Claiming back prepay monies....

DaveAshton

SwanJon wrote: »

Sometimes it may seem that this has happened, but usually the meter is balancing up when you come out of emergency - overall you will have been charged no more than if you had never used the emergency.

This is what I assume happened as well. If you use £3 of the emergency credit, then put £60 in the meter, your display will only show £57 as available credit.

Personally, we've never had a problem with our meter, the prices seem reasonable.

Brassica

we_are_always_skint wrote: »

id be interested on hearing martins take on this

we've been on the pre payment meters for both gas and electric for 8 years and through the really cold parts of this winter could put on £40 a week on gas alone for a 3 bed terrace

ive just been succesful in getting some bank charges back so would be doubly made up if i could get something back on this

....yes, I'm v. interested in hearing what Martin's take on it too; I'm sure its a minefield.

We are only two customers who have racked up 8 and 10 years of overpayments respectively...it goes to show what you can get away with....

Premier_2

Brassica wrote: »

....yes, I'm v. interested in hearing what Martin's take on it too; I'm sure its a minefield.

We are only two customers who have racked up 8 and 10 years of overpayments respectively...it goes to show what you can get away with....

How have you managed to rack up 8 or 10 years of overpayments?

The EU directive only came into force in 2006 and Ofgem forced the suppliers to modify their prices to comply in 2008.

Brassica

Premier wrote: »

How have you managed to rack up 8 or 10 years of overpayments?

The EU directive only came into force in 2006 and Ofgem forced the suppliers to modify their prices to comply in 2008.

I seem to remember there was publicity about the overpriced electricity meters well before this new story broke. I've been on the prepayment electricity meters for over 10 years.

If they have the law on their side post 2008 fair enough...but if they dont, I'll be watching this space.

elalouise

all i'm interested in, is how i claim back these charges? i have been on prepay meters for years, and now i know they were over charging me, even for a couple of years, i now want my money back!
as someone on low income, i want to use that money to treat my family, something we haven't been able to do, due to having to pay as much as £70 a week on gas and electric during winter months! so i want to know how to go about reclaiming this?

kippen_noedel

Premier wrote: »

Edit 2: What they seem to have done is taken the yearly amount spent multiplied this by 4.5 and worked out what 17% of that is.

But that is wrong. If it was 4.5 years, the sum would be:

overpayment = (720 x 4.5) - (720 x 4.5 x 100/117) = £470.77

But as it was only 2 years, then the overpayment should only be:

overpayment = (720 x 2) - (720 x 2 x 100/117) = £209.23

But don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

& then factor in the price increases & decreases over that term

was the meter updated with the new prices on time each time a change took place

I think an easier & almost fairer way would be just refund all the standing charges people have made in that period. Otherwise it will take forever for all the individuals involved to get their money back,

poppie123

I am with British Gas and have had a pre-payment meter since in moved into this property in 1996. I did try and get it taken out but they wanted a £250 deposit which i just didn't have.

The winter just gone when it was bitterly cold i was putting up to £60 a week on my meter, surely that is not right?

I have no idea how to go about making a claim, i don't think i even have any of my gas bills maybe only the last one they sent to me. Would this make any difference.?

newlywed

poppie123 wrote: »

I have no idea how to go about making a claim, i don't think i even have any of my gas bills maybe only the last one they sent to me. Would this make any difference.?

Same here - only have a last year's worth of bills - OH's shredded the rest - have to keep my ears open to whether that makes any difference, though maybe like the bank accounts, you can ask for a breakdown of what's been paid?

poppie123

newlywed wrote: »

Same here - only have a last year's worth of bills - OH's shredded the rest - have to keep my ears open to whether that makes any difference, though maybe like the bank accounts, you can ask for a breakdown of what's been paid?

I think i only have one bill, that's it. Shredded the rest.
Surely your energy supplier in my case British Gas must have a record of all payments made.

elalouise

i am with british gas, for both gas and electric meters and have never received a bill??!!!