Anyone else have problems with British Gas and/or paperless billing?

[Postdog]

No, I'm not on about the price increases, just them being a terrible company to try and have dealings with. Until a few months ago, I had no problems in that they supplied the gas and I paid the bills.

However I'm on paperless billing, where they email me to say I have a bill, I check online, pay it and that's that. For that, you theoretically get a discount (small) after a year providing they never send you reminders. Well my year was up in June, I paid as I normally do, only to get a reminder 3 weeks later. The short story is my bank transferred the money in plenty of time, but it was them who failed to collect or tie it with my account.

So I wrote to complain, saying I did not expect to lose the discount over their error, but all I got back was a standard letter saying they'd write to me in due course.

Since then I have had my meter read and should have got another bill, but have not been notified of one. Once again I have written to them complaining, and again asking for the original compaint to be dealt with, but - tho two weeks ago - I have heard nothing.

The discount I mentioned is only �5.00, but it's the principle of it rather than the money - it just seems funny that come the time for them to fulfill their side of the bargain, something happens that supposedly renders me ineligible to recieve it.

Has anyone a similar problem or stories of dealing with them?

[oldwoman]

Im sick to death of them. Im tied in till April 2007 then they^ll be gone. My biggest grievence is Direct Debit my elec is �60 a quarter but they insist on �42 a month. At the next bill they will owe me �100. Looking on their website new customers get about �84 for going with paperless bills .

[reffgt]

I do on line billing, but have had no trouble at all, I do read my meter every week to keep an eye on it, then the lad comes to read it,my total is the same as his, then I go on line and pay with my bank debit card, Not by direct debit monthly as I dont trust anyone with that, plus I get my electricity from them as well.Could be they are crafty, and would like you to do same.????? Hope this helps.