British Gas Meter Readings.
Warning: Reality Check for Utility Providers, the whole of the UK is not going to be using the same amount of Gas or Electricity prior to the Price Hikes and therefore do not go by past usage and only go by current usage moving forward. British Gas is purposely putting people in debt.
As a lot of our loyal readers already know I had a bit of a ding dong with British Gas the other day, so bravely today I decided to give them another call. https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/chris-oshea-ceo-of-centrica-and-british-gas-earns-775k-whilst-the-vulnerable-suffer/
Excited at the fact that I had only used 8 units in the last two weeks which equates to £20.07, according to the customer service advisor I spoke to today, yet my payment plan has not changed and is still asking for £190 per month even though I am going to be using £40 worth of Gas moving forward. (See screenshots of my meter readings below).
According to ‘British Gas’, they calculate past data of usage and I have said in the past I had my central heating on 24/7 other than the summer months, but I am going to be using the bare minimum moving forward.
It was like talking to a brick wall and I have been told that perhaps the payment plan would be adjusted in 6 months but not before. This is forcing people to go into debt.
So hypothetically speaking, if my predicted usage will be £40 per month moving forward x 6 months left of this year which would equate to £240 but British Gas wants me to pay £190 per month x 6 months which equates to £1,140, minus what I owe = £368 & usage £240 gives a final total of £532 overpayment.
I suppose the surplus money in their bank making interest is better than it is in yours.
Now the way my plan has been calculated is for the past years’ usage rather than usage in the future even though I have proved it will be lower as I do not plan to cook, use hot water or turn the central heating on.
So today I am still nowhere near closure and it is causing me considerable distress. https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/emotional-distress-compensation/
If what I owe is £368 and say next month’s bill comes to £40 per month based on my new meter reading on the (15/06/22) x 3 months = £120 + £368 = £488 that I would owe and if British Gas wants £190 x 3 months = £570, that would mean I would overpay £82.00
Yet they are saying “the computer says no” scenario ‘Little Britain’ quote.
I also asked the question today about what support they have for mental health and the vulnerable and this is what I was told:
- A payment plan (which we cannot agree on and they refuse to spread over 36 months but in the past they have). This is intimidation.
- A pre-payment meter (that is for people who cannot pay on time and I refuse to have one for health reasons – read the following: https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/how-safe-are-smart-meters-for-your-health/
- The Charity ‘British Gas Trust’ is a joke and I would not waste time donating or asking for donations because British Gas does not support the vulnerable, (notice I am not giving this company a backlink in this article).
- Contact Stepchange which is a third-party charity and is not exactly supported by British Gas, they give financial advice because I advertise Stepchange.org on my useful links page.
So their support for me personally is as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
It was further confirmed that British Gas does not support people with Mental Health other than what has been mentioned above.
This is how condescending companies are because I did not agree to the £190, British Gas expects me to get financial advice “hello, is anyone listening? I do not need financial advice”. I know what my usage is going to be moving forward.
This is what Citizens Advice says: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/getting-extra-support-from-your-energy-supplier/ May I also add nothing in the following PDF was offered to me other than what I have listed above.
How-energy-companies-can-support-people-who-are-struggling-this-winter_-good-practice-guide-for-energy-suppliers-and-networks-V.6-March-21I also stated I need to keep my home warm in the winter months to prevent black mold from growing as my daughter has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and if I cannot afford to pay the astronomical prices British Gas’ is charging and I fail to turn my heating on which would cause a domino effect and my daughter relapsed from the ‘Black Mold Spores’, then someone would have to be held accountable.
Like I said in my article yesterday “if you do not have the extra money, to begin with, how are you supposed to find the extra money to pay the greedy corporate companies that make a profit on the back of your vulnerabilities”?
Below are screenshots of the meter readings.
When I pay this company off I am going to switch providers and not recommend this provider to anyone. If any utility company refuses to spread the costs with affordable payment plans and is unreasonable with zero support for your disabilities then you should take action.
They should at least offer you breathing space to give you the time to find the money. I have proven with photographic evidence that my usage is now going to be lower.
I begrudge helping a company that makes money off me or anyone else in a vulnerable position and who is disabled. If I thought any company was worth a good review and marketing I would consider partnering with them, but I do not in this case because they have caused emotional distress which in turn has made my mental health worse.
#britishgas #britishgasmeterreadings #paymentplans #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsupport
