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There are lots of ways to pay for your energy bill. Please remember, whichever way you pay you can also view your payment history online. If you would like an online account you can register for one now.

If you're on EnergySmart™, you can only pay by monthly Direct Debit or Debit/credit card.

On this page: Direct Debit | Debit/credit card | Internet banking |
By post | At a Post Office, bank or PayPoint outlet | Payment Card

Either way, you could save on average £67 per year by paying by Direct Debit, find out details of the Direct Debit savings.

Why should I pay by Direct Debit?

Set up a Direct Debit

You can set up a Direct Debit online.

You'll need the following information to hand to set up your Direct Debit with us:

• a recent meter reading
• your bank details (sort code and account number)
• the date each month that you'd like to pay your direct debit - choose any day between the 1st and 28th of each month

Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 048 0202*, our phone lines are open Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday's 8am-6pm.

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

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When you get your bill each quarter you can choose to pay online, by SMS text message or by phone with your debit or credit card. Get up to 3.7% off your bill if you pay within 14 days of issue, read more.

Whichever way you choose, you will need to have your Customer Reference Number to hand, as shown below.

1. Paying online

It's quick and easy to pay your British Gas bill online. Make an onlinepayment now.

Please note - we don't currently accept payments made via PayPal.

2. Paying by SMS text message

Once you register with the service you can pay by text. To register to pay by SMS text message, call 0800 048 0202* and choose option 4.

Already registered? You'll receive a SMS message asking you to authorise payment in full. To authorise a payment you'll need to provide the 3 digit security code on the back of your credit or debit card.

You should then reply to the SMS message in the following format, without any spaces, "123G", using your own 3 digit code, adding:

• G for gas
• E for electricity
• C for combined energy

We take payment from the card you used when you registered.

3. Automated payment line

Alternatively, call our automated payment line on 0800 107 0224*anytime to make a payment by phone. Have your debit/credit card handy as well as your Customer Reference Number (in the top right-hand corner of your bill/statement - it starts with 85).

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

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Make a transfer from your bank straight to ours. Use your Customer Reference Number as the reference (in the top right-hand corner of your bill/statement - it starts with 85). It's really important that you use your Customer Reference Number only, and nothing else. This way we'll be able to automatically match your payment with your account.

Our account details are:

• Sort code: 40-05-30
• Account number: 71584685

Payments take between 3 and 4 working days to reach us.

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Send a cheque (we can't accept cash) payable to British Gas Trading Ltd with your Customer Reference Number on the back, plus the payment slip attached to your bill, to:

British Gas, Payment Area 55, Camberley GU95 1AB.

It normally takes 5 days for payments to reach us and be credited to your account.

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1. Take your cash or cheque to the Post Office.
2. Make your cheque payable to Post Office Ltd and write your Customer Reference Number on the back.
3. Remember to take your payment slip from your British Gas bill.

Find your nearest Post Office.

Bank

1. Take your cash or cheque to the bank.
2. Make your cheque payable to British Gas Trading and write your Customer Reference Number on the back.
3. Remember to take your payment slip from your British Gas bill.

Please note: Some banks will charge for this service.

PayPoint outlets

1. You can only pay by cash with PayPoint.
2. Take your whole bill with you.
3. Find your nearest PayPoint

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With a Payment Card arrangement, we calculate the cost of your energy for the year ahead, and divide this into equal fortnightly or monthly payments.Read more about how a payment card works.

If you are on our payment card scheme you can pay your regular instalments by:

• Making a payment online by debit or credit card
• Paying by phone, using our 24 hour automated service on 
  0800 107 0224,* using a debit or credit card
• Making payments at a Post Office
• Making payments at a PayPoint outlet

To set up a Payment Card arrangement with us, or request a replacement card, call us on 0800 048 0202*.

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

First we forecast your energy usage, then we calculate your payments. We review your Direct Debit, usually twice a year.

Forecasting your energy usage

Existing customer: we look at seasonal weather patterns and your previous energy usage, based on the meter readings that we have for your account.

New customer: we estimate your future energy usage based on seasonal weather patterns and information you give us when you join - particularly how much energy you used with your previous supplier. If this information is not available, we'll ask you some questions about your home to help us to make an accurate estimate.

Calculating your payments
We calculate the likely cost of your energy for the year ahead by combining:

• your predicted energy usage (see above)
• your current tariff(s)
• any outstanding balance on your account(s) (for existing customers)

For monthly fixed Direct Debit payment, we split this total cost into equal monthly payments. For most people, this means your account will be in debit in the winter and/or credit during the summer - levelling out by the end of the year.

Reviewing your account

We review your payments usually twice a year so they reflect your actual energy usage and our latest prices. It's important to make sure you're paying the right amount so you're not building up a big debit or credit on your account. You can keep your account up to date by submitting regularmeter readings online.

During the year, you may find your account is in credit - particularly over the summer months when you use less energy. We recommend keeping this credit on your account to pay for the extra energy you'll use over the winter and avoid your account going into debit later in the year.

We automatically refund the money into your bank account at the end of the payment year if:

• your account is more than £100 in credit, and
• we've got an accurate meter reading.

If your account is less than £100 in credit, we automatically put this money towards next year's bills. This helps keep your monthly payments as low as possible.

