Tell British Gas to: "Read the Meters!"

British Gas is demanding higher payments than are due.....instead of reading meters.

Let's campaign for HELP FOR PENSIONERS, THE ILL AND DISABLED who may not be able to get outside and down to meter-level, especially in the cold of winter.

Will you, your local councillor or MP join in asking British Gas to take on their responsibilities, read all outside meters, and rescind all bills where they have not bothered to read a meter which is located outside a property and fully accessible?

Miss. Jill Beeton from BRCASIG who met with us at our community meeting 1st December 2011, started the campaign which is now boroughwide, by speaking up at local community meetings trying to bring to councillors' and residents' attention matters related to the 200 pensioner deaths a day nationally during the winter; and her own idea for a campaign to go some way to help.  British Gas has been sending out estimated bills locally, and no doubt across the country, as it did last year: even where meters are outside and perfectly accessible to read if only the company bothered to ensure it was done!  

Miss. Beeton told of one bill last year where the estimated bill was three times the actual due, and another where the pensioner paid the £150 extra being demanded on top of what should have been the maximum due.  Yet this year the estimated bills have started again, and when she phoned British Gas to ask for a meter reading at one occupant's address the call centre operator said that he cannot do that!  She was not asking to discuss the bill, just for him to note it had not been read and that a meter reading needed to be taken before the occupier was billed.  So now reminders are coming out from British Gas for undue amounts, even where someone tries to get a correct reading, with British Gas threatening added costs on top! 

Getting people to do their own meter readings is simply not possible in many vulnerable people's circumstances.  As Miss. Beeton said, "Pensioners and the disabled cannot necessarily get outside, nor down to meter level!  There are plenty of people, elderly or with sight difficulties who could not read the numbering even if they could get to the meter." 

Jill asks, "Why should the elderly and vulnerable, those who are ill, injured or disabled, be asked to go outside in the cold over winter, and risk slipping and freezing to death in their own gardens, something which  unfortunately happened to some poor souls last winter?"  Why is British Gas not sending staff out, whether their own staff or contractors?  "The fuel companies simply should not be allowed to send out reminders where they have not read the outside meters in the first place!"

Surely Britsh Gas is in breach of the Equality Act 2010, by sending out demands and threats of extra costs when they have not even bothered to read an accessible outside meter?  In then not accepting a request that they do get someone to read an occupant's meter they are adding further failings, and unecessary inconvenience and stress to people who may be very vulnerable.

Will you ask your local councillor or MP to join in asking British Gas to take on their responsibilities, read all outside meters, and rescind all bills where they have not bothered to read a meter which is located outside a property and fully accessible?

Or contact British Gas themselves on Freephone:

0800 107 1211  
Mon - Fri 08:00 - 20:00 and Sat 08:00 - 18:00