If you’ve ever needed to contact British Gas but weren’t sure which number to call, you’re not alone — with several official lines with different purposes and costs, it’s easy to pick the wrong one. This guide lays out the exact numbers you need for emergencies, customer service, HomeCare, and more, so you can get straight through to the right person.

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British Gas customers in the UK: Approximately 7.6 million ·
Emergency gas line: 0800 111 999 ·
Meter emergency line: 0330 808 3880 ·
Standard customer service line: 0333 009 5784

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Customer service lines open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm (British Gas (Priority Services Register))
  • Emergency lines operate 24/7 (Information Now (recognised UK directory)) (British Gas (Priority Services Register))
4What’s next
  • Use live chat on the British Gas website for quicker queries (British Gas (official help page))
  • Register for Priority Services for tailored support (British Gas (Priority Services Register))

Five official contact numbers, one pattern: every line has a specific purpose, so choosing the wrong one wastes time. Here are the verified numbers at a glance.

Service Number
Gas Emergency Line 0800 111 999
Meter Emergency Line 0330 808 3880
Customer Service Line 0333 009 5784
HomeCare Emergency Line 0330 100 0056
Live Chat Available on britishgas.co.uk

What is the British Gas emergency number?

Gas and carbon monoxide emergencies

  • If you smell gas or suspect a carbon monoxide leak, call 0800 111 999 immediately. This is the National Gas Emergency Helpline, open 24/7, and it’s free from UK landlines and mobiles (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
  • Only use this number for genuine emergencies — a gas smell, a pipeline strike, or carbon monoxide symptoms (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).

Meter emergencies

  • For a faulty meter or a suspected gas leak from the meter itself, call 0330 808 3880. This line is also available 24/7 (British Gas (struggling to pay page)).
  • If you have a power cut, contact the electricity network on 105 — that’s a free, separate line for electricity emergencies (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
The catch

The emergency numbers are life-or-death tools. Calling them for a billing query ties up the line for someone who may genuinely need immediate help. British Gas explicitly reserves 0800 111 999 for gas and carbon monoxide emergencies only.

The catch is clear: keep the emergency lines for genuine emergencies only.

Is British Gas 0333 number free?

Cost of calling 0333 numbers

  • Calls to 0333 numbers are charged at the standard network rate — the same as a call to a 01 or 02 number. They are included in inclusive minutes on mobile plans (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
  • Ofcom regulates 03 numbers, ensuring they are never premium-rate. However, if you call from a mobile without inclusive minutes, you’ll pay your provider’s standard rate (Ofcom (UK communications regulator)).

Free alternatives

  • British Gas offers some 0800 lines that are free from all UK phones:
  • Priority Services: 0800 0728 625 (credit customers) and 0800 294 8604 (Pay As You Go) (British Gas (Priority Services Register)).
  • Complaints: 0800 072 8631 (referenced in an Ofgem-hosted document) (Ofgem (regulator complaint document)).
Why this matters

If you’re on a tight budget, dialling an 0800 number costs you nothing. A 0333 number is cheap but not free — and for a 10-minute call the difference is pennies. Use the 0800 lines whenever possible.

The implication: 0800 lines save you money, so use them when possible.

How can I contact British Gas and speak to a person?

Calling customer service

  • The general enquiries line is 0333 009 5784. According to Information Now (recognised UK directory), this is the number for Home Services and general customer service.
  • Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 9am–2pm (British Gas (Priority Services Register)).
  • For billing and payments, try 0333 202 9729 (British Gas (struggling to pay page)).

Using live chat

  • Live chat is available on the British Gas website (British Gas (official help page)). It’s often faster than the phone for simple queries like account balances or meter readings.
  • You can also submit a contact form online for non-urgent issues.

Email and social media

  • British Gas does not publish a direct email address for customer service. The recommended way is to use the contact form on their website.
  • They are active on Twitter (@BritishGasHelp) for public support, but avoid sending personal account details on social media.

The implication: phone remains the most reliable method for complex issues, but live chat is catching up for speed. If you need to speak to a person, call during weekday mornings for the shortest wait.

What is the British Gas HomeCare phone number for 24-hour service?

