My gas bill has just shot up 38%
Complaints are up since the sector was deregulated. How are price rises counted on a bill?
GDF SUEZ reads our gas meters once or twice a year and most of our bills are estimated.
When a meter reading is taken, an adjustment is made on the next bill.
We use gas for central heating and, although we turn it off at the end of April, due to the “estimated billing” we continue to receive bills the latest of which is for a period ending September 15.
The total bill for gas used before May but billed in July and September shows a price increase compared to January of 38%.
We would like to know when the increase was implemented and at what price the gas estimated usage is charged - at the price when we used gas or at that listed at the time of billing?
BRIAN CROSS
By email
A GDF Suez spokeswoman said a price increase of 38% since January could not be correct. She said increases this year for customers using gas to heat their homes were 4% on January 1, 5.5% on April 15 and 5% on August 15.
She said gas was normally charged at the rate in operation at the time it was consumed, even if there was an increase before the bill was sent out.
The spokeswoman said if you believe mistakes have been made you should contact their customer service team on 08 10 80 08 01.
She said some assistants spoke English.
The gas market was opened to competition last summer and in 2007 the operator GDF Suez received four times as many complaints as usual (2,850) according to the newspaper Libération.
The paper quoted a mediator for the company who said complaints could reach 5,000 this year.
According to consumer rights body UFC-Que Choisir complaints about too high or “incomprehensible” bills have been numerous.
