BG Services Transaction On My Bank Account
It’s always a worry when you spot money going out of your account and don’t recognise the recipient. The first thing we want to check is that the payment is actually going out for something we’ve approved and our account isn’t the victim of fraud. So if you’ve spotted a BG Services transaction on your bank account statement and you’re not sure what it’s for, let me put your mind at rest. Let’s take a look at what that BG Services transaction is for and what you can do about it.
What is BG Services and why have they taken money from my account?
A BG Services transaction taken out of your bank account is a direct debit set up to pay British Gas HomeCare. It relates to a monthly payment to British Gas for their Homecare services.
British Gas HomeCare offer a range of services to clients including boiler cover, central heating cover, plumbing, drains and even electrics. They also offer insurance for individual appliances too.
The price you pay to BG Services will vary depending on the type of service you’ve chosen and varies from just £3 per month for Boiler and Controls Breakdown Cover to just over £23 per month for the complete cover of your boiler and controls, plumbing, drains, home electrics and an annual boiler service. They offer cover for both private customers and landlords as well as business cover too.
If there is a BG Services transaction on your bank statement, then you’ve probably signed up for one of these covers and that’s why they’re taking money from you each month.
I didn’t sign up so why do I have a BG services transaction on my account?
If you don’t think you signed up to British Gas HomeCare and you’ve got a BG Services transaction coming out of your bank account, then the first thing to do is to contact British Gas directly to query the charge. You can contact them on 0333 202 9668.
It’s worth thinking back though as sometimes British Gas offer a free trial period of up to twelve months. They do this sometimes for new energy customers and their terms state that once the free trial period is over you will be charged a monthly fee for their HomeCare service. So, it’s possible that you’ve signed to the free trial and just forgotten about it when the time came for the paid service to kick in. In order to get the free trial you would have needed to supply direct debit details, and if it was part of a deal for new energy customers they’d also have your direct debit details that way, so that’s how they would have had your details to take payment. If you contact them though they will be able to check this for you. If you did sign up for the free trial and the paid period has now started, then you’ll probably be liable for payments for the whole year.
Mis-sold British Gas HomeCare
If you feel that you have been mis-sold cover by British Gas, then the first thing to do is to speak to their customer services department. Companies have very strict rules they have to follow when it comes to this kind of thing and they will hopefully be able to resolve your complaint.
BG Services Fraudulent Transactions
There is always a chance that your bank details have been used fraudulently, but it would be unusual for this to happen for a BG Services transaction that’s linked to a HomeCare account and an address.
If you are concerned about a BG Services transaction and you’re sure you didn’t authorise the payments, then contact your bank directly who will be able to look into the payments in more detail.
Is it worth keeping British Gas Homecare?
Whether you decide to keep British Gas HomeCare is entirely up to you, it’s a personal decision that only you can make based on various factors including your current financial situation and the age of your boiler.
We did have HomeCare when we rented out our old house. This meant that we could arrange an annual boiler service and as our boiler was quite old it just gave us peace of mind that we were covered if things went wrong. However, when the boiler did break down, we couldn’t get an appointment with British Gas for three weeks which meant our tenant had no hot water or heating during that time and as it was January we felt that it just wasn’t good enough.
Because of our experience, we decided not to get cover with British Gas when we bought our home back in 2021. We decided that we would use a small, local business to service and repair our boiler as and when we need it instead.
How do I cancel BG Services?
If you don’t want to see another BG Services transaction on bank statement, there are two different ways you can cancel.
Cancel by telephone
Contact the British Gas HomeCare cancellation team on 0333 200 8899. Lines are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Cancel online
You can also cancel British Gas HomeCare online by following these instructions:
- Log in to your HomeCare account
- Go to ‘Manage Account’
- Select ‘My Account’
- Click on ‘Account Overview’
- Then ‘View My Cover’
- Click on ‘Cancel My Cover’
As with any monthly direct debit, when you cancel it with the supplier, it’s also good practice to contact your bank and cancel it with them too, just so you can be doubly sure that they won’t authorise any further payments.
Are there any cancellation charges?
If you cancel your HomeCare part way through a year then you could be liable for cancellation charges. This is most likely to apply if you have made use of your cover during the year and haven’t paid up in full. For example, if you’ve already had the yearly service or you’ve had British Gas out to do some repair work, then you will probably be liable to pay the difference as you’ve only paid for cover for part of the year.
Can I claim any money back?
If you want to claim your money back for a BG Services transaction that has been taken from your bank account, then you’re unlikely to be successful.
However, if you believe the money was taken fraudulently, then you may be able to claim the money back through your bank. If you’ve been hit by job loss or illness and you simply can’t afford to pay any more, then it’s always worth asking whether you can claim any payments back. Sometimes, big companies such as British Gas can actually be quite understanding.
BG Services Transaction On My Bank Account
If you have spotted a BG Services transaction on your bank account, then hopefully this post has put your mind at ease and you know what that monthly payment is for. If you really don’t remember setting up the agreement, then definitely give British Gas a call to find out what’s happened.
