British G** Nightmare

[slipnot]

What's my responsibility (if any) apart from paying for any gas I've used? Moved to newbuild 18mths ago, was told BG was gas supplier. Despite numerous calls to them they said I was not their customer, so I eventually signed to another supplier. No bills or contact from them. Now they are sending letters to my address (but addressed to someone I don't know) threatening to break in, cut off supply, refer me to debt collector (which will damage my credit abilities with CCJs - takes months to cancel these). Haven't slept, unable to work properly due to this stress. Contacted them immediately when first letter arrived, gave my details to open a new account etc, but they've not got back to me when they said they would, assured me cut-off etc would not happen (do I believe them?). I've sent 3-page complaint letter to Head of Debt, BG, last Friday. What now? Energywatch are sponsored by the gas companies including BG so can't be impartial. Do I need to involve a lawyer? Thank you.

[lou 26]

british gas are crap! ive had no end of problems with them and there are lots of horror stories the same as yours! Energywatch are very good. I had to contact them as british gas were threatening all sorts. I would receive a letter threatening to cut me off, phone them, they would tell me its not going to happen, next day id receive another letter. Lack of communication between departments is a speciality of BG! In the end i contacted british gas who told me they have their own direct line through to British Gas as they have so many complaints! I phoned the number they gave me and as soon as I explained to BG that id been in contact with Energywatch, the problem was sorted. I would definitely use them as your next line of fire! I wish you all the luck in the world! xx

[lou 26]

oops sorry! I should have read it before i submitted!

It should have read "in the end I contacted energywatch"

[factor-fiction]

I'm a bit puzzled about the otehr supplier you signed up with . Did they take money off you? If you've paid them then why should you have to pay BG too.

[lou 26]

i think this probably explains what british gas are like factor30

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/consumer/bills/ar ticle.html?in_article_id=423294&in_page_id=510

Have you managed to sort anything slipnot?

[themas]

I don't understand. If this was a new build then there was no gas supplier when you moved in. The developer may have had a supply from BG during the building phase but there is no way that could pass any contractual liability to you unless you actually signed something (say in the papers about the house purchase) which had that effect.

Try Energywatch - as said, they do have a special contact line for BG. But I have had more success with the Energy Supply Ombudsman.

[slipnot]

Thanks to lou26, themas and factor 30 for your help and advice - sorry I am so late in replying - I've been away for a few days - much needed break! Update is that I've still not had a reply (or even an acknowledgement) to my letter to BG last week - shows how much they know about procedures! As you say, I'll definitely contact Energywatch, then Energy Supply Ombudsman if no satisfaction this next week. Glad I'm not the only person this has happened to - there again, no-one should have to put up with threats and bully tactics from British G** or any other company, especially when you've never signed up with them in the first place! How many customers are paying for other people's gas usage etc? The mind boggles. Thanks to everyone for their advice.

[slipnot]

Just an update (esp for Lou26). As explained above, following almost 2 years trying to sort out a gas bill (and just as I was beginning to think I worked for BG!) they have written off my bill (not cracking open the champagne yet). Received yet another bill from them on Saturday (�788!) which was a series of estimated readings over 18 mths. The true amount of our usage was around �75 (with another supplier since 9/07) which they accept and have now written this amount off and sending a zero bill. Reason for writing it off may have something to do with the fact someone else was paying for our supply by direct debit for 4 months then stopped and BG would have been charging us for gas someone else had payed for! Also, they said they would only charge us for the last year's usage - very nice of them. Advice I'd give anyone taking on a new property would be to contact their supplier at once to agree meter serial no and readings. If they say you're not their customer or such, change immediately to a new supplier. Even then, you could still be chased for bills out of the blue 2 years later and end up on a bad debt list! It would be lovely if this is the e..n..d .....or will another red threat appear in tomorrow's postbag?