Overcharge by ISP - but wont send me a cheque

samuzza

I've been overcharge £123 by my ISP.
They've agreed they made a mistake, but don't seem willing to refund me immediately. They want to refund me over the next 6 months, as credit against future bills (ie, £77 three months, £46 in 6 months).

I want the money refunded now (their mistake - the money should be in my bank account not theirs). What are my consumer rights? Could I threaten to take them to a small claims court?

Cheers in advance for any info.

fluffnutter

Write to them recorded delivery, asking for full payment within 14 days and advising that non-compliance will result in you taking action to recover the money, i.e. through the small claims court.

pcombo

Whats wrong with credit to your account, Saves you paying each month.

Also no ISP will send you a cheque for an over payment. As it's easy to use someone elses direct debts / credit card to pay then say you want refunded.

paddyrg

I think you're fine asking for a cheque - as mentioned above, letter recorded delivery.

PZH

pcombo wrote: »

Whats wrong with credit to your account, Saves you paying each month.

Because this is not what the OP wants

pcombo wrote: »

Also no ISP will send you a cheque for an over payment.

[STRIKE]I'm confused now. Who mentioned a cheque ?[/STRIKE]
Explained to us simpletons :rotfl:

pcombo wrote: »

As it's easy to use someone elses direct debts / credit card to pay then say you want refunded.

Pardon?

wealdroam

phoodless wrote: »

I'm confused now. Who mentioned a cheque ?

It's in the thread title...

Overcharge by ISP - but wont send me a cheque

FunnySaving

OP - have you asked specifically for a cheque because that was the original payment method?

PZH

wealdroam wrote: »

It's in the thread title...

Overcharge by ISP - but wont send me a cheque

Oh yeah :rotfl::rotfl:

pcombo

To avoid fraud, companies will never refund you in cash or to any other payment source other than the original.

So the OP wont get far demanding a cheque.

Crazy_Jamie

pcombo wrote: »

To avoid fraud, companies will never refund you in cash or to any other payment source other than the original.

So the OP wont get far demanding a cheque.

To be fair, whilst I understand entirely the logic behind what you're saying, I have received cheques from a number of companies over the past few years following their own error, including BT for overcharging me in relation to internet services funnily enough. Perhaps the fraud alarms don't go off when the refund is due because of a non influenced error on the part of the company, or indeed because I didn't actually request a cheque on any of the occasions (it was offered to me and I accepted).

DVardysShadow

pcombo wrote: »

To avoid fraud, companies will never refund you in cash or to any other payment source other than the original.

So the OP wont get far demanding a cheque.

I think the cheque is a red herring. What has happened is that the ISP has overcharged by £123 and the OP wants refunding rather than credit. This is entirely reasonable, as it will take 6 months to recover as credit. It is his money after all.

Taking it to court is the way to go. But it will get difficult, because the ISP will presumably have credited more than half the money by the time there is a hearing,unless they cave and make payment.