British Gas Debt On Meter – What You Need To Know

Are you worried about paying your British Gas bill on time? Rest easy, as you’ve found the right place to help you handle your energy debt. Every month, more than 170,000 individuals turn to us for guidance on debt solutions.

We understand that the fear of not being able to settle your energy bills can keep you up at night. We’re here to help with lots of useful information and advice.

In this guide, we will explore:

• The time frame for paying your British Gas bill.
• What happens if your British Gas bill is paid late.
• Possible ways to reduce your British Gas debt.
• Reasons behind the rise in energy prices.
• The frequency with which British Gas bills its customers.

Additionally, we’ll talk about energy-saving methods, government support schemes, and how British Gas fares against other energy suppliers. If your debt feels overwhelming, we’ll guide you on how to legally write it off. These are tough times, but remember, you are not alone.

Let’s get started.

How Do You Build Up Energy Debt?

Building up debt on a prepayment meter may seem like a contradiction in terms, but it is possible. This may be because you’ve either carried over existing debt, or because British Gas were not allowed to cut off your supply even though you had no credit. 

As we’ve already seen from OFGEM’s rules above, there are some circumstances when British Gas is not allowed to cut off your energy supply. This means it is possible to continue building up a debt even though you’re connected to a prepayment meter. 

A prepayment meter is also often used as a solution to energy debt. If you owe British Gas money for your energy but can’t afford to pay, they may suggest you switch to a prepayment meter. This prevents the debt from escalating and allows them to recoup the debt over an extended period of time. 

How Do You Repay It?

British Gas will normally spread out the debt over a period of time so that you regularly chip away at what you owe when you top up your meter. In some cases, the debt will be added as a lump sum which you’ll need to repay right away, but this is less common. 

You can talk to British Gas about repaying your debt to agree on a schedule that is affordable to you. This means that you will be paying for your debt on top of the credit you need to keep your meter running. 

In practice, you won’t see these as separate sums on your meter. You will only see a single figure, but British Gas will have included a portion of your debt in their calculations. 

What Happens If You Don’t Pay?

As the debt is included in your overall credit total, if you don’t pay your meter debt you will run out of credit. Depending on your circumstances this may mean that your energy supply is disconnected. 

In some cases, British Gas is not allowed to disconnect your supply. This means that if you’re not topping up your meter to repay your debt, the amount you owe will increase. 

Regardless of whether British Gas is permitted to disconnect your supply, they won’t ignore an energy debt. If you haven’t contacted them to reach an agreement about your debt, they may opt for enforcement action. 

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

What Are My Options for Repayment?

Energy debt is a common problem for many households in the UK so British Gas has a well-established range of solutions to help with your meter debt. Not every solution will be suitable for every person so it’s important that you talk to them directly to see what options they can offer. 

One of the solutions might include recalculating your debt payment plan over a longer period of time. This will make it more affordable. 

If you are in receipt of certain state benefits you might be eligible for the Fuel Direct scheme. This is where a small amount is deducted weekly directly from your benefit payments. 

British Gas also has an independent charitable trust: The British Gas Energy Trust. They can help in cases of financial hardship. Due to constraints with the amount of funds available, there is no guarantee of support, but it’s worth asking. 

You can also ask British Gas to write your debt off. Again, there’s no guarantee that they will agree to this but if you explain your circumstances you might be successful. Even if they can’t wipe your debt completely, they may be willing to write off part of it. We’ve put together a letter template you can use to ask British Gas to write off your meter debt.