To hate British Gas?!

[Myrrfect]

So in summary I’ve been out of the country, in March I had a month gap between tenants and asked my ds to go and repaint.
Contacted British Gas explained old tenants moving out, new tenants moving in and the month gap - asked for the bill. Was told “not ready yet call in two weeks or more”
So I called, and called and called, never got through to a human again and because it’s attached to the property but not me I can’t pay it through the automated service or online. I come home beginning of July, set up me as bill payer ask them to check. “No no outstanding payment on your account”*
So Friday I get a letter from a collection agency! Aargh!!
British Gas if I could have just talked to someone I’d have paid the damn bill!!!
So I’ve paid it to the collection agency and not to British Gas as can’t talk to a human in either business.
AIBU to think this is nuts!! And that a customer service number should be a CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER?!?!

(Needed to rant..... *proviso at this point I know I should have insisted they check but at the time was distracted by smart meters and forgot)

YANBU. I used to work in property management & British Gas got more complaints from us than all the other utility companies put together. Go through the complaint process.

YANBU. Awful company. In fact the only business ever to reduce me to tears.
Years ago I lived in a rented mid terraced house and they tried to charge me £600 for one months electric because I was on business rates. They would not accept that my home was a residential property and I was a single person living with a baby so there was no way I was using that much electricity. Numerous phone calls got me nowhere and they threatened debt collectors. They eventually gave in when my dad spoke to them. Misogynistic twat badgers.

They have a terrible reputation. I won’t have anything to do with them.

@fairgame84
Seriously that is a truly awful situation, especially on your own with a baby! And that they backed down when they spoke to your dad?! Makes it worse!!
Grrrrr

(I’m actually calming down now but your story has riled me up again!)

@LegoCaltrops
Complaints process....
is that press 1 for homecare..... ?

I forget exactly the specific details of what you need to include for it to qualify as a complaint. Writing FORMAL COMPLAINT in big bold capitals at the top of the letter usually goes a long way though. Followed by specific details of what happened, exactly when, who you spoke to (names times & dates if possible). How this has inconvenienced you - time off work, financial loss, stress, other things you weren’t able to do, any fees you’ve had to pay e.g. overdraft, phone bill etc.
Remain polite. Swearing won’t help. I’ve work in these sort of places- not utility companies, but financial services, & some employees really will go the extra mile for a customer who they feel has been unlucky but remained polite despite everything. However some employees are just lazy, it’s pot luck…