So anyone out there thinking of joining Australian Power & Gas as their provider, please consider the following story:
In December 2011, I received a bill from Australian Power and Gas for $708 dollars. Initially surprised at the amount I decided to contact them to find out why there was such a massive increase in charges (my bills are regularly around $80 to $90 - we only use gas for cooking and some limited heating).
The answer given to me was that the contractors reading the gas metres were unable to read them during this 11 (yes 11) month period claiming the gas metre was inaccessible.
So, Australian Power and Gas then decided to back charge me for the 11 months based on an estimate.
Here are the contradictions to their claims:
1) I recently received a bill for my electricity account (within the above described 11 month period), which had actual readings - and it just so happens that my electricity metre is right next to my gas metre, so how come the electricity contractors could read the metre but the gas contractors couldn't?
2) Australian Power and Gas absolved all responsibility for reading the metre and blamed the metre sub contractors.
3) Australian Power and Gas were some how unable to contact me for 11 months to tell me my metre was inaccessible (which is wasn't).
4) Australian Power and Gas did not return my phone call after I disputed the issue (when they said they would), rather they simply kept sending me the same bill.
I can backup all the claims I have made above with hard evidence, and I think that most people would agree there seems to be some major communication issues within that company. I hope others consider this when thinking of joining that company as a customer.
UPDATE:
Around January this year (2012) I agreed to go on a payment plan to pay off the debt (around $150 a month). I have a wife and 4 kids, so I couldn't afford the outlay.
Australian Power & Gas did not send me a bill, instead - just this month, we received a bill for $849 dollars from a debt collection service.
The debt collectors rang my wife and persecuted her while I was at work.
Fuck you, bastards.
