to be annoyed at British Gas, even though I'm getting a big rebate?

[SyraCusa]

I moved house at the end of September, and closed my account with British Gas (with another supplier in new house). I'd been there for three years, and paid by direct debit.

I today received a final statement, showing that I was around £100 in credit for electricity... and £800 in credit for gas!

I called today, and they confirmed this was correct, and that they would today credit my bank account as 'the direct debit was still active' - it should appear in my account within 5 days.

Now, it is obviously great to have a sum like that coming in. But AIBU to be annoyed? Perhaps it is because I can't let myself really believe in the money until I see it in my account, but I am as much pissed off as delighted at the moment.

How on earth did they let my account get into that much credit? About a year before I moved, they had called to say I was getting into debit and needed to up my monthly payments by about £70. At the time I was a bit but my (profligate, now-ex) OH had then recently moved in with me, and so I accepted my usage would have gone up. Lady on the phone today said there had been an inaccurate estimate or something. It didn't help that she wasn't apologetic at all - more 'won't that be a nice Christmas present!' Well, yes, but it's my money that you've been sitting on for a year, it's hardly a gift!

I am prepared to be told IABU for not keeping a closer eye on my account - I admit I'm disorganised with money, didn't receive paper statements, and never checked my online account - I'd set up the direct debit in the first place as it was sold as 'hassle free'. A bit of angry googling suggests this might be deliberate policy though, and that they might not work that hard to refund former customers. (Apologies, Mail link). They certainly sat on my money for a couple of months, and didn't take the (easy) step to refund me until I called them.

Sorry for long post about fairly boring topic. Needed to rant a bit, as the couple of people I've told have just said 'ooh, lucky you' - I can be pleased about the lump sum and still mad about the policy, right?

YANBU. Even if they have every intention to refund, that's money earning interest for them, not you.

However, the time of year you moved might have amplified the figure a fair bit. I think that companies tend to have us accrue max credit going into winter.

Use ovo, they give you 3% credit interest! The interest is offset against your bill.

just check the refund is based on actual readings and not estimates. I would presume this is the first actual reading for a while and your estimated bills have been way over- estimated hence the credit? Or your bills have been massively in credit for a while and you haven't done anything about it?

You can always provide an actual reading every time a bill arrives so you can keep track of actual usage. Estimates are always based on previous consumption so the more readings you are able to supply the better future estimates would be thus preventing such inaccurate bills and huge credits/debits building up.