British Gas Default help :-(

[simonazari]

Hi there,

 

I was wondering if I could get some advice. I'm really clueless about this kind of thing, so I really appreciate any help/guidance given.

 

During this whole process, I just want to inform you that I have lived in 3 properties:

 

PROPERTY A: Removed address

Resident Since: 12 2007 To 10 2008

 

PROPERTY B: Removed address

Resident Since: 10 2008 To 01 2009

 

PROPERTY C: Removed address

Resident Since: 01 2009 To 01 2011

 

On 03/12/07 I moved into property A and

opened my account with British Gas for dual fuel Gas and Electricity.

All went well until I moved out in October 2008.

 

When I moved out of property A,

I received my final bill which I paid.

I gave British Gas my forwarding address of property B.

 

Apparently the final bill I received in property A, was for my Gas,

and my Electricity bill was not sent until after I had moved out.

I never received an Electricity bill from British Gas in my new property.

British Gas also only give you 24 days before they start sending nasty letters.

 

In 13/01/11 - While at property C,

I received correspondence from First Locate to say that I owed them £177.

I contacted British Gas to see if this was legitimate and it was so I paid it immediately.

 

I've just gone and checked my Experian credit report and I can see that I've had a default on my account since 26/06/2009!!!

 

Can someone advise if this is perfectly legal?

I pay all my bills on time, and I've ended up with a default??

I've had no correspondence what so ever

 

I spoke to Customer Service and they've said there is nothing that can be done

because the bill was issued and never paid, but I never received anything...

 

All advice would be great!

 

Kind regards

Simon

Edited November 22, 2013 by citizenB
Removed personal information

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Please edit out addresses asap!!

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Yes it is legal, there was an outstanding payment trouble is paying sometime after the default was placed does not remove the default it will be removed on the 6th anniversary of the default date paid or not.

[simonazari]

But surely they should have notified me? They had my forwarding address, but didn't tell me

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

A default notice is not issued on a utility account a straight forward demand for payment is usual.

 

You could try asking for the default to be removed as a 'gesture of goodwill ' as you paid as soon as you knew of it.

[citizenB]

You could try appealing to their better nature.. if you can find it. Explain that they DID have your forwarding address and they can see from your records that you have never been behind with your payments. Can they please remove the default !

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

SNAP:lol:

[simonazari]

Well, they've issued a default against my account.

 

I'm on the phone to them now. I doubt VERY MUCH that they will remove it as a simple gesture of good will. Probably have to suck it up This is so bizarre. How anyone can think this makes sense is really weird. I could understand employing a debt collector to try and get in touch with me, but to say that I'm one of the people that goes around not paying my bill is seriously unfair.

[simonazari]

If they say I can't, is there anyone I can contact to take this higher? I really don't feel like this is fair.

[citizenB]

You could contact the Information Commissioner, they deal with this type of thing.

 

http://www.ico.org.uk/

 

 

Or try the Energy Ombudsman see if they can help.

 

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/energy.html

[citizenB]

SNAP:lol:

 

[simonazari]

So I spoke to their customer service and they said there is nothing they can do.

 

I've asked them to send me the final bills that should have been sent to the forwarding address. I'm hoping these would have the dates of sending on there as it will help me prove that I received no bills.

 

I've also made a complaint to the Energy Ombudsman above (thanks citizenB).

 

Does anyone know how long it takes for the Ombudsman to take action by any chance? Am I looking at weeks or months?

 

Thanks for your help.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

You will need to make a formal complaint to BG before going to the ombudsman they will expect you to have exhausted BGs complaints procedure first.

 

It's been said so many times before using the phone for this type of complaint is a complete wast of time, customer (dis) service operatives have little knowledge of CRA reporting and certainly have no authority to deal with such a complaint.

 

Keep is all in writing and get proof of postage.

[simonazari]

Oh right. Sorry, like I said, I'm a complete novice at this kind of thing so appreciate the guidance.

 

Do all formal complaints need to be in writing or can I email as their site does have an email facility.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I would not under any circumstances use e-mail for a formal complaint, to easily ignored and may never reach a person with authority to act.