Page 2 | Ffs British Gas

toomuchlaundry · 16/03/2022 07:59

@lollipoprainbow didn’t they ask for readings when you changed over

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 16/03/2022 08:00

@toomuchlaundry nope I was just charged to British Gas and that was that.

OP posts:

Pinkflipflop85 · 16/03/2022 08:01

@Getoff

Why would there be estimates if there's a smart meter?

Our not so smart meter from British gas didn't send readings to them. Took me 8 months before I noticed.

toomuchlaundry · 16/03/2022 08:02

My DM’s electricity provider went bust and she was moved over to BG, she was forever being asked for meter readings at that time

BrieAndChilli · 16/03/2022 08:05

When was the last time an actual meter reading was taken? Can you look at that and see what your usage has been since then?

Also check nothing is faulty so turn everything off and see if meter still records something, then turn everything on one by one and see what effect it has on the meter reading

Sirzy · 16/03/2022 08:07

So British Gas haven’t asked for a reading at all since September?

implantreplace · 16/03/2022 08:08

Why have a smart meter installed

If you don’t look at it once over four months?

clarrylove · 16/03/2022 08:10

Have you made sure the serial number on your meter matches the one listed on your bill?

Also a test you should carry out ( if you can). Take a reading from the meter, then switch off the supply to your property. When you switch power back on, check the meter hasn’t moved. If it has whilst power is off, you may be affected by cross connection from a nearby smart meter. Or in some cases properties have been wired incorrectly which doesn’t come to light until there’s a change of ownership or a sudden surge in costs. This is more common than you think in renovated properties and new builds that are in close proximity to neighbouring properties.

Something to tick off as a possible cause.

WishIwasElsa · 16/03/2022 08:12

I've got a smart meter n power put it in, I then moved to orbit who didn't use it. They went bust and I'm now with scottish power. They can use the smart meter to take my readings but I don't have an indoor display as the one I had isn't compatible, they can't give me one as its not compatible and I can't have a different smart meter as I already have one. So I know cant track my useage at all. So annoyed

RiaG91 · 16/03/2022 08:13

I had a smart meter at my previous property and what a complete waste of time it was!! Always sending incorrect information and switching itself off / resetting.

In the end I started sending the meter readings myself monthly so they could see the difference.

If you can't get through on the phone, try live chat online. I've just spoken to an agent via their website and it only took 15 mins from start to finish.

Alexalee · 16/03/2022 08:21

30000 is probably 3 years worth in a house your size.... somethings not right

Sirzy · 16/03/2022 08:26

@WishIwasElsa

I've got a smart meter n power put it in, I then moved to orbit who didn't use it. They went bust and I'm now with scottish power. They can use the smart meter to take my readings but I don't have an indoor display as the one I had isn't compatible, they can't give me one as its not compatible and I can't have a different smart meter as I already have one. So I know cant track my useage at all. So annoyed

Can you not access the actual meter to take a reading?

findingsomeone · 16/03/2022 08:26

It's got to be an error. We use 24,000 a year and that's very high! Hopefully resolved for you soon OP!

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 16/03/2022 08:29

@implantreplace because life has been hell ish over last few months and it slipped my mind.

OP posts:

RedPanda901 · 16/03/2022 08:30

So stressful. I hope you sort it out. For others remember to do meter readings on 31 March yourself before the prices jump again. Also was shocked to learn yesterday that only 36% of bills is the wholesale costs of energy so this shouldn't mean bills double/triple

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/15/britains-consumer-champions-fiery-martin-lewis-richard-murphy-cost-of-living-crisis

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 16/03/2022 08:31

I'm going to get meter readings today and get them sent off.

OP posts:

kittensinthekitchen · 16/03/2022 08:32

@implantreplace

Why have a smart meter installed

If you don’t look at it once over four months?

To top up a pay as you go meter remotely?

With the intention that it sends readings directly to the supplier?

Because some customers felt like they had no choice?

kittensinthekitchen · 16/03/2022 08:33

So @lollipoprainbow this is an estimated bill? Don't panic until you take an actual reading. When was the last reading taken?

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 16/03/2022 08:33

@kittensinthekitchen thank you ! I assumed the readings were sent off to the supplier and I didn't need to look.

OP posts:

ancientgran · 16/03/2022 08:38

I switched from BG and had terrible problems with them. Being told I owed over £5,000 with no explanation, made up readings, then they said they owed me £1,000, then they said I owed them £2,000.

It went on and on for months and the customer service people I spoke to weren't helpful, one was downright rude and sarcastic. Lesson learned I won't go with BG again if I can help it.

I feel for you OP but keep fighting, I got money off them in the end.

bellabasset · 16/03/2022 08:43

BG have taken over 700,000 nre customers as a SOLR. They've said that they have to wait to get information verified by the administrator for each failed company and each company ran different systems. You changed from Utility Warehouse to People's Energy which indicates your account would have been up to date at that stage.

So do you have paper copies of your bills that show the meter readings used by your previous supplier? That would be a good start. Contact BG for a meter reader to visit and check your meters. Take a reading today and once a week to monitor your usage, make sure you keep your meter reading on 31/3/22 when you'll go onto SVR. If you can take photos of the meter readings each time. Record them in a small book.

BG smart meters stopped updating the energy costs online from 16th February, possibly due to the increase in nos. That's supposed to be fixed within the next 7 to 10 days. It could be as simple as the wrong meter reading being given to BG to set up your account.

clarrylove · 16/03/2022 08:46

You said in a previous post that this estimate was lower than your meter reading though. Is that true?

Harridan1981 · 16/03/2022 08:47

Our smart meter does bugger all, especially since switching providers.

Anyway, it does sound like an error.

EvilEdna1 · 16/03/2022 08:47

I we as switched from.Peoples Energy to British Gas and was asked for numerous meter readings. I provided them and then got a massive electricity bill. On investigating, after panic, it turns out they had changed my initial electric meter reading to be much lower so I was being charged for the same units twice. A generous view is that BG are incompetent. Hate to think that they did this as policy and hoped some people would just pay it.

DogInATent · 16/03/2022 09:06

I've just been sent an eye watering bill where it's claimed I've used 30000kwh of gas over four months

What's the amount in £ that you're being charged?

Do they give the volume of gas used (m3) and the conversion being applied to calculate the kWh amount?

I was just charged to British Gas and that was that
You're one of the former customers of an energy company that folded and you were transferred to BG?

The estimate is lower than the smart meter reading
Check your previous bills. Does the end reading of the previous bill match the start reading of this bill?

How much lower does the smart meter read than the estimate? - if you can (I don't know smart meters very well) ignore the kWh and only look at the m3.

But at the end of the day you have to speak to BG about this and that means being patient trying to get through. There were always going to be problems when the smaller providers collapsed and customers were transferred to others. Early smart meters aren't that smart, and some are incompatible with suppliers other than the one that installed it. We've avoided getting one installed until the compatibility issues have been resolved (we had a new digital dumb meter installed just a couple of years ago to replace one that still had spinny wheels).