Have we been ripped off by Utility Warehouse?

confused.con

We just switched from Utility Warehouse to First Utility after at least ten years of paying by monthly direct debit. We were almost £130 in credit but when the account was closed we only got £75 back as they said we'd been paying the account in arrears?
I'm very doubtful of this as usually you pay monthly direct debits up front and the new supplier First Utility are charging us upfront!

I think they're trying it on as it's been such a long time that we've been with them and it's really hard to tell even with bank accounts what you paid and if it was up front.

Would anyone be able put put me right on this please? (Just hate the idea they've got one over on me!):question:

Robin9

I am just in the process of closing a UW account - there was a Club Membership with it which also needs to be closed.##

Their accounts were always in arrears.

NigeWick

confused.con wrote: »

We were almost £130 in credit but when the account was closed we only got £75 back as they said we'd been paying the account in arrears?

When I was with them I paid in arrears. I provided the meter readings and they took the correct amount by direct debit. But, I moved on several years ago and perhaps the system has changed.

System

confused.con wrote: »

We just switched from Utility Warehouse to First Utility after at least ten years of paying by monthly direct debit. We were almost £130 in credit but when the account was closed we only got £75 back as they said we'd been paying the account in arrears?
I'm very doubtful of this as usually you pay monthly direct debits up front and the new supplier First Utility are charging us upfront!

I think they're trying it on as it's been such a long time that we've been with them and it's really hard to tell even with bank accounts what you paid and if it was up front.

Would anyone be able put put me right on this please? (Just hate the idea they've got one over on me!):question:

I cannot comment on UW specifically but, when paying for energy in general, a monthly DD payment is nothing more than a payment on account. You only pay for the energy that you consume at the agreed tariff rate. When you switched, you will have provided the gaining supplier with a meter reading. This goes through 3rd party review and the agreed meter reading is used by the closing supplier to close your account, and the new supplier to open your account. This way, you will not be paying two suppliers for the same energy. The old supplier will raise a final bill and it will show the credit balance less any charges.

I switched suppliers earlier this month. My account shows a credit balance of £301. However, I know that since my last bill Ihave used about £40 worth of energy. I am therefore expecting to be repaid about £260 when the final bill is raised.