PMA helps resolve £3,000 British Gas bill row

Dave Foskett, owner of the Churchill Arms in Long Crendon, received a backdated bill for £2,300 after British Gas said that meter readings were incorrect, despite the fact that the pub has a Smart Meter, which automatically sends readings to the supplier.

The company then said the pub had been paying the wrong tariff rates.

It is the third time in four years the licensee has received an unexpected bill from British Gas, which in total have amounted to nearly £45,000.

Unacceptable​

Foskett said he paid the first two debts without fighting the company because he was worried his business would fold, but this time he refused to pay the bill or accept an offer of £300 in compensation.

However, after contacting the PMA​ last week Foskett was approached again by British Gas, and the company agreed to pay the backdated £2,300 bill and his current bill for £800.

“I’m very happy and I’m sure it is all down to the input of the PMA​,” Foskett said. “You clearly did enough to encourage them to do something, although it shouldn’t have come to that.

“They have promised me they have sent a credit note in the post and I am sure I won’t have problems with them anymore. So thank you very much.”

Pressure​

Foskett first approached the PMA​ in 2009 after receiving two bombshell electricity bills — one for £28,400 and one for £14,000.

He said that British Gas only responded to his complaints after the story was published, and this time Foskett hoped more press attention would “urge them to do something”.

A British Gas spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry that Mr Foskett has not received the service he should expect from British Gas Business. We have contacted him to apologise and offered a resolution that he is happy with.”