GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR now updated (pt1)(pt2)(pt3)(pt4) (British Gas)

Member Name: dzasterus

Product:	British Gas
Date:	24/01/04 (316 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: yet to find one

Disadvantages: see above

British Gas Ha what a joke


I unfortunately had difficulties in paying the bills on their due dates mainly due to being made unemployed and arranged a payment option via direct debit. This was fine until BG cancelled the Direct Debit and sent threatening letters. I rang Customer disservices (accurate I would say) and they proceeded to send me a payment card which I was able to use, so far so good, I then moved properties and informed BG of this and they transferred the remaining debt to my new property and set up a Direct Debit again? only to cancel once more. However in doing this they cancelled my payment card so I was not able to make any payments until I had a new one. I rang again and again to sort out this mess which was eventually sorted but had however left me with a rather large amount in arrears, again I paid via Direct Debit until they cancelled it and started paying via cheque, and all was fine until I moved again. On moving I contacted BG who transferred my account to the new house and setup a direct debit, all was fine until 12 months later I applied for credit to buy a new car, I was refused, so wondering why I contacted the Credit reference agencies who sent me a credit report and I discovered that 6 mths ago BG had taken me to court for non payment of my gas bill at the previous address.

But I had this transferred I thought, once again it was back to the phone and BG customer disservice, I have spoken to several people and each one has expressed their apologies until today when I have been told that the accounts for my past 3 houses are all in debit and I owe money amounting to over £200. This is of course ridiculous as I have the paperwork showing that these amounts have been transferred to the different addresses I have lived at up to and including this one.

Upon saying this I was treated to the joys of being spoken too like I was a child along with constant interruptions when I tried to speak, needless to




say I am extremely fed up and wondering where this is all going to end?



Oooh I forgot to mention the fact at one stage they sent me an electricity bill when they did not supply me electric this took over a month to sort out??



***UPDATE***

I today received a letter from BG (they have also copied to energywatch) in this they state that they did not transfer the debt to my present address and I was still in debit, which is why I was taken to court. They also state that they had my previous address correct until the date we moved but this was not updated and therefor we still owe that amount plus costs.

After reading this I was a little gob smacked, becase they are basically saying we made a cock up with your address details and then took you to court, it is not our fault so pay up!!

Will have to see what they say when I can manage to contact them again.

will update again when I hear anything


***UPDATE2***

I have just received a phone call from EnergyWatch, they have been in touch with BG and I am now awaiting a phone call from them.... They were meant to have rung by 4pm today and its now 5.20pm. Will update again when and if they actually ring me...


***UPDATE3***

Finally had a phone call from BG today at 2pm, they have admitted they were at fault for not transferring the account as I requested, however they did say it was also my fault as I should have contacted them again to make sure it was done correctly. They are now going to remove the CCJ they had against me and also refund the court costs.


***UPDATE4***

Just recently had another phone call from British Gas, with regard to my previous account. Thye actually asked when i was going to be settling the outstanding balance, as if I did not I would be facing going to court over this. I explained to the man exactly what had been happening and aske
d him to look at the case files. After being put on hold for about 5 mins he came back to me and apologised as this had been resolved about a month ago. He has now put on the account that everything is resolved and the outstanding balance it shows has been wiped. So after all the hassle I have had from them, it is now finally resolved and I have now got my credit rating back to what it should be.

Summary: