Pensioner receives letters for paid-off bill - 27/05/2011
An 84-year-old cheap energy customer was left "distraught" when a payment for her gas bill was not processed properly, leading an energy supplier to demand the money.
The Birmingham Mail reported that Joan Gwilliams had received a £122 bill which her daughter had paid off using a PayPoint machine.
However, a few weeks later British Gas sent Mrs Gwilliams a letter insisting the balance had not been paid.
Daughter Dorothy McGill commented: "My mum was distraught. She's a pensioner, she's not in good health and she needs gas for her central heating and cooker, it's a life-line to her."
Despite contacting the firm, British Gas continued to send letters requesting the money until the local newspaper stepped in to challenge the firm.
A British Gas spokeswoman told the paper: "We did not process this payment correctly which resulted in Mrs Gwilliams receiving additional bills from us. We have now corrected our systems, apologised and offered a gesture of goodwill."
Meanwhile, domestic energy users might wish to switch energy tariffs ahead of the potential price hikes that British Gas parent company Centrica has warned could be on their way.
If you want to find out more about switching energy suppliers and how you could save up to £453 in minutes, click here.
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