 The bill asks Mr Edwards to pay British Gas �0.00 |
British Gas has apologised to a man it threatened with disconnection over an "unpaid" electricity bill for �0. The energy giant sent Dave Edwards, of Manchester, a disconnection notice saying his debt remained unpaid.
Mr Edwards, of Whalley Range, said he was "shocked" when he received the letter and said the energy giant had treated him "shabbily".
British Gas said the mix up had taken place after Mr Edwards used a meter card from a different supplier.
The letter was sent in April 2004 and followed a dispute between Mr Edwards and British Gas which had begun in October 2003.
Mr Edwards said: "At first I was shocked and then I decided to call British Gas and tell them exactly what I thought of them. "They are a shambles and have treated me shabbily.
"I don't understand why they are allowed to threaten people with disconnection when they have a genuine concern about my bill.
"The whole thing ranged from a nightmare to an unfunny joke."
British Gas said the bill - which contained the line "We have previously written and requested you to pay �0.00, this amount remains unpaid" - had been sent by mistake.
Stephen Chawke said: "We're truly sorry for any confusion which our actions have caused. "Mr Edwards has a prepayment meter which allows him to pay for electricity as he uses it.
"However, for the three years that we provided his electricity, he kept using his old supplier's card to place credit on his meter, so his account with us remained at zero.
"We are contacting Mr Edwards to assure him that no disconnection will take place and to help locate all the payments that we should have received."
Energywatch director David Sidebottom said: "British Gas has a right to make themselves look very stupid.
'Mistakes compounded'
"But sadly, this right is exercised too often at the expense of their consumers.
"A better system on the disconnections process would ensure, at least, that they get the basics right.
"Companies should not be allowed to bully consumers who dare to challenge their view.
"The reality is that the companies do make mistakes, but consumers tell us that simple mistakes can be compounded by a bungling bureaucracy that fails to listen to their point of view."
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We're truly sorry for any confusion which our actions have caused 
