British Gas Free Number 0800: Helpline, Times & Contacts

British Gas runs separate lines for emergencies, billing queries, and breakdown support. This guide pulls every verified 0800 and 0333 contact directly from British Gas’s official help pages, so you know exactly which number to dial and when.

Emergency Helpline: 0800 111 999 (free) · Pay As You Go Support: 0800 294 8604 · Opening Hours (PAYG): Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm · 24 Hour Service: Emergencies only

Quick snapshot

1Emergencies

0800 111 999 — gas, CO, power cuts (British Gas Business)

2Customer Support

0333 202 9802 for general queries (GetHuman)

3Pay As You Go

0800 294 8604 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm (British Gas Priority Services)

4Debt Help

StepChange: 0800 138 7777 · National Debtline: 0808 808 4000

What is the British Gas contact number?

British Gas operates different phone lines depending on what you need. The most critical is the National Gas Emergency Helpline at 0800 111 999 — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is the number to call if you smell gas, suspect a carbon monoxide leak, or have hit a gas pipe.

Emergency contacts

Gas emergencies: 0800 111 999 (free, 24/7)
Electricity emergencies: Dial 105 to reach your local network operator (free from UK landlines and mobiles)
Meter emergencies: 0330 808 3880, available around the clock

Customer service lines

General queries: 0333 202 9802, operated 24 hours according to GetHuman user feedback
Home Services (repairs): 0333 009 5784

Pay As You Go support

PAYG enquiries: 0800 294 8604

Bottom line: For anything involving gas smell or suspected carbon monoxide, call 0800 111 999 immediately — it costs nothing and runs every hour of the year.

What are the British Gas free number 0800 opening times?

The primary 0800 lines have very different availability windows. British Gas’s emergency gas line (0800 111 999) operates continuously — no set hours, no waiting for a weekday. It’s the one exception to the rule that utility helplines keep bankers’ hours.

Emergency line hours

0800 111 999 (gas emergencies): Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
105 (electricity emergencies): Available 24/7 across England, Scotland, and Wales
0330 808 3880 (meter emergencies): 24/7 service

General support availability

Priority Services (credit customers): 0800 0728 625 — Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm
Priority Services (PAYG customers): 0800 294 8604 — Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm
Breakdowns/Heating: 0333 202 9799 — Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm

Is the British Gas 0333 number free?

No — 0333 numbers are not free. Unlike the 0800 prefix, which is free from all UK landlines, 0333 numbers are charged at standard call rates. That said, they work from any phone without needing a landline.

0800 vs 0333 differences

0800 numbers: Free from UK landlines; mobile costs may vary
0333 numbers: Charged at standard UK rate from landlines and mobiles; included in most mobile call bundles

Free alternatives

Use 0800 111 999 for any gas emergency — it’s genuinely free and available 24/7
Dial 105 for electricity emergencies — also free from any UK phone
If you’re on a mobile plan with inclusive minutes, 0333 calls typically cost nothing

What is the free phone number for British Gas?

The main free number is 0800 111 999 for gas emergencies. This line connects to the National Gas Emergency Service, which British Gas operates on behalf of the industry.

Gas emergency free line

Call 0800 111 999 if you smell gas, hear hissing near your meter, or suspect carbon monoxide
Open doors and windows before calling if safe to do so
Extinguish any naked flames — do not use lighters or switches if you suspect a leak

Electricity outages

For power cuts affecting your home, dial 105 to reach the local electricity network operator
The 105 service covers England, Scotland, and Wales — free from landlines and most mobiles

What is the British Gas 24 hour number?

British Gas offers 24-hour cover but only for genuine emergencies. The National Gas Emergency Helpline (0800 111 999) never closes, and the meter emergency line (0330 808 3880) also runs around the clock.

Emergency only 24/7

Gas emergencies: 0800 111 999 — 24/7, free from landlines
Meter emergencies: 0330 808 3880 — 24/7
Electricity emergencies: 105 — 24/7

Other lines limited hours

General customer service (0333 202 9802): According to GetHuman user data, this line may be staffed 24/7, though wait times outside standard hours could be longer
Breakdowns and heating support (0333 202 9799): Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm
Priority Services: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm

How to contact British Gas for different issues

The right call depends on what went wrong. Here is a step-by-step guide to matching your problem to the correct number.

