Account with BG for both Gas and Elec always in credit due to the monthly payment plan paid via DD.

Anyhoo, this month got my statement, clearly showing my account in CREDIT last quarter and remaining in credit after the winter useage. but they have decided to INCREASE my monthly payment by £15 per month.

Not having this I phoned them up. Adviser agreed that it looked like an error but would only decrease the amount by £5...

I told them it was their error and I wanted it put back to the original payment level immediately. NO!

I would have to wait for confirmation of the new payment level before contacting them again to get it reduced further.

I threatened with complaining to Head Office, [no such reply of course] and even switching suppliers.. No Joy.

These people are just far to big these days to even give consumers the slightest bit of customer satisfaction.

but then if i switched the new supplier would prob be just as bad eh?

Considering they've just announced their charges are going down, it seems they've forgotten to pass this information to their future usage calculator.

That was part of their argument.

"well it doesnt really matter cos as the prices have been reduced, your account will be recalculated at the new rate"

"WHEN?"

" We cant answer that at this point"

Cancel the direct debit, and pay the actual amounts on the bills as they arrive.

It is not up to the payee to dictate how much you'll pay them each month regardless of how much you owe them, which is precisely what you are allowing them to do.

I'm afraid under these payment schemes, it IS up to the payee to calculate the annual consumption and average it out over the year. Even the ability to recalculate should it appear the payments THEY said would be adequate for the year are wide of the mark by 10% or more.