Advice on getting cash back and switching supplier

Rufus83

Hi

I am currently with Scottish Power for gas and electricity but looking at changing to EDF Energy as they are doing good cash back offer at the moment of £100 (plus £50 if you go through The Sun Cashback and swith both gas and electricity).

Only thing is, my account with Scottish Power is just over £500 in credit. I obviously don't want to switch and lose all this money so am going to contact them to ask for this money to be refunded (even if I weren't considering switching I would ask for this money back as seems alot to be in credit by).

Does anyone have any experience with this and if so, do they know whether Scottish Power tend to give a full refund? I know the best way to find out is just to ring them and ask but would like to know the facts before I do.

I have read on this site that Scottish Power only refund £1 per £33 in credit.....is this true? If so, it seems a little unfair that we've paid all this money for nothing?? Confused, please help!

Thanks

penrhyn

If you leave your supplier any balance in your account will be refunded after the transfer.
I doubt they will refund you much if any atm if you don't transfer as this is the beginning of winter and its normal to have a balance at this time of year.

macman

Rufus83 wrote: »

Hi

I am currently with Scottish Power for gas and electricity but looking at changing to EDF Energy as they are doing good cash back offer at the moment of £100 (plus £50 if you go through The Sun Cashback and swith both gas and electricity).

Only thing is, my account with Scottish Power is just over £500 in credit. I obviously don't want to switch and lose all this money so am going to contact them to ask for this money to be refunded (even if I weren't considering switching I would ask for this money back as seems alot to be in credit by).

Does anyone have any experience with this and if so, do they know whether Scottish Power tend to give a full refund? I know the best way to find out is just to ring them and ask but would like to know the facts before I do.

I have read on this site that Scottish Power only refund £1 per £33 in credit.....is this true? If so, it seems a little unfair that we've paid all this money for nothing?? Confused, please help!

Thanks

Please could you supply a link to this claim please?
Once you transfer you will receive a final bill and any credit due will be supplied. However if your current credit is based on estimated readings rather than actual ones, then you may find that your £500 evaporates overnight...

rb10

This is what you are thinking of: http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/support-centre/billing/fairer-deal-from-scottishpower.aspx If your account is still open and in credit at the time of your next review, they'll give you £1 per £33 in the account. Think of this like savings account interest.

But if you leave, they will pay you the full credit amount in your account.

Rufus83

Thanks for the replies. We have always submitted actual readings online so hopefully we should get a big chunk of this money back. Sounds like the best thing to do is switch and then they will credit me with the full amount. Is it common for suppliers to withold this money when you transfer?

The link to the bit about Scottish Power refunding £1 for every £33 is under guide for gas and electricty, then follow the link to Energy Direct Debits. Scroll down the page to 'How to Fight Back' and it's under step 2 - 'ask for your money back' (tried to post the link but as a new user it won't let me!)

macman

Where did you get this idea from? All suppliers refund any credit due after your final bill-though some are quicker than others. They don't 'withold' anything-you pay for what you have used.

Premier_2

Rufus83 wrote: »

...
The link to the bit about Scottish Power refunding £1 for every £33 is under guide for gas and electricty, then follow the link to Energy Direct Debits. Scroll down the page to 'How to Fight Back' and it's under step 2 - 'ask for your money back' (tried to post the link but as a new user it won't let me!)

You mean under the rund policies?

There it says:

Scottish Power

At the end of the 12 month payment period, if a customer is in credit, either a cheque can be issued or the customer can use this credit to reduce future payments.

It also announced in Mar 09, that from 1 Jun 09 it's going to pay customers £1 for every £33 they're in credit (on balances between £100 and £500), to be paid at their annual direct debit reassessment date.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits#fight

Not quite the same as:

Rufus83 wrote:

...I have read on this site that Scottish Power only refund £1 per £33 in credit...