Poltics
A BRITISH Gas customer has revealed how a billing error hit her credit score costing her £7,000.
Alison Greenough was preparing to remortgage the family property in January when she found her beforehand ultimate credit score had been massively downgraded.
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The hit to her credit file came after she requested an energy meter take a look at as part of a dispute about her usage in early 2022.
At some level of the assessment activity, a block was applied to her account to stay any billing activity.
Nonetheless British Gas failed to take away the block which, when it was eventually removed, triggered a large bill and dented her credit file.
It meant when it came to remortgaging earlier this year, she claims she was pressured to agree a greater rate, costing her £7,000, ITV reported.
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Right here is because a decrease credit score can glimpse lenders offer you much less competitive mortgage rates as you are considered as much less financially trustworthy and a greater risk to them.
A low credit score can make it harder to win accepted on other varieties of lending too, including credit cards, overdrafts or car finance.
“It be rate me a lot of cash, we can have to peaceful’ve been going on holiday within the summertime,” she said. “We have no longer been on holiday.
“And I am certain the pros at British Gas have had their holidays.”
Mrs Greenough’s complaint was also investigated by the Energy Ombudsman, an impartial physique that affords free and impartial advice to shoppers experiencing grievances.
British Gas subsequently apologised for the “human error” and credited her account £300.
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The ombudsman said it was satisfied Mrs Greenough’s credit file had been rectified so didn’t impose any additional punishments on the energy firm.
A British Gas spokesperson said: “After we make mistakes, we maintain our hands up, we make it factual and we learn from them because we care about our carrier and we care about our customers.
“In Ms Greenough’s case we made mistakes and we’re sorry for that.
“This was isolated, but we are going to learn from it to continue to make stronger our customer carrier.”
Poltics Learn how to complain to British Gas
You can complain to British Gas via its internet page on www.britishgas.co.uk/complaints.html.
You can attempt calling the firm’s main customer carrier number too on 0330 100 0056.
Contact details for British Gas will have to peaceful also be on any paperwork it has despatched you.
Within the occasion you are having to bear in an on-line gain, you can train template letters from Residents Advice.
Energy suppliers have up to eight weeks to approach back to reveal you their decision on the complaint.
Within the occasion you can’t reach an agreement along with your provider after eight weeks,you can ask for a “deadlock letter” which you can take to the Energy Ombudsman.
This may then resolve which party it agrees with and how you can win to the backside of the peril.
Poltics What can I cease if I assume my energy payments are imperfect?
Within the occasion you don’t agree along with your energy bill, you are going to have to peaceful first take a look at you are paying for the factual property by checking the serial number to your energy meter matches the one to your account.
Also make certain to take photographs of your meter readings, and demonstrate down each time you call your provider.
It be handiest to be aware up any complaints in writing, striking the be aware “complaint” within the topic line of your email or letter.
Examine your provider’s internet page for the fair email or address ahead of sending anything.
Energy firms have eight weeks to acknowledge to a complaint with a decision.
In case your firm doesn’t acknowledge in this time frame otherwise you’re no longer happy with the response, you can take your complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.
Based on the proof submitted by you and the company, the ombudsman will make a judgement. Within the occasion you accept this, your provider has 28 days to comply.
Poltics Learn how to raise an peril along with your credit file
Within the occasion you have been wrongly billed to your energy and your credit file has taken a hit, you are going to have to peaceful first speak to your energy firm and win any arrears or missed payments removed as early as imaginable.
You can also contact credit agencies to ask them to make a “glimpse of correction”.
Right here is a demonstrate to your credit file which lenders can glimpse and explains the context around any missed or incorrect payments.
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Or you can hotfoot verbalize to the credit reference agency to add any notes to your story. The main three are Experian, Transunion and Equifax.
You can take a look at your credit reports totally free by signing up free to Experian, ClearScore for Equifax and Credit Karma for Transunion.
Learn how to complain to assorted energy firms
Within the occasion you are no longer a British Gas customer, your complaints activity may be somewhat assorted. Right here is what to total for each of the broad firms…
Octopus Energy – you can email issueresolution@octopus.energy or call 0808 164 1088.
E.ON Next – E.ON Next customers can peril a complaint via unhappy@eonnext.com or 0808 501 5200.
EDF – you can call 0333 006 9950 or email hello@edfenergy.com.
ScottishPower – customers can both email contactus@scottishpower.com or call 0345 270 0700.
OVO Energy – in case you are with OVO, you can email complaints@ovoenergy.com or call 0330 303 5063 (in case you are a Pay Month-to-month customer) and 0330 175 9669 in case you are on a prepayment meter.
Develop you have a money peril that wants sorting? Earn in contact by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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