British Gas - unexpected refund

Snot

I've received a refund by cheque, saying it's a credit from your previous supplier.  Free money sounds great, but I've been with my current supplier for a number of years and haven't been with British Gas for over 10 years, and in any case I'm always very careful to check my accounts when switching to ensure it's all squared up.
Just to clear up the mystery I thought I'd ask BG, what a mistake;  the letter doesn't say who the previous supplier was, there is no contact number nor URL. Just a customer number they don't recognise.
I've been past around to 6 different agents who insist they have read the chat history and then ask the same questions and tell me I'm not a customer.
So off to cash the cheque and lets hope it doesn't bounce, and note to self not to switch to BG.
Sorry for the rant, if anybody else gets the same I would suggest you don't waste your time questioning it.

molerat

What is your history suppliers ?

Any of them here ?

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-supply/check-whos-taken-over-your-energy-supply/

Snot

Thanks molerat,  one of my previous suppliers is listed, although I switched to another supplier 2 or 3 years before BG took them over and the credit was returned during the switch. But I will double check my records.

JamesCG26

I too have received a refund from British Gas.

My previous supplier was PFP when they went bust and was moved to British Gas but I moved like 2 days after BG emailed me saying they PFP had gone bust. Around the beginning of September 2021.

I received a refund from BG ages ago for the amount PFP owed me so no idea what this is but have cashed it.

cmgurney

I also received a cheque from British Gas today, with the same wording. My previous supplier was Utility Point, from whom I was switched to EDF, so I was planning to query it. After reading your experience I won't bother. I'll bank the cheque and put it into savings to earn some interest. If it's a mistake, British Gas will presumably get round to asking for the money back at some point.

Gerry1

BG's old billing system seems very creaky, especially when they are an SoLR.  I left Neon Reef and paid the final bill before they went bust and moved to Robin Hood and then to Symbio.

With no explanation BG overcharged me no fewer than four times for a few months' usage prior to switching to BG; they deleted existing bills and issued a revised one with a much earlier BG start date.  If I hadn't kept copies and detailed records I couldn't have spotted this.

Each time I complained they reversed the error only for it to recur a month later.  Eventually they admitted that they couldn't stop the endless errors being repeated so they issued a one-off credit instead.

So it's quite possible that BG could issue a refund cheque because of a similar blunder.

brewerdave

I was moved to BG from Neon Reef - deliberately didn't pay NR because I suspected that there would be an accounting c**k up somewhere!  I WAS finally charged the right amount about 6 months after the failure of NR - but for some reason (only known to themselves) BG showed two "miscellaneous documents" ,as charges, which together added up to the final NR bill - no explanations anywhere !

Rob5342

I've just had one of these too. My most recent previous suppliers were Tonik and Pure Planet who were taken over by Scottish Power and Shell Energy respectively so it can't be those. I was with Together Energy and PFP Energy a number of years ago who were taken over by British Gas but I don't think there was anything outstanding from then, I'm usually pretty hot on checking final balances.

I've cashed it so I'll leave it to them to claim back if they want to.

brewerdave

Rob5342 said:

I've just had one of these too. My most recent previous suppliers were Tonik and Pure Planet who were taken over by Scottish Power and Shell Energy respectively so it can't be those. I was with Together Energy and PFP Energy a number of years ago who were taken over by British Gas but I don't think there was anything outstanding from then, I'm usually pretty hot on checking final balances.

I've cashed it so I'll leave it to them to claim back if they want to.

Reports elsewhere that BG have finally got their act together with returning Together Energy credits after their collapse . Together Energy's "accounts" were a complete mess , so I suspect a few ex customers will be getting cheques that they aren't entitled to !!

Rob5342

brewerdave said:

Rob5342 said:

I've just had one of these too. My most recent previous suppliers were Tonik and Pure Planet who were taken over by Scottish Power and Shell Energy respectively so it can't be those. I was with Together Energy and PFP Energy a number of years ago who were taken over by British Gas but I don't think there was anything outstanding from then, I'm usually pretty hot on checking final balances.

I've cashed it so I'll leave it to them to claim back if they want to.

Reports elsewhere that BG have finally got their act together with returning Together Energy credits after their collapse . Together Energy's "accounts" were a complete mess , so I suspect a few ex customers will be getting cheques that they aren't entitled to !!

I do remember chasing Together energy for a balance refund when I switched from them, I'm pretty sure I got it though. That was about five years ago now.

Rob5342

The cheque has cleared so I'm not complaining. When PurePlanet closed I got two refund cheques for the same amount from Shell Energy about four months apart which both cleared too.