Do any of the Learned Brethren know if there was a difference between British Gas Business and Domestic tariffs between November 1998 and May of 2004 ? I have just found the wrong tariff has been applied to my dwelling and whilst we have agreed differences involving VAT and Climate Change Levy they seem not to want to think about the actual tariff. From May 2004 until last year they DID recalculate my bills and I got a substantial refund.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

Business tariffs tend to be by agreement and the rates tend to be agreed for one year at a time rather than being stated on any list of tariffs. For businesses, suppliers tend to charge much more than they should if fuel is used without a tariff/contract being agreed. I had some problems with British Gas over their busiess tariffs. See this thread:

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/my-tariff-is-over-ten-times-what-it-should-be-11316.aspx

Interesting points you raise...and a result ! I have occupied a shop since 1987 which has no gas. The tenant for the two floors above me used the first floor as his office and workspace, the second floor was his apartment. In November 1998 I acquired the whole building...continued to use the shop...but used the entire upper floors as my apartment, i.e. NO commercial use. The first and second floors had gas.

I suddenly realised last year that every third or fourth Gas Bill I received attracted 17.5% VAT and Climate Change Levy and it seemd I had inherited a gas supply which was deemed commercial. When I pointed out to BG that the property was now entirely domestic they recalculated back to May of 2004 and I got a rather nice £800-odd credit ! When I asked about November '98 up to April '04 I was constantly fobbed off and told the accounts were 'archived' [even though I myself could retrieve bills going back to 2000].

Eventually and after MUCH letter writing [replies to which studiously kept missing the point] I got in contact with someone who realised I wasn't going to let it lie [thanks Vic and Bob] and got stuck in, eventually retrieving all bills going back to November '98. The effect is I have overpaid a mixture of VAT and Climate Change Levy to tune of £250-odd quid.

However, this does not address at all the tariff issue. A passing comment in their emails eludes to a claim that domestic and business tariffs prior to May 2004 were the same, i.e. no refund would be due in this regard. I find this hard to believe. I mean, if between May 2004 and last year I got back over £800 then I'd be due another fair old whack from November 1998 up to April 2004 UNLESS the tariffs WERE the same.

I have asked BG to specifically state that this is the case but it would be very nice to have ammunition ready for them to indicate there WAS a difference [if indeed there was] !

Thanks for listening...