British Gas offering 65 discount for Direct Debit

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Iain 16 years ago

I could not believe my ears. I asked for him to wait while I set up the recording. (He didn't like that. So he went away to check up the law. Maybe in India it's different. I explained in the UK that we do not even have to tell the other party that we are recording. He insisted that I am not allowed to.) Anyway, when he came back, he confirmed the 65 discount for paying by direct debit (after I have paid off the amount that I still owe). I even repeated it, and he confirmed it. And I did record it.

While I was waiting for him to come back, the recorded message kept saying that British Gas is the cheapest in the UK. Possibly after this meagre 7% discount, and probably if you agree to the paperless billing, direct debit, and whatever else, maybe there might be. It sounds a little like Ryan Air, but the other way round.

Is it right - this large discount? Maybe they plan to make 'mistakes' and accidentally take larger amounts from people's accounts. British Gas made mistakes about 10 years ago, and so I will never permit them access to my account.

Iain

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Iain 16 years ago

Also, during the security questions at the beginning he asked for my date of birth. "But you don't have my date of birth - you don't need it!" He confirmed he didn't have it. (I didn't record that bit.) There's no space to put DoB under personal details online anyway. Bizarre.

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Paul 16 years ago

Probably part of marketing .. just an age check - "If under 18 tell them to bog off, if over 65 sell them a funeral plan.."

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chrisj.doran 16 years ago

Was it they who called you? If so, are you sure it really was British Gas? I've been getting a load of phishing calls lately, allegedly from utilities and the like with various "too good to be true" offers. They always start by asking my DOB (I now give a slightly wrong one -- can always say "oops" later if they turn out to be genuine). After much speel they want a credit card number, at which point I give them the elbow.

Chris

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Iain 16 years ago

Was it they who called you? If so, are you sure it really was British Gas? I've been getting a load of phishing calls lately, allegedly from utilities and the like with various "too good to be true" offers. They always start by asking my DOB (I now give a slightly wrong one -- can always say "oops" later if they turn out to be genuine). After much speel they want a credit card number, at which point I give them the elbow.

=========== Yes, it definitely was British Gas. I phoned them to pay my bill. Ah - I've checked their Data Protection registration details. British Gas (under British Gas Trading Ltd) is registered, under Purpose 11, for "Trading / Sharing in Personal Information".

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I'm making further enquiries about this.

Iain

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Andy Pandy 16 years ago

Most of them offer lower rates for DD so the saving depends on how much gas/electric you use. The savings are usually very substantial.

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Mark 16 years ago

Check the T&C for the deal. They may have loads of get out clauses to avoid giving you the discount.

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British Gas offering 65 discount for Direct Debit

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