Paying for your gas and electricity

Choosing the best wayto pay your billGetting further advice and helpwith your billsThere are lots of easy ways to settleyour bill. you simply have to choosethe best way for you.• Pay as you go meter – paying thisway means you only pay for yourenergy as you use it• Payment card – spread the costswith regular fixed payments at anyPayPoint outlet or Post Office• Direct Debit– you can chooseone of the following:Monthly fixed payment, or variablepayments monthly or quarterly.For more information go tobritishgas.co.uk/directdebit– Direct debit customers receivea discount and are protected bythe Direct Debit Guarantee **• Quarterly Payments – we’ll send youa bill each quarter which you need topay in full. You can do this by directtransfer from your bank, with adebit/credit card, cash or cheque.You could also receive a PromptPay discount – for more detailsabout Prompt Pay go tobritishgas.co.uk/promptpayWhere to pay• Online – at britishgas.co.uk/pay• Automated payment line– call 0800 107 0224 *• By text – call us on 0800 048 0202 *to register your debit/credit card andwe’ll text you to authorise paymenteach quarter• Telephone or internet banking– quote our Sort Code 40-05-30,Account Number 71584685 and yourcustomer reference number whenyou pay• At your bank or by Bank GiroTransfer – your bank may chargefor this service• By Post – we include a pre-paidenvelope with your bill• Post Office or PayPoint outlet– free of charge, if you take your billwith youIf you are worried about paying yourbills, don’t struggle alone. There are lotsof organisations like the Citizens AdviceBureau and National Debtline that canhelp. It’s important you do somethingstraightaway to make sure you stay incontrol of your bills.Help with managing your money• Budget – our Budget Planner onpage 7 can help you work out whatmoney you have coming in, howmuch goes out, and what you haveleft each week or month• Benefits – check what benefits youare entitled to. You could be entitledto benefits you don’t know about ordon’t think apply to you.You can get independent advice from:• National Debtline – provides free,confidential advice. Simply visitnationaldebtline.co.uk or call0808 808 4000• Direct Gov – offer benefits andadvice in the ‘Do it online’ section oftheir website at direct.gov.uk• Citizens Advice Bureau – you canfind your local office by visitingcitizensadvice.org.uk or looking inyour telephone directory• Consumer Direct – the government’shelpline for consumer advice offersclear, practical and impartial help andadvice. Call on 0845 404 0506or go to consumerdirect.gov.uk4 5

Budgeting made easyKnowing how much money you havegoing in and out of your household isalways a good step to managing yourfinances. To use our simple householdBudget Planner just enter your weeklyor monthly income and add them up togive you your total income.Then enter how much you spend oneach item a week or or month to giveyour total expenditure. Enter the totalsin the box and subtract your outgoingsfrom your income to see what is lefteach week or month.Income Payment £Household income from employment (after tax)Household income from savings and investmentsPensionBenefits, including child benefit, child tax credits and income supportOther incomeIncome total £If you find that your finances are ingood shape that’s great, but we couldsuggest ways that could help you saveeven more on your energy bills. If youfind that you’re spending more than youhave coming in, look at your outgoingsas there may be ways that you couldmake savings.Easy ways to save energy and moneyHere are just a few of our favouriteenergy saving tips^.• Turn your thermostat down by 1ºC– and save around £50 a year• Adjust your timings – set yourheating to go off 30 minutes beforeyou leave home and come on just30 minutes before you’re due back• Boil only the water you need– instead of a full kettle• Close your curtains at dusk to stopheat escaping through the windowsand check for draughts aroundwindows and doors• Take a shower – and use about40% less water than a bathTo find a number of ways that we canhelp you take control and manageyour energy bills – just visitbritishgas.co.uk/ee or call us freeon 0800 072 9629 * .Outgoings Payment £Mortgage/rentMortgage endowmentSecond mortgageHousekeeping/foodGround rent/service chargeLife insurance/pensionGasElectricityOther fuelHome phone/mobile phoneWater ratesTV - Rental, Sky & Licence FeeOutgoings subtotal A £Outgoings Payment £Insurance (building/contents)Council TaxMaintenance/child supportChildminding costsMagistrates court finesSchool meals & meals at workTravel costsLoan repaymentsClothesPrescriptions/health costsOther (e.g. eating out, laundry)Outgoings subtotal B £Free home insulation *Insulation really is the best way to savemoney on your energy bills. You couldsave up to £175 a year with our free loftinsulation and up to £135 a year withour free cavity wall insulation * . That’squite a saving. Insulating your homeisn’t just a one off saving either, it willkeep your home warmer in the winterand cooler in the summer, helping tosave money on your energy bills yearafter year. For more information justvisit britishgas.co.uk/freeinsulationor call us on 0800 068 0032 quotingIBGWTP1.Need more information or extra help?You can find out more about paying Practice leaflets go to britishgas.co.uk/for your gas and electricity in our codesofpractice or call us free onOutgoings A + B total £leaflet Lots of Ways to Pay. To get 0800 048 0202 * .a copy of this or any of our Code ofMoney left over Payment £*British Gas install in mainland Great Britain only. Not all homes are suitable for insulation. Customers will only be eligible forthe free loft and cavity wall measures recommended by appointed surveyor. Customers will only be eligible for free measuresIncome totalwhere we can insulate a minimum of two thirds of the total loft space or wall space (when applied to the whole property).Outgoings totalFree insulation is subject to square meterage limitations. Home must be no larger than an average sized four bed detached.Insulation beyond these limits is chargeable. For loft insulation, offer only applies where the thickness of existing insulationMoney left over (subtract your outgoings from your income) £is less than 60mm. Offer excludes scaffolding, vents and any specialist equipment. Tenants must seek landlords permission.Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Limited availability. Offer is subject to change or withdrawal at anytime. Savings figure source energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-saving-assumptions, November 2011. Actual savings depend onindividual circumstances.6 7