My dear friend British Gas keep sending me a little note now and again, just to remind me about how much they care for me. I've got quite a collection, which I share with you here.
May 4th 2023.
Hello Ilona,Great news - if you switch to paper-free bills, you'll be able to see them online, anytime, anywhere. Moving to paper-free bills and statements means you’ll have all the information you need in one place, whenever you want it. As well as being more environmentally friendly.
May 31st 2023 Hello Ilona,
Think your home isn’t ready for net zero? Think again! We’re making it even more doable with new ways to cut carbon and save on bills. That includes our PeakSave trials, which are already rewarding better energy use across the UK.
June 13, 2023 | Hello Ilona, | Our engineers are currently installing smart meters in your area. Have a look below to see what a smart meter could do for you.
June 23, 2023
Ofgem has announced that energy rates will be going down this summer. The good news is that from July you’ll be paying less for your energy. You’ll find everything you need to know about these changes, the options available to you and how we can help if you need it below.
July 19, 2023 Hello Ilona,Great news - if you switch to paper-free bills, you'll be able to see them online, anytime, anywhere. Moving to paper-free bills and statements means you’ll have all the information you need in one place, whenever you want it. As well as being more environmentally friendly.
Aug 11, 2023 Hello IlonaMore and more of our customers are now using their smart meters to earn rewards for making small changes to when they use electricity. Last winter, almost 200,000 customers helped to ease the demand for electricity at peak times and earned, on average, more than £28 off their bills. Aug 14, 2023 | Hello Ilona | You’ve recently sent us your meter reads, so you’ll probably agree that it can be a hassle when you’ve got other things on your plate.
Why not upgrade to smart meters and let them do the hard work for you? Smart meters automatically send us your meter reads so you’ll have one less thing to think about. Your readings will always be spot on, which means you’ll only ever pay for the energy you use – and there’ll be no more rough guesstimates when it comes to your energy bills.
Aug 24, 2023
Hello IlonaLater this week the energy regulator, Ofgem, is going to announce new energy prices – also known as the price cap. The good news is your energy prices will be going down from October. If you pay by Direct Debit, we regularly review your payment plan to make sure what you're paying reflects your energy rates, usage and your overall account balance. We'll be in touch if you need to make any changes to your monthly payments.
Sept 19, 2023 Ofgem has announced that energy rates will be going down again this autumn. The good news is that from 1st October 2023 you’ll be paying less for your energy. You’ll find everything you need to know about these changes, the options available to you and how we can help if you need it below.
Sept 26, 2023 Hello IlonaLast month Ofgem announced that the price cap energy rates will be going down. This means you’ll be paying less for your energy from 1st October. We want to make sure your bills continue to be as accurate as possible and that you’re paying the right amount for your energy. So we’ve made submitting your meter reading easier than ever.
Nov 7, 2023 Hello IlonaWe've reserved you a new smart meter for your home. Installation is free, all you need to do is book a date and time that suits you to have it fitted. Nov 21, 2023 Hello IlonaLater this week the energy regulator, Ofgem, is going to announce new energy rates – also known as the price cap. This sets how much all energy companies can charge for gas and electricity. Nov 23, 2023 Hello Ilona
| We'd love to know more about your recent experience of having your account updated to the new British Gas system. It would be really helpful if you can complete a quick survey about it for us.
It will only take a few minutes – you can do it while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil. And every bit of feedback we get plays a big part in improving our customer service.
Nov 27, 2023
Hello Ilona
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Just a quick reminder - we'd love to know more about your recent experience of having your account updated to the new British Gas system.
It's a really short survey but your answers go a long way to helping us improve our customer service.
Dec 7, 2023
Hello IlonaOfgem, the independent energy regulator, has announced an increase to the energy price cap from 1st January 2024. This sets how much all energy companies can charge for gas and electricity. You’ll find everything you need to know about these changes, the options available to you and how we can help if you need it below.
No, no, no. Please note that I am the customer, you are providing me with a service. I am happy with what I am paying. I am happy with how I pay, quarterly on demand. I am happy to read my own meters. I have never been in arrears, so leave me alone.
Enjoy your Sunday. Dog walk done, but it's raining here again. Toodle pip. ilona
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Surprisingly, British Gas seem to have taken on board that we don't want a smart meter, and claim to have marked our account accordingly. At least, we no longer get the calls and letter asking us to switch.
ReplyDeleteI could have deleted these one by one as they arrived, but I thought it would be fun to put them into a blog post. They are deleted now, so let's see if any more arrive. Is that the end of it. At what point do they give up.
DeleteYou are so right, it was great fun to see them all.
DeleteAnnie from Doncaster
Hi Ilona its Mary from Birmingham , you do cheer me up its nice to know thatyou are still giving them a run for your money xxx
ReplyDeleteHello Mary. I know my rights, ha ha.
DeleteLast year I was feeling apprehensive about approaching retirement age. Then I found your channel, then your blog. Your spirit and wit are invigorating. You have changed the way I view the world by making me open my eyes. Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I thought I would never stop lorry driving. As long as I could get in the cab, I would carry on. But when I hit 60 I knew I'd had enough. The job was no longer fun with all the new rules and legislation coming in. The freedom of the road was long gone, I was becoming a robot. On my 60th birthday I rejoiced. Now I could get on with the rest of my life.
DeleteKeep your eyes and ears open, there is still a lot to learn. New adventures, new experiences, and lots of new opportunities. Wake up each morning and live your best life.
Ovo continually bombard us too - I wonder when they will the get the message. This week they even offered us £100 credit to have a smart meter fitted, but I know of people who have been diddled by their so called smart meters.
ReplyDeleteSo they are using bribery now. They really are desperate to get people sucked in. Remember, they say it's for your benefit to have one. They lie, it's for their benefit, they need as much personal data as they can get. Data is gold to them, they can sell it on and make money from it.
DeleteI’d avoid having a smart meter. We had one installed about five years ago after being told our old meter had reached the end of its life. Can’t remember how we got sucked in but I think it was a case of us both working lots of hours and not spending time looking into what we were signing up for. Gas cooker got condemned when the installers came as they found a very minor fault on the hob. Had a right hazzle trying to get a new cooker in the run up to Christmas. Now the smart meter isn’t sending out readings so guess what - another visit from eeon in the pipeline. I’m not happy.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for not being happy. The lesson is, don't let them into your house.
DeleteWe are smart meter refuseniks too. I was beginning to wonder if we were still right to hold out, but when my mother died last year I discovered that one of her meters had stopped sending readings and the other was totally dead. Both were less than a year old and she had agreed to have them installed to make life a little bit easier for her in her final months. I think 'smart' meters are anything but!
ReplyDeleteI say, if your old meters work why go to the trouble of changing them.
DeleteYou stick to paper, Ilona, and don’t believe their lies.
ReplyDeleteDH went to online, and now we have no record of bills before 2022. Their estimated annual usage was much too high.
The smart meter stopped sending readings, and who designed one that we have to empty the pantry and lie on the floor to read?
We are in our seventies!
Sounds like a bit of a nightmare Nellie. My electric meter is halfway up the wall in the living room. The previous owner had a special cupboard made with a false back, to cover it up. They kindly left it for me.
DeleteI went paperless with an online bank. I then had to show my ID at another bank in the form of a paper bank statement that was less than 3 months old and I couldn't because I had gone paperless!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the system is not working very well. I only deal with one bank so I'm ok there. I keep my statements/bills for a couple of years, then have a sort out and shred the older ones. It's interesting to compare year on year, are things costing more, or less.
DeleteOMG, they're bloody relentless robots trying to entrap us with their controlling smart bollox. Well done, Ilona, for standing firm.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, I am the customer, I decide.
DeleteI've had all this too. Plus if I ever ring them up about anything the conversation is always concluded by them pestering me to have a smart meter. No thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the law to have a smart meter. Stick with it. Your choice.
DeleteProbably will be soon - then it'll be - charge you more for the hours of actual use.
Delete