HomeCare emergencies

  • If your boiler breaks down or you have a heating emergency, call 0330 100 0056. This is the 24-hour HomeCare emergency line (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
  • HomeCare claims can also be submitted online through the British Gas website.

HomeCare general enquiries

  • For non-urgent HomeCare questions, call 0333 200 8899 (British Gas (struggling to pay page)).
  • Opening hours are the same as customer service: weekday 8am–8pm, Saturday 9am–2pm.
The trade-off

The 24-hour HomeCare line is for emergencies only. If you call outside of an emergency, you’ll be redirected to the general enquiries line, which may have longer wait times. Use the online claims portal for routine repairs.

The trade-off: use the emergency line only for urgent repairs to avoid redirection.

Step-by-step: How to contact British Gas quickly

  1. Identify your need. Is it a gas leak, a meter fault, a billing question, or a HomeCare repair? Each number is different.
  2. Choose the right number. Use the table above to match your need.
  3. Call from a quiet place. Have your account number and meter reading ready if it’s a billing or meter query.
  4. Consider live chat. For non-urgent matters, go to British Gas (official help page) and start a chat.
  5. Follow up online. If you can’t get through, use the contact form on the website.

What this means: the fastest path to a human agent is the phone line dedicated to your issue. Calling the wrong number just adds a transfer.

Confirmed facts and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • 0800 111 999 is the official gas emergency line (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
  • 0333 numbers are charged at standard rates (Ofcom (UK communications regulator)).
  • Customer service line is 0333 009 5784 (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
  • HomeCare 24-hour emergency line is 0330 100 0056 (Information Now (recognised UK directory)).
  • Priority Services Register numbers are 0800 0728 625 and 0800 294 8604 (British Gas (Priority Services Register)).

What’s unclear

  • Exact phone wait times are not published by British Gas (British Gas (official help page)).
  • The total number of active phone numbers British Gas uses is not publicly listed — some third-party aggregators claim only two numbers, but official sources show at least seven (GetHuman (crowdsourced directory, low confidence)).
  • The number 0800 800150 appears in a 2021 council document but is not officially listed on British Gas’s website (Biddulph Council PDF (medium confidence)).
  • The Ofgem-hosted complaint document from 2009 references 0800 072 8631, but its current status is unconfirmed (Ofgem (regulator complaint document)).
  • The British Gas Help & Support page does not list all phone numbers; some are only found on specific subpages (British Gas (official help page)).

What this means: many phone numbers exist, but only a few are widely publicised.

“We have a dedicated team ready to help with emergencies, billing, and HomeCare. Our contact page is the best place to start.”

British Gas Help & Support page (British Gas (official help page))

“03 numbers are charged at no more than the standard network rate for calls to geographic numbers. They are never premium rate.”

Ofcom (UK communications regulator) – Ofcom (UK communications regulator)

For the millions of British Gas customers in the UK, the choice is clear: keep the emergency numbers (0800 111 999 for gas, 0330 808 3880 for meters) saved in your phone, and use the 0800 lines for billing and priority services. For everyday queries, live chat is the fastest route — but if you must speak to a person, call during weekday mornings and prepare your account details. That way, you’ll get through without the runaround.

Additional sources

gethuman.com, britishgas.co.uk, britishgas.co.uk, britishgas.co.uk

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Frequently asked questions

What time does British Gas customer service open?

Monday to Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 9am–2pm. Closed Sunday.

Can I text British Gas?

British Gas does not offer a SMS customer service line. Use live chat or the contact form instead.

Does British Gas have a mobile app?

Yes, the British Gas app is available for iOS and Android. You can manage your account, submit meter readings, and contact support through the app.

How do I check my British Gas balance?

Log in to your online account or use the British Gas app. You can also call the automated line on 0330 054 5340 for meter readings.

What is the British Gas non-emergency number?

The general enquiries line is 0333 009 5784. For billing, call 0333 202 9729.

How do I report a power cut to British Gas?

Power cuts are handled by the electricity network, not British Gas. Call 105, the free national power cut line.

What is the British Gas email address?

British Gas does not provide a direct email for customer service. Use the contact form on their website.

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