British Gas apologises in meter reading dispute

By Gurjit Degun

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags British gas Time

Heated debate: the Spinney in Doncaster, where gas bills have rocketed in the past year
Heated debate: the Spinney in Doncaster, where gas bills have rocketed in the past year
British Gas has apologised for an ongoing meter-reading issue which has resulted in a South Yorkshire licensee being sent bills ranging from £19,000 to £40,000 a quarter, since April this year.

David Sissons of the Spinney, in Balby, Doncaster, said he was told by British Gas that his meter had been read wrongly for eight years, and that he had to pay 12 monthly payments of £2,005.12.

Sissons, who is chair of Doncaster Licensed Victuallers Association, said he was threatened with disconnection on 15 November if he did not agree to the plan.

He said: “I have been with British Gas for 10 years and have always paid my monthly bills on time and in full by direct debit. It has said I must pay 12 monthly payments of £2,005.12, which are unaffordable to me.

“If I admit the unread meters are my fault they may extend the pay-back period.

“There is no way that my bill could be £20,000, especially as I have always paid my monthly bills which they have already sent. I am not willing to take responsibility for British Gas’s bungling administration team.

“I have told British Gas that I am willing to pay any current read bills — I have received one for £400 last weekend — until this dispute is cleared up but it seems intent on disconnection.”

A British Gas spokesman said: “I am very sorry to hear about Mr Sissons’s situation and we are investigating this case fully as a matter of urgency. The problem was caused by a metering issue which meant we were not billing the customer for all the energy he was using.

"The meter issue has now been resolved and we are finalising a mutually acceptable arrangement with Mr Sissons.”

Sissons added that he is still in dispute with British Gas and thinks he will still have to part with some money, even though he feels he is not to blame.

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