British Gas and Post Office sign new deal

Post Office Ltd and British Gas have signed a new deal running to the end of December 2010, which allows British Gas customers to continue to benefit from the convenience of paying for and towards their Gas and Electricity at Post Office branches.

The agreement will enable five million British Gas customers to pay for their quarterly bills by cash, cheque or debit card at any of the UK’s 14,000 Post Office branches. Around 99 per cent of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office branch.

Customers can also continue to save towards their quarterly bill by making regular payments using their British Gas payment card in Post Office branches. Furthermore British Gas customers can also continue to credit their gas prepayment meters at all Post Office branches and, at 7,500 branches equipped with the Post Office paystation™ terminal, add credit to their electricity key meters.

Over 24 million people visit the Post Office each week and last year there were 270 million bill payment transactions made for a wide range of utilities and local councils. Five million British Gas customers pay their quarterly bills at the Post Office every year and a further one million pre-pay towards their bill. It’s free to pay almost any bill at the Post Office.

“We are pleased to continue to offer our customers the widest choice in how and where to pay for their gas and electricity. With over 14,000 branches, the Post Office is at the heart of the community and we are happy to support it and ensure our customers can benefit from the great convenience this offers,” said Richard Hepworth, British Gas commercial manager.

Post Office marketing director Gary Hockey-Morley said: “Over six million British Gas customers want to pay for or towards their gas or electricity bill at the same time as posting a parcel or buying their foreign currency at the Post Office. We are delighted to sign this new agreement allowing these customers to continue paying at the Post Office.”

In addition to paying bills, customers can access a wide range of other services at their local Post Office, such as banking and financial services including free cash access over the counter, travel services including travel insurance, passports and commission-free currency, and mail and postal services.