Money Moral Dilemma: What should my partner do with her suspiciously big £6,000 energy credit?

SarahLov

Check the meter reading on your bill. I had a similar situation I was 800 in credit and had only been with them for 12 months and paid 70 per month, so I knew it wasn't correct. I had to sort it out myself.  Check the meter reading that is on your actual bill and you should see where tbe credit has arisen.  I saw a minus calculation for mine against my gas. The gas meter had sent the wrong readings.
For instance on November my reading was something like 004500 and then on May it had reverted to 002200 (just examples) I'd losta couple of thousand units!
I'm with together energy, worst move ever! 

CapeTown

Three things here.
1. I had a meter that was going backwards.  The guy who came out to check it said it does happen rarely. Some sort of electrical fault.

2. I was quoted when i changed suppliers for my flat in london well over £1100 per annum for gas and electricity. I told them i would thrrefore pay on a month by month basis. Highest bill thus far has been 35 quid a month.

3. Same has happened in my main residence. I have only been with them 9 months but am already £350 in credit.

dundernut

Draw it out and put it into premium bonds. You can easily access the money within a few days if they ask for it back and you may even win a prize....

WilliamJohnston

One thing worth looking at: some energy suppliers pay interest on credit amounts, and the credit rates can be a lot better than anything you'll get on savings accounts.

So, still worth doing all the checks that people have recommended here, and it might also, in any case, be worth leaving the money where it is.

And if, at the end of the day, you have done all the checks, and the energy supplier has confirmed - in writing - that the credit is correct, then it will be extremely difficult for them to reclaim the money if they later claim to have made a mistake.

NowVillager

I'd make a table of all dates, meter readings, units used and unit price, based on past bills, as that would make it easier to read across and see if those look consistent or something has jumped. As others have said, I'd ask the provider to refund it, park it in a savings account and then look at switching to a more reliable provider!

Bigfra46

I would ask for a cheque or bank credit for the 6 grand, plus a letter confirming I was entitled to it. Then if they come back later to say it was a mistake and the money was gone you have it in writing.

Littledaler

Lots of good advice about checking the figures herself - and about switching with MSE advice!  Does your partner have itemised statements from the energy provider showing all monthly payments advised by them and all payments taken against all meter readings?  Also, good advice to have the meter checked.  

fifty-something

Until I'd done my own sums, I'd still be concerned that an "error has been made by a colleague".  So I'd put the money into Premium Bonds - 100% safe, easy access, and the chance of winnings.
If they did ever come back for the money, I'd insist on them showing their calculations before I returned anything.
In the meantime, once I had the credit in my bank, I'd change supplier jic things became messy.

Fitzmichael

Do as Mo Cummings says but, instead of spending it (unless it's on something you've been saving for), put it in an account out of reach of the company and cancel any access (eg DD) you've given them, and maybe switch.
I can't imagine that, as someone suggests, it would be theft and I hope MSE (or a lawyerly forumite) will tell me/us whether, having unconditionally given it to me, the company would have grounds to sue me for it.

1_Of_Another_Kind

I wouldn't check again with them as you have done twice already. I would take it and spend it bearing in mind that it is not YOUR mistake and you have tried to get clarification of the amount and been told its correct (twice) should the company turn around and say it is incorrect.