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

JayD

elsien said:

Put it in an interest bearing account and sit and wait till they ask for it back. 

And in the meantime, check her own bills with the meter readings she provided at the start and during the contract and do the sums herself. Then compare with their readings and figures to see who has put the decimal in the wrong place. 

Succinctly put!

Instead of fussing and worrying about it - and as many others here have already said- check it yourselves!

You should have access to all the past readings and bills - if not, ask for copies of them.

Jeaniekins

If It happened once in a business premises I worked at- the meter had reached its 9999 limit between bills and started at 0000 again, meaning we’d gone from about 9950 on the prev est to 0200 on the next read so they adjusted and credited previous bills. Though, strangely, there had been previous reads that showed regular usage and they didn’t twig. And it must have happened before. We told them and they installed a new 5 digit meter. 

I agree with other comments- keep money separated. High interest accounts are hardly gaining anything but could be a couple of £s. And write so there’s proof that the money wasn’t just pocketed. 

FiFiFoo

CapeTown said:

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.

Sounds like someone connected the pipes the wrong way round- twice!

FiFiFoo

fifty-something said:

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.

Exactly this, and if they do ask for it back agree a long term repayment schedule. 

I had an opposite problem with British Gas who refused to charge me more than the standing charge for over a year despite me asking. When they realised I made a plan to repay the debt, even though I’d been putting the money aside every month.

diggingahole

You may have sent correct readings, the company should have meter read at least once a year anyway,

The meter may be faulty and running slow, which is not your fault.

Take photo of latest reading and attach to email asking for confirmation of over payments / refund they owe.

When you receive reply confirming again the over payments then the £6k is yours

peter_the_piper

Check you are both using the same units, ie kwh and m3 for the readings and figures given by supplier, could make an awful lot of difference.

MWT

Bigfra46 said:

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.

This, and all similar advice to get something in writing to say it is 'correct' will be of no use. If it is a mistake they have 6 years to correct the error and recover the funds.

The Ombudsman has ruled on a few like this and refunds in error can be reversed and are not considered to be 'back-billing' so not protection there.

amandamac59

I would set up a savings account so it's safe, earning a little bit of interest but not being spent in case she has to return it. 

Shpeil

peter_the_piper said:

Check you are both using the same units, ie kwh and m3 for the readings and figures given by supplier, could make an awful lot of difference.

Also check that the meter is measuring in metric rather than imperial units.  We had an old meter that measured in imperial but the power company billed as if it was metric.  They figured it out eventually and asked for their money.