Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
On Tuesday I receivede my gas bill from British Gas. They have reduced their prices as they advertised, but in a very confusing way they appear to have recouped some of their lost income in the following way:
My meter was read on 9th Dec 2009. Of that reading the first 419kWh was charged at 6.94p
The next 4554.o1kWh was charged at 3.343p.
However, that was not the complete reading and they ESTIMATED my usage on 3rd Feb 2010 - halfway through the period. On 4 Feb, according to my statement, they estimated the reading again:
THEY MADE AN ACTUAL READING OF MY METER on 10th March 2010
The first 257 kWh was priced at 6.619p and
The next 2544.24kWh was charged at 3.048p
Now I am quite sure they will say that they have reduced their gas prices, but is it not morally reprehensible that they can go back, halfway through the period of charging and implement the higher price per kWh, making up an estimated reading?
They also say that we can ask for an accurate reading by sending in our own reading, but how can we do this when we do not know that they have started over half-way through, when they reduced the price, but put in the ''first 257kWh which is not even the same as the 9/12/09 to 3/2/10.
I am not describing this very well, and I hope you will excuse me, because it is not easy to understand and I have a feeling that we are not meant to.
Surely, if it is one whole period straight through, how can they say they have reduced the prices then put them up again, then reduce them again according to when the decided to split the charges? Why on earth can they not begin each quarter with the first...........units at such and such a cost and the next ..........at a lower rate? Why change it half way through the quarter on the pretext of lowering the price?
If this is lawful, then the law is an ass and should be changed, or British Gas should change their prices at the quarter end and have done with it.
Why not scan the bill removed any personal information, and upload it via a host such as photo-bucket, I am sure that you will get some answers to your query fairly quickly
Without going into the file, it was about halfway through the quarter. No notice was given, and British Gas say they have eliminated estimates and say that consumers can ring them with the metre reading, which is OK if you know the dates when they would require the meter reading. By not informing consumers as to when the date of the price difference was, it is virtually impossible for anyone to send in their own reading, and certainly I was given no warning of a price reduction date.
I do not think it fair to'' start a ''first ... at £such and such ''half way through the quarter. They should either just continue with the usage or should ammend their prices at the quarter end.
I do not see the point of what they did, and regardless of why, they have broken their statement that we can read our own meters by not asking for a reading halfway through the quarter.
Oh dear, I am not very good at explaining. That is probably why they do it - tying us up in knots!!
Gas Bills
Reply With Quote
Re: Gas Bills
