be frugal

Still no closer to actually changing suppliers to a cheaper one – the idiots messed up BIG TIME. It’s not a case of one person being the idiot here, but of the whole company having terrible communication problems within the company.
Onstream supplied the meter, they report back to BG who then know what your meter number is and when to start billing. I never got a bill. I phoned them to find out about it as I didn’t want a hefty one after months and months, but it turned out we didn’t exist on their system any more! I’ve phoned several times to get to the bottom of this and now FINALLY they assigned our case to a nice man called Peter. He told me to ring his answer phone any time I have any queries, and he’ll get back to me usually within 2 hours. He also told me that the three times they cancelled our meter install each qualify for £20 – so £60 compensation is due to us to come off our bill which is looking like being £160 ish at this point. They sent a card in the meantime to pay in a shop a little at a time, but the nearest shop is a good walk away and not really convenient. Plus after all the cock-ups I am a bit loathe to put any money anywhere, unless I can be certain our account is sorted out. Peter also arranged a new standard meter to replace our economy 7 that we were fobbed off with.
Ahh soon. Soon I will leave their company and if they ask why we left I will take great pleasure in telling them. Maybe I should complain in writing anyway? Oh and the money they are meant to have written off still hasn’t come off but Peter says it’s in the process of being written off.
Anyway, not long now hopefully.

I finally got my new meter in late December, after the engineer had cancelled three previous appointments :/

When he came, he told me I had to have another economy 7 meter fitted, and that if I want a normal one I have to phone and request one. How irritating. In the meantime I am making the most of the cheap night rate and doing my washloads while I sleep. Shame that the day rate is more than other people pay – computers, games consoles and TVs not to mention electric heaters that we currently have all eat up electricity :(
Stupid company – I can’t wait much longer, I simply have to leave British Gas.

The representative who rang me tried to encourage me to pay, saying it was because of the price increases and that they sent me a new key for my meter in March 2005. I was able to remember that this never arrived so she said “That’s where the debt comes from then, your meter was never updated because your key didn’t get changed” and proceeded to start listing ways to repay. I told her to hold on – this isn’t something I should be paying, and that in my opinion British Gas are at fault and to blame therefore they should compensate me by swallowing the costs. She informed me that the most they could deduct was 10%. I then remembered a letter I had found while sorting through my files, describing a price rise and instructing us that if we have a key meter we don’t have to do anything as this will be updated automatically. I said “it sounded to me that your company would make the price increase electronically and that we didn’t have to worry since the letter told us we didn’t have to do anything” – finally with THIS she concurred. She told me she would make arrangements there and then to swallow the debt and that my new meter can be fitted early November!

I get very emotional trying to get my opinions across when faced with conflict, but I didn’t burst into tears this time and I kept a cool head. I’m really proud of myself actually. I only hope that whichever company we switch to, we make great savings and this will all be worthwhile!

I know this doesn’t have much to do with the Frugal goal, but it does in a way because it’s all about lowering my costs of living :)

Finally getting my arse in gear, I looked into switching energy suppliers. I discovered no electricity suppliers (bar a few higher rate ones) will allow you to switch if you have a prepayment meter, suggesting you change to a credit meter and try again. So far not doing too bad.

I phoned my supplier to request a credit meter. The assistant told me I’d hear back within 14 days and the meter should be switched soon after that. 20 minutes later she called me back to say that due to some problem (their fault) I have a debt showing on my account of £118!!! How can this be allowed to happen?
My options:
a) Make the payment by card over the phone, and I can have the new meter fitted on the 9th (not an option, seeing as I don’t consider I owe this money)
b) Pay the debt via the existing prepayment meter which could take months.
c) Call back later to make arrangements – I said actually I want to make a complaint because I don’t consider I should have to pay this.

Has anyone got any advice on this? I’m going to write to the company and if I get no compensation I am going to write to energywatch and if necessary the Fuel Supply Ombudsman.

I’m ashamed to say I burst into tears on the telephone, it was such a shock and left me feeling like crawling into bed for the rest of the evening. All I want is to get a cheaper electricity supply. I can barely afford the one I have, let alone an additional £118 or more debt that they caused by their errors.

despite trying I keep finding myself short of money.
I should go back to basics again and keep tight reins on our money!

I save where I can on meals, we are vegetarian so that helps in itself. I bake my own bread and purchase my flour at a good price when I can. I make all my own personal hygeine items from scratch and clean the house with only natural substances which in themselves are pretty inexpensive, with the added bonus that I am as gentle on the environment as possible. I also bake goods and make my own desserts when I get chance, instead of buying ready made puddings and such.

1. Sorting out which of my insurance schemes are not necessary and having the strength of decisiveness to cancel them.
2. Finding the best and cheapest (guaranteed to stay low price) energy provider in the UK for my gas and electricity
3. Get around to changing my mobile phone tariff – we spend about £60 between us and that’s on the tariffs with inclusive calls and texts rolling over! I am wary of changing mine as I am due to qualify for an upgrade in July and enjoy being with Orange, I worry if I downgrade my tariff that they will downgrade my upgrade handset also shrug