British Gas controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
Prepayment-meter installation controversy
British Gas was criticised after reports that a third-party contractor had entered homes to force or arrange the installation of prepayment meters. Following an internal investigation, the company said it would no longer use the contractor involved.
2021
British Gas workers strike over proposed employment changes
Public backlash
British Gas engineers in south west London were on strike and picketing against the company’s controversial plans to ‘fire and rehire’ workers. The article reports that the GMB accused parent company Centrica of planning cuts to pay, terms and conditions; these are attributed allegations, not established findings.
Source excerpt
British Gas engineers across south west London are on their twenty-second day of strike action, picketing on Clapham Common against controversial plans to 'fire and rehire' them.
The strike follows a 9-1 vote in favour of industrial action by members of the GMB, which accused Centrica, British Gas’ parent company, of planning to cut pay, terms and conditions under moves to “fire and rehire” employees.
2021
British Gas engineers continue strike over proposed contracts
Public backlash
British Gas field engineers continued striking in New Malden over contracts they said Centrica was forcing on them through a “fire and re-hire” threat. Centrica said the contracts were necessary to protect jobs and that dismissal and re-engagement had been removed for a significant majority of employees.
Source excerpt
Field engineers with British Gas waved banners and flags and observed Covid safety measures at their picket in cold and wet conditions on Shannon Corner in New Malden on Monday (February 1) as they decried the new contracts drawn up by Centrica amid the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
British Gas workers are continuing to strike in New Malden over a "fire and re-hire" contract they say is being forced on them by parent company Centrica.
A spokesperson for the company said: "Our business needs to change to survive and protect 20,000 jobs. We know change is difficult but we have offered a fair deal that has been negotiated over 300 hours with unions – where base pay and pensions are protected. "Using dismissal and re-engagement has always been a final resort option. That’s why we have worked so hard to ensure that it has now been removed for a significant majority of our employees – eighty-three percent have already agreed to the new terms."
2014
Compensation over exaggerated switching claims
Ofgem reached an agreement under which British Gas paid £1 million in compensation to hundreds of people who had been advised by British Gas representatives to switch from other suppliers using exaggerated claims.