If however you would still like to get a refund before the end of the plan year, just:

1. log into your online account
2. select the account you want a refund for, by clicking 'view account', this will take you to your account summary page
3. from here scroll down and on the right you'll see a 'Direct Debit option box
4. select the 'your plan' option which will take you to your payment scheme details page
5. about half way down on this page, just select 'Request a Refund'

This will allow you to refund any credit you may have on your account. The refund will be in your bank account within 4 working days.

If you haven't got an online account with us, it's easy to register for one now.

More questions about refunds? Send us an online enquiry.

Alternatively you can call us on 0800 048 0202*

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

You can set up a monthly fixed Direct Debit online in a few easy steps.

You'll need the following information to hand to set up your Direct Debit with us:

• a recent meter reading
• your bank details (sort code and account number)
• the date each month that you'd like to pay your Direct Debit - choose any day between the 1st and 28th of each month

When you set up your monthly fixed Direct Debit, we'll suggest a monthly amount for you. We'll normally review this amount in a year.

We can set up Direct Debits from any bank account except savings accounts, which don't have Direct Debit facilities.

Interested in setting up a Quarterly Variable Direct Debit? Read morehere, or call us on 0800 048 0202. We're open 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-6pm Saturday.

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

We try to set your Direct Debit payments to the right level to cover your predicted energy costs. We review this amount, usually twice a year to check it's accurate and to take into account any seasonal changes in your energy usage.

If you feel your Direct Debit payments don't accurately reflect your energy usage, Send us an online enquiry or call us on 0800 048 0202,* we're open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm on a Saturday. Please ensure your account is up to date with an accurate meter reading, if not you can submit a meter reading online.

Remember your actual energy use changes seasonally and most people use a lot more energy in the winter than the summer.

Any changes to your Direct Debit payments now may lead to you building up a credit or debit balance on your account. This may mean the next time we review your Direct Debit payments, they need to change again.

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

Yes*. On average, a customer paying by Direct Debit will receive a discount, totalling £27 for gas and £40 for electricity over a year. This discount is deducted from your bill on a quarterly basis. This is in addition to any discount you may receive for being a dual fuel customer.

Gas customers paying by Direct Debit will receive a discount off their Tier 2 consumption charges of 0.196 p/kWh, up to a maximum of £16.25 per quarter (or £5.42 per month for monthly billing customers).

Electricity customers paying by Direct Debit will receive a discount off their Tier 2 consumption charges (and night rates where applicable) of 1.873 p/kWh up to a maximum of £10 (inc VAT) per quarter (or £3.33 per month for monthly billing customers.

The discount is rounded up and includes VAT at 5%. It will vary according to seasonal consumption.

Average annual consumption (as at January 2011) is assumed as:

• 16,500 kWh for gas
• 3,300 kWh for single rate electricity

You can find out how to set up a Direct Debit here.

*Please note: If you have an outstanding balance, over 28 days old, then the discount does not apply.

You could save an average of £67 a year paying by Direct Debit - no other British Gas payment option offers a better discount. On average, people save £27 for gas and £40 for electricity over a year. This is shown on your quarterly statement and is in addition to any Dual Fuel discount.

Other reasons to pay by Direct Debit:

• it's convenient - you don't have to queue at the Post Office or bank, send a cheque or call us to make a payment
• with monthly fixed Direct Debit you can spread the cost of your annual bills, so you don't pay more in the winter when you use more energy
• it's secure and you're protected by the Direct Debit guarantee
• choose which day of the month you make your payments
• choose from fixed Direct Debit or variable Direct Debit
• no matter which tariff you're on you can pay by Direct Debit.

Find out more about Direct Debit discounts.

Monthly fixed Direct Debit
Spread your energy costs more evenly throughout the year and know exactly what your bills are each month.

We review the monthly fixed amount usually twice a year to make sure they reflect your energy usage and current tariff.

Variable Direct Debit
You pay for the actual amount of energy you use each month or quarter, as you would for a phone bill. You pay more in winter when your energy usage is highest, and less in summer

There are two types of variable Direct Debits:

• Monthly variable Direct Debit (EnergySmart only customers)
• Quarterly variable Direct Debit

We recommend you submit regular meter readings so you only pay for what you use.

This graph shows how a quarterly Direct Debit could vary according to your energy usage throughout the year.

We'll send you a bill 10 days before we collect your Direct Debit payment.

Quarterly Variable Direct Debit is an alternative to monthly fixed Direct Debit that allows you to pay for the actual amount of energy you use. This means you pay more in winter when your usage is highest, but less in summer.

By choosing to pay your bill by Quarterly Variable Direct Debit, we'll automatically take the full amount of your quarterly bill from your bank account - so you don't have to remember to pay your bill. We will always send you your bill 10 working days before we take the payment - so you can check it's right, and give us a more recent, accurate meter reading if required. As with all Direct Debit payment arrangements, you are protected by the Direct Debit guarantee.

To set up a Quarterly Variable Direct Debit you'll need the following information:

• An up to date meter reading.
• Your sort code and bank account details.
• Your British Gas customer reference number.

Once you have this information please call us on 0800 048 0202*, and we will set up the arrangement for you. We're open weekdays 8am - 8pm and Saturdays 8am - 6pm.

Prefer to pay your energy bills through a monthly variable Direct Debit? Why not try EnergySmart™.

*Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

We'll send you a statement roughly every quarter. If you manage your account online we will send you an email when your latest statement is available.

EnergySmart™ customers
We send you an email every month when your bill is available to see online.