Green Supplier Ltd switch to Shell Energy

[Deleted User]

@QrizB Because most suppliers use direct debit to take payment in advance, unless you are a massive seasonal user of energy, the likelihood is that most customers will have a credit balance on their account. With their current supplier, let alone an old one.

In theory, you can supposedly request an overpayment refund at any time, but in practice it is like getting blood out of a stone, with suppliers quoting arcane rules and complicated algorithms as reasons not to do so. Obviously this is exacerbated by a cessation of trading/going bust situation, and the involvement of the SoLR and Administrators. The latter aren't exactly renowned for their speed of action. Not to mention that the 'bust' company usually becomes completely uncontactable, assuming that it was ever contactable when it was supposedly a going concern. To be fair, Pure Planet do still seem to be there to help atm. 

Through no fault of my own, I am in a menage a quatre with two suppliers and an SoLR, and some others seem to be involved with even more than that.

mumofstig

SOLR switch for me:
It's because this month's Direct debit was taken by Green and not by Shell, that it has worried me.
If the credit from Green does get to my Shell account before I receive my first bill, then all should be ok. I have now paid 4 payments to Green since I switched (one was up-front as a deposit) just for 3 summer month's usage. So there should be about £280 credit.
If Shell calculates the new DD without taking into account my credit balance it will be difficult for me to manage each month.

Haarlem

Haarlem said:

mumofstig said:

Shell have taken another month's direct debit, £93 - when I'm already over £200 in credit!! Surely that's not right?

Has it been taken in the name of Green or Shell?

a direct debit appeared on my bank account yesterday in the name of Green.  I was expecting Shell in line with there email.

I have now had an email from Green saying they have canceled my Direct Debit.

Anyone else had an email?

Verdigris

No. Just got as far as Shell being listed as my supplier.

mumofstig

"I have now had an email from Green saying they have canceled my Direct Debit.

Anyone else had an email?"

No.

brewerdave

mumofstig said:

SOLR switch for me:
It's because this month's Direct debit was taken by Green and not by Shell, that it has worried me.
If the credit from Green does get to my Shell account before I receive my first bill, then all should be ok. I have now paid 4 payments to Green since I switched (one was up-front as a deposit) just for 3 summer month's usage. So there should be about £280 credit.
If Shell calculates the new DD without taking into account my credit balance it will be difficult for me to manage each month.

Sorry to say that this will happen because they won't know the value of your credit (or even if you have a credit ) with Green when you start on supply with Shell - might take several months for the Green accounts to be transferred over. 

gt94sss2

QrizB said:

 There isn't any credit to "get back".

This is an important point.

It's quite possible that the failed supplier has used part of any credit balance to keep the company afloat and doesn't have it any more.

This means that when the SoLR and the administrators of the failed firm agree your closing/opening readings, any "credit balance" is funded by the SoLR - who reclaim that money and any extra costs (interest for borrowing it etc) from Ofgem.

This amount is then surcharged to everyone else's energy bills

Ofgem were/are considering changing the system and https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/supplier-licensing-review-reducing-credit-balance-mutualisation makes interesting reading.

mumofstig

So the advice to leave our DDs open has made things worse for us, in effect giving it to Green's administrators - rather than towards this month's usage.... which we will probably get back some time in the future, when they get round to it. It could have stayed in my bank towards my first Shell bill... sigh.

Brilliant advice wasn't it?  I will cancel it now to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again, next month.

[Deleted User]

@QrizB ‘were depending on having it refunded in order to pay the milkman’

On reflection, isn’t that statement rather patronising, and uncalled for?  I do hope that that it stays fine for you in the future, and that nothing happens to diminish your obvious unlimited wealth. 

gt94sss2

mumofstig said:

So the advice to leave our DDs open has made things worse for us, in effect giving it to Green's administrators - rather than towards this month's usage.... which we will probably get back some time in the future, when they get round to it. It could have stayed in my bank towards my first Shell bill... sigh.

Brilliant advice wasn't it?  I will cancel it now to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again, next month.

It doesn't really matter. That money will be passed to Shell - as it was received after Green collapsed