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Sorry - this is long!
When I moved, in January, during a lockdown, I had 2 weeks notice.
When I arrived here, I had no telephone line, and therefore, internet, or wifi, so couldn't contact anyone.
Once I had a phone line (5 weeks later, thanks to openreach being useless) I contacted British Gas, the provider of the previous tenant, as I owed money, it had a smart meter, and should have the last meter reading.
I only wanted a 3 month contract, whilst my previous provider got their act together.
Well, the initial reading for both gas and electricity was by smart meter.
A direct debit for both utilities was set up on 3 March, money would come out of my account on 16 March.
On 18 March,I received an email saying I owed money on my electricity account, which should be paid within 5 days, or they would charge me an extra £25 to 'cover our costs' I paid.
I received my final (and only) bills from them on 20 April (gas) and 3 May.(electricity)
The electricity bill appeared to consist of the electricity costs added to the total of the gas bill I'd received. Apparently, this is normal, and only the final final bill is relevant!
What I noticed, however, on the first bill was that, apart from the first reading, all the readings were estimates - and over-estimates at that! I quickly took readings of my meters - they were 240 units over.
I phoned, and it was confirmed that my electricity readings were also over-estimated. Apparently, it would take at least a month to sort it out.
I queried why I have to pay money owing within 4 days, yet British Gas can take their time.
Why weren't the readings taken from the smart meter equipment? Why did no-one asked me to send in readings?
When I got my electricity bill, the readings (taken over a month after I'd finished with them) were 300 units more than my meter.
I decided to complain.
I queried, again, why, if I owe them money, it has to be paid in 5 days, or I will incur 'costs', yet they can take their time.
I then said I was taking a leaf out of their book, and expected monies owed to me to be paid within 5 days, or they would incur costs accrued by me, trying to sort out their mess. I enclosed the invoice below, sent it off, received a statutory email saying it would be dealt with, but would possibly take up to 21 days.
I got myself a coffee and rang them.
The chief credit controller answered - and knew it was me! (bit creepy)
He also mentioned the legal implications for British Gas.
Not sure whether this was becase of their estimatins or my invoice.
He said he would sort it, and call me either today, or at the latest, tomorrow.
He called this afternoon. The £152.37 they overcharged me, by estimating my bills, will be in the bank by tomorrow!
Here's my invoice to them for costs - it was in a tidy table form originally, but those things don't work on here.
My address was at the bottom - it was a legally acceptable invoice!
INVOICE No BG000 from Account No.8********
Customer: British Gas, Millstream. Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire. SL4 5GD
Date of work: 5th and 6th May 2010
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS - £25 per hour or part thereof Total
Time spent trying to work out readings 1 hour 25-00
Time spent pondering the final bill 1 hour 25-00
Creating email, then re-drafting it 3 hours 75-00
Payment for removing expletives from said email 1 hour 25-00
PHOTOGRAPHY COSTS - £15 per hour or part thereof
Danger money for climbing stepladder to take photograph of electricity meter (near ceiling). It took 3 attempts to get a readable photo. 3 x attempts 45-00
Time spent trying to find key to open gas meter box 1 hour 15-00
Stress money for taking photo of gas meter – making sure I had a front door key, in case door shut, and I locked myself out 1 hour 15-00
Chill factor endured reading gas meter 1 hour 15-00
Payment for awkward crouch imposed whilst trying to photograph gas meter, and time taken to stand upright again (I’m no spring chicken) 1 hour 15-00
Time spent putting gas meter door back on, as it appears it is broken.
This also involved awkward position as mentioned above 1 hour 15-00
Use of my personal property for multinational company 25-00
MISCELLANEOUS COSTS
General stress payment (one off) Hourly rate would be substantially more 50-00
Damages to head and wall, caused by my banging former against latter 30-00
Waiting nearly half an hour for the phone to be answered 1 hour 30-00
Unnecessary trip to town to see how much British Gas has taken out of my account – plus cost of bus fare (rounded up) 3 hours 95-00
Refreshments etc – necessary to retain sanity 60-00
Unecessary and unwarranted use of brain cells 40.00
TOTAL 600.00
:-D :-D
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:-D :-D
( hope they didn’t spot the invoice was for 2010 ;-) )
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Oh yes! If they had, I'd have pointed out it was caused by them having caused me to bang my head against the wall - and I'd have sent another invoice demanding injury compensation!
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Love it Maggie well done. :-D
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I get fed up with big companies expecting me to, essentially, do their admin, and correct their faults! :-|
In future, any company that, like British Gas, expects me to pay within a set time, (which I can understand) or incur 'costs', BUT will pay what they owe me, in their own time, will now receive a taste of their own medicine! :-D :-D :-D
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:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
I love it!
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