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Electric_Twit
Rank 2
June 28, 2023

Credit Refunds

  • June 28, 2023
  • 26 replies
  • 1068 views

Interesting article on the internet https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-12238861/DEAN-DUNHAM-energy-company-refuse-refund-credit.html

Ovo are named and shamed for their policy of encouraging customers to retain three months worth of direct debits when claiming credit balances. Ofgem are quoted as saying “There is no minimum amount that suppliers are allowed to keep.

Our rules ensure consumer credit balances are always protected and we recently strengthened rules regarding direct debits, which should prevent excessive accumulation of consumer credit balances. 

Refunds should be returned by suppliers in a timely fashion. Customers can always request their balance back at any time and we have made sure this is firmly in our rules.'”

Furthermore, the article goes on to say “This means OVO and other suppliers are not entitled to hold on to any credit, so its policy of forcing those consumers in credit to leave the value of at least three monthly direct debit payments in the account is unlawful.” 

I have been trying to get my credit of over £600 back and after failing on several occasions to get through to customer services I opted for the automatic refund minus three months.

I look forward to the web based claim system being made legal (I bet the facility is removed entirely).

26 replies

Show previous replies
Jeffus
Rank 20
Jeffus
Rank 20
June 29, 2023

Actually, it’s best to leave it there if you’re switching away - that credit helps pay the final bill automatically which you’d still owe anyway. You get the rest back automatically after that.

Well I realise that suits OVO, but as we have discussed, the amount there would cover far more than one month’s bill. Also the six weeks plus 10 days wait is a bit much. 

I agree that is a lot of money tied up that won't be needed to pay the final bill for someone on a smart meter

 

 

    Jeffus
    Rank 20
    Jeffus
    Rank 20
    June 29, 2023

    @Jeffus I will try to reverse that dd from 18th June then, not that I know how to!!!

    @Electric_Twit I wonder if it might work, when you’re ready to switch, to cancel the dd so your account will default to pay on demand (at a higher rate). Then claim back all your balance, then switch. Don’t quote me !!

    Frankly all I wanted to do was get over £600 of credit back and maintain an appropriate Direct Debit, but I object to the fact that I must phone customer services to do so, only because I really think waiting for over 15 minutes for an answer is unreasonable.

    Why does the online credit recovery tool state they will retain 3 months of Direct Debits?

    When you move to Ovo all they insist upon is one month up front, so 3 months smacks of profiteering, in my humble opinion.

    When I move I allow for due process on any surplus and await the final account. I just wish I could reduce the size of the surplus (over£300) in the meantime!

    A recent Ofgem consultation looked at leveling the unit rate and standing charges across all payment types.

    Currently there is temporary leveling across DD and pre payment meters. 

    Be interesting to see what happens following the consultation. 

     

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    June 30, 2023

    Finally, I have an EV and on the forums I frequent Ovo are also poorly rated for the machiavellian EV tariff which appears to be aimed at forcing owners to buy into Ovo’s technical solution. Your recent intervention regarding Myenegi Zappi chargers was not appreciated on that forum.

    I do not know what you mean by that. This (i.e. the OVO Forum) is the only Energy/EV related forum that I post on under this username. Likewise, if you’re talking about the MSE Forum, I don’t post there, nor have an account at all (it’s too confusing and tbh, dolor and other Forumites over there already have the energy section covered without needing my help). I do post on another forum with another username, however I disclosed that privately to the moderators of both the OVO Forum and the other one and they all approved me doing so and understood the reasons for it.

    If I ever step down from such a forum, all of my known usernames would be blocked from re-use by anyone else to prevent impersonation.

    If anyone else is claiming to be me (as in Blastoise186, blastoise186 or any variant of them) on ANY Energy related forum that is NOT the OVO Forum, it’s not me and it’s likely they are an imposter. The moderators of the forums that I do use know me well and would be able to verify whether an account that claims to be me really is me or not. I don’t publicly reveal the mechanisms that I use for that, but they work.

    I will make it clear that I do not tolerate impersonation or defamation, and will take steps to protect my reputation if needed. If anyone is impersonating me, then I’d strongly recommend that they cease doing so immediately.

    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
    E
    Rank 2
    Electric_TwitAuthor
    Rank 2
    June 30, 2023

    Finally, I have an EV and on the forums I frequent Ovo are also poorly rated for the machiavellian EV tariff which appears to be aimed at forcing owners to buy into Ovo’s technical solution. Your recent intervention regarding Myenegi Zappi chargers was not appreciated on that forum.

    I do not know what you mean by that. This (i.e. the OVO Forum) is the only Energy/EV related forum that I post on under this username. Likewise, if you’re talking about the MSE Forum, I don’t post there, nor have an account at all (it’s too confusing and tbh, dolor and other Forumites over there already have the energy section covered without needing my help). I do post on another forum with another username, however I disclosed that privately to the moderators of both the OVO Forum and the other one and they all approved me doing so and understood the reasons for it.

    If I ever step down from such a forum, all of my known usernames would be blocked from re-use by anyone else to prevent impersonation.

    If anyone else is claiming to be me (as in Blastoise186, blastoise186 or any variant of them) on ANY Energy related forum that is NOT the OVO Forum, it’s not me and it’s likely they are an imposter. The moderators of the forums that I do use know me well and would be able to verify whether an account that claims to be me really is me or not. I don’t publicly reveal the mechanisms that I use for that, but they work.

    I will make it clear that I do not tolerate impersonation or defamation, and will take steps to protect my reputation if needed. If anyone is impersonating me, then I’d strongly recommend that they cease doing so immediately.

    As the saying goes, “Don’t get your knickers in a twist”!

    You did not post to the Myenergi Forum but your Ovo Forum post as copied to that Forum.

    Myenergi are apparently wondering why there charge point cannot be included in the Ovo EV charging scheme and you weighed in with this little gem:

    Your answer spread some confusion as your status within Ovo was not understood, I put them right on your role (or lack of it) as a “community contributor” or whatever you prefer to be known as.

    So no one is impersonating you, one of you is enough!

    I hope this puts you mind at rest.

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    June 30, 2023

    I see. And that’s why it’s actually better to link back to the original post, rather than copy/pasting over if you’re going between forums. Doing that means it’s much easier to check this stuff over and verify what status someone has which avoids confusion (it also doesn’t break copyright either).

    As a gesture of goodwill, I will authorise that content to remain up in this case and grant my consent for what has been posted there to be hosted on the myenergi forum to remain up without needing a full credit. In future, please ensure that correct credit is given, ideally by linking back to the original content.

    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
    E
    Rank 2
    Electric_TwitAuthor
    Rank 2
    June 30, 2023

    I see. And that’s why it’s actually better to link back to the original post, rather than copy/pasting over if you’re going between forums. Doing that means it’s much easier to check this stuff over and verify what status someone has which avoids confusion (it also doesn’t break copyright either).

    I have no idea what you are blathering on about now, but do what I did, go to the forum at https://myenergi.info/ and search for “Blastoise186” because that is how I found the old forum thread you were in. I am not sure traditional copyright, which most people recognise, applies to public forum posts, but you answered a question and your ownership of the post was acknowledged by including your forum name in the title.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

    OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

    OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

    OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd