.

RoseslnTheHospital · 30/12/2022 12:10

I'm with British Gas and I get billed monthly.

Are you confident you can predict what your bills are going to be like for the next few winter months? If you think it's definitely going to be a lot less than the 1400 pounds and you're happy to continue with your current monthly DD amount, then you could take some of the balance out.

dementedpixie · 30/12/2022 12:13

@RoseslnTheHospital do you pay a set direct debit or do you pay for what you use that month?

RoseslnTheHospital · 30/12/2022 12:13

I pay a set DD.

dementedpixie · 30/12/2022 12:16

The OP will need to check whether her readings are being used or stored and whether she gets billed more often than the 3 or 6 monthly as stated on their website

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 30/12/2022 12:18

WednesdayWitch · 30/12/2022 11:51

No smart meter, but have sent in meter readings within the last month.

BG also take the DD every month, so we're not awaiting an outstanding bill.

I understand its a good idea to have a buffer, but I feel slightly aggrieved that my money is sat in their account and not mine!

Our bill is capped for the moment, so should I be expecting costs to dramatically shoot up?

What do you mean by your bill is capped? Are you on a fixed tariff?

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 30/12/2022 12:19

You may be waiting for a bill.

With BG you pay your monthly payments, then at 6 months they actually charge you, so your huge credit will reduve down by bill amount.

I would ring and check with them. If it is genuine credit then yes claim back if you wany

rosegoldivy · 30/12/2022 12:22

If your account is completely up to date and your not awaiting a big bill then I'd claim it back.

I don't simular with utility warehouse when I was in £960 credit. Much better off in my pocket than sitting in my account.

gamerchick · 30/12/2022 12:26

I wouldn't. Thats how mine works, I pay a DD and it builds up. Then I get billed and it goes poof.

TrentCrimm · 30/12/2022 12:28

If it's British Gas I highly doubt it's true credit.

When I was with them, although I paid a DD monthly, they actually billed me in May and November, so at certain stages it would look like I was in a lot of credit.

I think if you ask to withdraw any credit, they may do the calculation to see what you owe up to that point.

fancyacuppatea · 30/12/2022 12:43

January and February tend to be the colder months - March is far from warm some years too.
I'd leave it for now and reassess in March/April.
Make sure you're up to date with payments from the account, not just your DD into it.

WhatHaveIDone21 · 30/12/2022 13:39

I'm also with BG and I get billed monthly too. I had over £800 credit until I got December's bill and it's drastically reduced now. I looked back over the last 18 months and it was almost double my highest ever bill. Despite knowing the prices were going up it was a big shock so maybe check when your next bill is due first?

Crackstone · 30/12/2022 13:45

You only get billed monthly with British Gas if you have specifically asked to be and had your account set up differently to the norm.

With British Gas it’s six monthly billing do your credit isn’t a true credit. In a couple of months time you’ll get your six monthly bill and all of that credit is wiped out. It’s a stupid system which frequently leads to confusion.

Crackstone · 30/12/2022 13:47

This is from the app

British Gas account in credit - should I claim it back?

pinneddownbytabbies · 30/12/2022 13:54

I'd leave it until you get your next bill. If they are receiving actual meter readings and you are still in credit, then usually utility companies review the direct debit amount once a year and adjust it accordingly.

superplumb · 30/12/2022 14:29

I'd ask for it back on principle and stick it in savings albeit shit rate. Use that to pay. Can you imagine how much interest the gas companies make with lots of people being in credit! If nothing else I'd want to stop that...they get enough profit as it is

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