Final bill delay on switching energy supplier

Jayincheshire

I’ve switched energy supplier saving myself £300 a year. It went smoothly but my former supplier is holding onto £130 of my money and telling me I could have to wait 6 weeks or more to get it back. They say it’s because “the industry” has to verify my final bill before it can be issued. My question is why does it have to take so long, who is this mysterious “industry” and how many millions are being held on to by suppliers with this feeble excuse. Has anyone else had this experience? And is there anything I can do?:mad:

System

Jayincheshire wrote: »

I!!!8217;ve switched energy supplier saving myself £300 a year. It went smoothly but my former supplier is holding onto £130 of my money and telling me I could have to wait 6 weeks or more to get it back. They say it!!!8217;s because !!!8220;the industry!!!8221; has to verify my final bill before it can be issued. My question is why does it have to take so long, who is this mysterious !!!8220;industry!!!8221; and how many millions are being held on to by suppliers with this feeble excuse. Has anyone else had this experience? And is there anything I can do?:mad:

Hi - welcome to the forum. Sadly, many of the smaller suppliers are now using the Regulations to their advantage. All meter readings on switch are verified by the Data Collectors: a process that takes 10 to 14 days. The verified readings are then passed to the two suppliers to open and close your accounts. This process is designed to avoid disputes between suppliers. Consumers often get readings wrong and some people just lie if they can see a few £s in it. The losing supplier then has to use its reasonable efforts to issue a Final Bill within 6 weeks from the date of the actual transfer of supply. This doesn!!!8217;t mean that they have to take 6 weeks but, sadly, many suppliers now do. A refund then follows 2 to 4 weeks later.

Once 6 weeks has elapsed, you can then make a formal complaint against the supplier.

Jayincheshire

Thank you for the welcome and the useful information. I rang my former supplier again this morning and they processed my final billl during the call. Apparently they had the readings after all - or maybe at last! Anyway persistence has paid off and I will get my refund in 10 working days. Again I have to question why it needs to take that long and really think Martin should look into the way suppliers are holding onto what is rightfully yours. Yes I’ve got his message on ditch and switch but this surely shouldn’t be a consequence

System

Jayincheshire wrote: »

Again I have to question why it needs to take that long and really think Martin should look into the way suppliers are holding onto what is rightfully yours. Yes I’ve got his message on ditch and switch but this surely shouldn’t be a consequence

It is in the Licence Conditions but it is also EU Law on final bills.