Do you want to know about my morning...do you? DO YOU??
Bill currently in my name. I want it in joint names for proof of address type situations. I also want to set up internet access to my account.
How hard can that be - right? I phone british gas
BG person 1 answers. I say hello and say that I want to add Mr M2pw to the account so that his name also appears on bills (I give an example of needing to open a bank account and requiring a utility bill for proof of address) BG1 says he understands. I say that I also want to check my customer account numbers so I can set up internet account.
No problem says BG1, your account numbers are....I will add your husband now I have added him. Here is the telephone number for the internet dept, you have to wait 28 days now before calling them. (because of changes made)
?? 28 days?
I decide to call them anyway, just to check that.
BG person 2 answers and tells me no, you don't need to wait 28 days, no idea why he said that, yes I can set you up to use internet.oh no, sorry, not if you want a joint account. system doesn't work like that.
eh?
Apparently, you can either have a joint account or manage your account online. It's because it has to be a single name, you see.
I express my opinion on the merit of such a system and say that in that case, I shall just look for a different supplier who can meet my needs. I replace reciever with gusto.
I decide to phone back to make sure that BG2 is not talking rubbish, since switching suppliers seems a lot of hassle.
BG person 3 - I explain everything - joint names, internet access.....BG3 tells me that he can see nothing on screen to indicate anything at all has been done. Mr M2PW has not been added to the account. Sorry. He hates it when this happens. Of course it can be done, doesn't know why I was told it couldn't be done. Yes, he understands that I need to have joint names on the bill. he can do it now, just needs to speak to dh for a minute that's fine. 10 minutes and it'll be done. Internet access to account and both names on account.
I check website. My name is spelled wrongly, dh isn't on there at all. AND one of the account numbers does not match the number I have. I worry that if I make a payment, it will be credited to someone else's account. I let out small sob and phone back.
BG person 4 - BG3 put Mr M2PW as someone who could discuss the account. I explain that I wanted joint account so that dh name would appear on bills. No, says BG4, his name won't appear on bills through the post, but if I print off a bill or stuff from the online info, his name will be on there. BG4 tells me that if I want a joint account, I will have to close down the existing accounts and have a new gas/electric account.
I say, but his name will appear on things printed from the account on-line? BG4 tells me yes.
I ask about the customer reference numbers. I explain that they were given to me by BG themselves, only this morning. BG4 tells me that one of them was the old one. When I swopped from a pre-pay meter, I got a new customer number. I ask why I was given the old one only this morning. BG4 doesn't know and couldn't care less I felt.
So I thank her through gritted teeth and go check out the website. I click to give a meter reading.
The screen tells me 'Due to the meter type of your account, we are unable to accept your meter read online. Please call us on..'
I phone BG. BG person 5 tells me it is because I used to have pre-pay meters and it has not been updated. He tells me he will do it now, but frankly I have stopped believing anything they say. I ask him to confirm that the customer reference numbers are the correct, current ones. He tells me the customer numbers don't change. I say that I beg to differ but the electricity number has changed. He says oh yes, so it has, I have no idea why they've done that.
A very cynical thought strikes me and I ask him what the final balance on the old electricity ref was. He looks and tells me credit of £65. I think BINGO. That's why they gave me a new account. I say to him, well, when will they give me the £65 back. He says he doesn't know, that is the pre-payment dept. I tell him to put me through.
I wait for half an hour on hold before I get through to someone. I start to explain and BG6 interrupts me to say that I am through to the GAS prepayment section and he can't help me. He transfers me to the electricity prepayment section.
BG7 has a look and tells me that there is no credit at all on the old account. I ask what the other guy was on about then. He says well, a screen probably popped up and he misunderstood it.
At this point I lose the will to live and go look for gin.
Bottoms up.