If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide: Call 0800 111 999 immediately from outside or in a well-ventilated area. Do not use your phone near the suspected leak.
If your electricity has gone out: Dial 105 to contact your local network operator. This is the fastest route for power cuts regardless of who your electricity supplier is.
If your meter is showing an error or you’ve had a meter strike: Call 0330 808 3880 for 24/7 meter emergency support.
If you’re on the Priority Services Register and need assistance: Credit customers call 0800 0728 625; PAYG customers call 0800 294 8604. Both lines are open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm.
If your heating has failed and you’re not in a Priority register: Call 0333 202 9799 for breakdown support (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm). You can also use British Gas’s online contact form for non-urgent matters.
If you need debt advice: Free services include StepChange (0800 138 7777) and National Debtline (0808 808 4000).

The upshot

British Gas doesn’t offer a single all-purpose 0800 number for non-emergency queries. Credit customers needing Priority Services support pay nothing on 0800 0728 625, but standard billing and account calls route through 0333 numbers that carry standard call charges.

Confirmed facts

0800 111 999 is the free gas emergency line — verified on British Gas Business
Priority PAYG hours are Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-2pm — confirmed on British Gas Priority Services
105 covers electricity emergencies across England, Scotland, and Wales — from British Gas Business
Meter emergency line: 0330 808 3880, 24/7 — from British Gas Help & Support

What’s unclear

Exact opening hours for general customer service beyond 0333 202 9802
Mobile call costs for the 0800 emergency line from specific carriers
Current hold times or queue status for non-emergency lines

What support exists for vulnerable customers?

British Gas runs a Priority Services Register for customers who may need extra help — for example, due to age, disability, medical conditions, or language barriers. Registration is free and connects you to dedicated support lines.

Priority Register contact lines

Credit customers: 0800 0728 625
Pay As You Go customers: 0800 294 8604
BSL Video Relay: Available via SignVideo, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Why this matters

Customers on the Priority Register receive advance notice of planned outages, priority call handling, and — for those who qualify — free annual gas safety checks. British Gas lists BSL Video Relay support Mon-Fri 9am-5pm for deaf or hard-of-hearing customers who prefer sign language.

“Please call the free 24-hour National Gas Emergency Service number immediately: 0800 111 999.” — British Gas Business (Official Website)

“British Gas operates the call center for this 0333 202 9802 phone number 24 hours, 7 days.” — GetHuman (Customer Feedback Aggregator)

For UK households, the message is straightforward: gas emergencies get a genuinely free line that never closes, while everything else routes through numbers with limited hours or standard charges. Registering for Priority Services if you qualify means you’re not left waiting when something goes wrong.

Additional sources

britishgas.co.uk, biddulph.co.uk, ofgem.gov.uk, britishgas.co.uk, britishgas.co.uk, britishgas.co.uk

Gas emergencies like leaks or carbon monoxide require calling the free 24/7 emergency helpline guide, serving as the UK national contact point.

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact British Gas if I smell gas?

Call the National Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999 immediately. Open windows and doors first if safe, and avoid using electrical switches or naked flames. The line is free and available 24/7.

What should I do for a suspected carbon monoxide leak?

Stop using the appliance, open all windows, and evacuate the property. Then call 0800 111 999 from outside the building. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, and nausea — seek medical attention as well if anyone is unwell.

Is there a British Gas number for no heating or hot water?

Yes. For heating breakdowns, call 0333 202 9799 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm). If you have a Priority Services agreement, credit customers can call 0800 0728 625 and PAYG customers 0800 294 8604 during Priority hours.

How to register for British Gas Priority Services?

Call British Gas Priority Services on 0800 0728 625 (credit) or 0800 294 8604 (PAYG), or register online through your British Gas account. Eligibility covers age, disability, medical conditions, language needs, and other circumstances.

What are options for British Gas bill help?

Free debt advice is available through StepChange (0800 138 7777) and National Debtline (0808 808 4000). British Gas also offers payment plans — call 0333 202 9802 to discuss arrangements before missing payments.

Is 0800 111 999 free from mobiles?

0800 numbers are free from all UK landlines. From a mobile, the call is typically free if your tariff includes 0800 calls, or costs a per-minute rate if it doesn’t. The gas emergency line is worth calling regardless — the potential risk from ignoring a gas leak far outweighs any call cost.

What to do for British Gas meter faults?

Call the meter emergency line on 0330 808 3880, available 24/7. Do not attempt to repair the meter yourself. If the fault is affecting your supply, the line will dispatch an engineer if needed.