Money grabbing modern day Robin hoods. (British Gas)

Member Name: garymarsh6

Product:	British Gas
Date:	27/11/08 (178 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good emergency back up service.

Disadvantages: Over priced huge profit making company at your expense.

British gas are the largest gas utility company with a good network throughout the country. Fortunately they no longer have a monopoly for supplying gas.

I have been a customer of British Gas for years but after their recent hike in prices, their rude customer call centre staff and general attitude to their customers I am looking around to change suppliers.

I was paying £80 a month which about 6 months ago went up to £120 without any notice and last month I was informed they are putting it up to £160. I telephoned British gas and having typed in my home telephone number and pressed button 1 on the keypad I held on for twenty minutes listening to some naff music being reminded that my call was important to them and I would be answered as soon as possible.... All I can think is that there are a lot of other outraged customers on the phone to them.

I finally got through to a guy who was rude and most unhelpful. I explained that it was too much to almost double my direct debits. I also told him that they had put it up initially without informing me. His reply to this was that once you sign the direct debit they can do what they want. I reminded him that legally they must give ten days notice before making any changes at which point he told me that i had to pay what they told me.........I had my bank account open on line and at this point I hit the cancel button and told him no i didnt and from now on i would be paying my bill every quarter.

I rang again and spoke to a lady and complained about the guys attitude and she apologised. I also asked her why they had doubled my payments when I had £445 in credit. She said that according to their computer thats what I needed to pay. I asked why should they earn interest on my hard earned cash to which she said well its only 3%...

British Gas are sitting on millions of customers overpayments earning interest on our money despite making record profits.

My advice would be to open a utility account and put that money aside each month earning interest for you then paying them when the bill comes to you.

British gas is a greedy money grabbing company that should be screwed to the wall by the government and their huge billions in profits should be taxed in a windfall tax of 50% at least.

Summary: Avoid this rip off company like the plague.