Ah, if only you'd signed up with them with your forum username, then you'd not be in this mess!

Honestly, that sounds perfectly fine - you didn't complete the year with them, so why would they give you a year's NCB? If they did, then you could trivially get a 10 year NCB in about 5, or even 3 years, by cancelling every policy early and "gaining time".

Remember, big companies are stupid, and the bigger they are, the stupider they get. BG are generally quite reasonable, however, the size of the company rule above leads to a simple conclusion - and it isn't malice! Prior to a court action for utility debt, you should have at least one hand delivered letter and "door step" from a rep, and you should also get a Human Rights letter, telling you the date and location of the court hearing. Copies of both of these are lodged with the court when they apply for a warrant. The person above you did the right thing - attend court and talk to the agent. I'd recommend you then let the Clerk of the Court know you are there beforehand, and that you want to contest. Hang around until the agent goes in, just to be sure, and if s/he still applies, the clerk will call for you, and you can argue your case. Then it is down to you! If a warrant is granted, you will be getting a visit, where a team of either 2 or 3 people will attend the property, gain entry (by force if need be, with the police if need be, or dog handlers, etc.) to the meter, then change it for a PPM (Pre-Pay Meter) or, if it is a big bill that's been going on for years, you could be cut off (though that is very unlikely these days) My advice? Let the team in to change the meter. It's not worth a record, and you'll still come back from the police station to find the meter has been changed "while you were out". I can't say much for the standards of Dynolocks, who BG own, and therefore use for the entry. Yes, they will get in, eventually, but you'll generally be getting new keys!

I can't say much positive for their tactics. Let me put it this way - get into debt on your utilities and they will chop you off without qualm. Worst I've seen (due to my job, i see a lot of this stuff) was UW telling a customer to pay the £1300 they had with them towards the bill, then, because they were £50 or so short, they were going to disconnect them anyway! Another time, they wanted £14K in cash to stop the action. Now, the customer was there, he had a credit card, chequebook, CHAPS payment or BACS available, as a business account. Only cleared funds are accepted, so credit card or CHAPS is the usual route for large amounts. Not for UW though. They decided to force the guy to go and get cash. From his bank. And his bank said "Certainly, Sir. But you'll have to come in to your branch with ID." So the poor guy had to drive from Coventry to Gloucester and back, while we waited. Seriously, any other utility company I know would take a credit or debit card! They have no debts, and they have no history, and one day, they'll get caught up like BG have recently. And if they end up being dragged through the Coroner's Court, they might learn to behave better.