First utility - not paying back after switch when a/c in credit

kuepper

After a frustrating 6 mths with aptly acronymed FU ( inaccurate a/cs based on their estimate when I had submitted actual meter readings every month, would not reduce DD from £70 pcm even though my previous consumption cost half what they were charging (and should have been cheaper anyway thats why I'd switched) I switched to Scottish Power to get the £70 cashback plus cheaper power fixed price etc. and SP only want £39 pcm

I'm £250 in credit on final FU account as a result of FU overcharging but despite emails to customer services, the odd phone call (cos normally your in a queue for ages ) a month later they've still not paid me. According to the Ombudsman they wont accept complaint until 8 weeks of trying to resolve things with company. So I assume companies know this and just ignore you for that long and get the interest

Rhenser

kuepper wrote: »

After a frustrating 6 mths with aptly acronymed FU ( inaccurate a/cs based on their estimate when I had submitted actual meter readings every month, would not reduce DD from £70 pcm even though my previous consumption cost half what they were charging (and should have been cheaper anyway thats why I'd switched) I switched to Scottish Power to get the £70 cashback plus cheaper power fixed price etc. and SP only want £39 pcm

I'm £250 in credit on final FU account as a result of FU overcharging but despite emails to customer services, the odd phone call (cos normally your in a queue for ages ) a month later they've still not paid me. According to the Ombudsman they wont accept complaint until 8 weeks of trying to resolve things with company. So I assume companies know this and just ignore you for that long and get the interest

Yeah, you're probably right.

250 quid for two moinths in a high interest account must give them what? At least a quid in interest. (before tax)
I've no idea how they would survive without it, eh? :cool:

ollski

I left them with me being owed around 170 after correcly working out their 18 months of estimated bills. I kissed it goodbye.

Terrylw1

ollski wrote: »

I left them with me being owed around 170 after correcly working out their 18 months of estimated bills. I kissed it goodbye.

Perhaps that's why they are making it so hard then?

If you got billed up to a switch, it would be a firm reading if yours was accepted or a Deemed one which you would challenge your new supplier over, not FU. Since the Deeming process has nothing to do with FU, their high estimates wouldn't add to this.

Terrylw1

kuepper wrote: »

After a frustrating 6 mths with aptly acronymed FU ( inaccurate a/cs based on their estimate when I had submitted actual meter readings every month, would not reduce DD from £70 pcm even though my previous consumption cost half what they were charging (and should have been cheaper anyway thats why I'd switched) I switched to Scottish Power to get the £70 cashback plus cheaper power fixed price etc. and SP only want £39 pcm

I'm £250 in credit on final FU account as a result of FU overcharging but despite emails to customer services, the odd phone call (cos normally your in a queue for ages ) a month later they've still not paid me. According to the Ombudsman they wont accept complaint until 8 weeks of trying to resolve things with company. So I assume companies know this and just ignore you for that long and get the interest

You have to raise a complaint to FU first and go to deadlock or 8 weeks, whichever is the sooner.

They have to refund you or give a valid reason why they shouldn't (but this would be for DD recalculation issues).

Suggest you hit them with Standard Licence Condition (SLC) 27.16.

See the supplier .PDF's in this link to Ofgem's site.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Licensing/Work/Pages/licence-conditions-consolidated.aspx

ollski

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Perhaps that's why they are making it so hard then?

If you got billed up to a switch, it would be a firm reading if yours was accepted or a Deemed one which you would challenge your new supplier over, not FU. Since the Deeming process has nothing to do with FU, their high estimates wouldn't add to this.

FU were supposed to have fitted a 'smart' gas meter the year or so before but their billing dept was useless, I didn't get a leccy bill for 6 months or gas for 3. I presumed it worked as I got bills however when I switched suppliers I gave bg my meter reading and it was massively lower than the estimated bill from FU, worked out about 200.00. Swap went ahead and I asked them for a refund. It hasn't come yet, but then it has only been 2 years and this is FU!
Yes I should have checked meter readings but this was back in the day when smart meters were hailed as being useful.

macman

You've waited 2 years for a refund? Methinks a letter of complaint and then off to the Ombudsman in 8 weeks might be the best recourse then...

ollski

Yes kind of waited but mainly written it off. I was just glad to get fu out of my hair.