Solar energy - Feed-in Tariff payment delays - your experiences?

KevinG

Scottish Power continues to impress with its payment speed. Readings (2 different FiTs) telephoned on 4th January, the first working day after the massive Scottish Hogmanay holiday, money in the bank today, 9 days later.

stellarbelz

First FITS payment came through with no problem within the week maybe because I used the wrong email address and contacted the "help" email and they pushed it through.

This time, I submitted on the 5th January and still waiting. I did send a reminder email to the "help" people but they were harping on the 28 days thing.

Taking into account my credit with them of £340 and my reading going in today of £220, my FITS payment of approx £100, this puts Scottish Power into a good cash position if all customers reflect the above.

There should be a complaints procedure to get our FITs payments back quicker. As someone else said: How long does it take to figure a payment out? I did the above in about 3 minutes.

It is sharp practice holding on to cold hard cash from customers. They are supposed to give you an interest on anything over £300 +, but I never get to see it in my accounting with Scottish Power.

KevinG

stellarbelz wrote: »

First FITS payment came through with no problem within the week maybe because I used the wrong email address and contacted the "help" email and they pushed it through.

This time, I submitted on the 5th January and still waiting. I did send a reminder email to the "help" people but they were harping on the 28 days thing.

I have found the email service inconsistent. I strongly advise you to telephone the readings through on 0141 568 6806.

stellarbelz

Much obliged, KevinG. I will try that next time. I have just sent an email to Scottish Power telling them I am unhappy about the time it takes to settle the FITS payments. I will keep you informed of what they say.

jimjames

Just received confirmation from British Gas that my FITs are now all setup. The application was submitted on 21 November so thats nearly 2 months to get it sorted. They've requested a reading on 21 Feb and then every 3 months which implies it is down to me to remember rather than them to remind me which isn't a problem if they pay up quick!!

stellarbelz

Received a prompt response from SP this morning. They do not appear to read the emails through, anyhow, they confirm that the payment will be made on the 27th January and that this late payment is due to the Christmas break.

My reading went in on the 5th January. I am still going to get some answers. There is no reason, after spending what we all did in installing the modules, why any one of us should wait 28 days for payment.

I will phone through the next time and follow up with email. Maybe I will get 2 payments................ha ha ha

Dave_Fowler

stellarbelz wrote: »

Received a prompt response from SP this morning. They do not appear to read the emails through, anyhow, they confirm that the payment will be made on the 27th January and that this late payment is due to the Christmas break.

My reading went in on the 5th January. I am still going to get some answers. There is no reason, after spending what we all did in installing the modules, why any one of us should wait 28 days for payment.

I will phone through the next time and follow up with email. Maybe I will get 2 payments................ha ha ha

You think you're hard done by. EDF T&C say 90 days before they pay and they stick to it!
Dave F

KevinG

stellarbelz wrote: »

... this late payment is due to the Christmas break.

As you can see from my post, I didn't get this excuse and the payment was made promptly, so I think they were stringing you along there.

stellarbelz

I have done what I can, I am tied to them until next year then I can take my pick. I will be watching this forum carefully. Please keep putting in your experiences, it can only help others in the same position.

John_Pierpoint

Quite frankly, if I was administering a system that pays out tax subsidies, I would be very reluctant to make large payments on an installation with no track record, which is open to fraud.
[How about adding a few extra panels to your system for example]

I would like three months in which to identify what seemed to be anomalies, by comparison with other claims, and have my audit team visit such installations.

[We have already had reports on MSE about the panels that generated power overnight, how long before they get a mention on "Saints & Scroungers" (BBC TV) together with the Nigerian couple with 19 children and the Lithuanian couple who had a nice little side line: importing mothers in poverty for a 2 week "holiday" in the UK during which time they could sign up for tax benefits to the tune of £3,000,000)]