Interest on Utility DD Overpayments

kroptium

During my first switch of energy suppliers it has transpired that my previous supplier had been billing me incorrectly. I am embarassed to admit that I have allowed my supplier to help itself to hundreds of pounds over a period of years without spotting it!

Whilst I am still in discussion with the supplier to work out the 'correct' amount to be repaid to me I would appreciate comments on

• do I have a right to claim interest?

• has anyone else experienced this scenario and received interest ?

Thanks in advance.

Robert_Sterling_3

Two years running I have overpaid by £100 due to their monthly fixed amount Direct Debit being too high. I was quite pleased that unasked they refunded the excess each year that it did not ask for interest on the overcharging element.

chateau42

I keep saying. We are in charge of our own destiny. Our hard earned tax money is precious. Know your own consumption and do not let these people prey on you.

kroptium

Thanks very much for the quick feedback, but with hindsight I should have been more explicit with my opening question.

This case is not the usual small overpayment on a Direct Debit. It transpires that there was an error in the data held in the supplier's billing system. They had changed my meter to some new metric model but continued to bill me as though I still had an imperial meter and consequently the bills were completely wrong.

The latest update is that they think they have overcharged by over a thousand pounds going back over 5 years (I'm still waiting to see their calculation for me to do some cross check - although the arcane arithmetic needed to convert to Killowatt hours and messing about with standing charges abd different costs is going to challenge my spreadsheet skills!)

So I think this is a case of a clear error rather than a reasonable variation in estimating monthly payments, do you think I should be asking for interest?

chateau42

Amazing. Certainly 'Yes', plus compensation for stress getting them to sort it out!! 8)

Robert_Sterling_3

Yes ask for interest at the current rate.
You have been a victim in your own ohm.
Don't stand for any resistance.
Don't let them make light of it.
re-fuse to take no for an answer.

chateau42

Yes, the power is yours. Make sure that you have the capacity to sustain the energy in generating the result otherwise you may feel that your circuit has failed ;D ;D

Robert_Sterling_3

;D ;D ;D

hansi

I know a lot of negative comments have been put on this site about Telecom+, but one advantage of using their services ( and correct me if I'm wrong Smartass!) but if you supply monthly meter readings, and that has to be a plus, you only pay for what you use. With my previous supplier I was always in credit, and I had to wait till the end of the for them to re-assess it, and it is my money after all that I'm loaning them interest free!