What Does in Credit Mean? You are in credit when you owe less money to a company than they owe you. The account will then either be paid out at a certain point in time or the funds kept to counterbalance bills later in the year. You do have options though, see below.
What am I in credit?
There could be several reasons for this:
- You unintentionally overpaid.
- You were charged incorrectly for something
- You might have been getting billed for an estimated usage which proved to be the wrong amount at the final bill.
The balance in your favour can also be used to mean the difference between what was owed and what was paid even if it is a small amount. Suppliers may allow refunds under specific circumstances, such as overpayment of energy bills by customers often because their meters were read inaccurately. For example, in some cases, you might be able to get a refund on your water bill, depending on the rules of your supplier. It is important to remember that suppliers usually only offer refunds after billing periods have passed and they would usually issue these in the form of credits on customers’ accounts.
Tell me the meaning of credit?
Your energy supplier could earn credit for your payments that are billed unexpectedly. You can be ‘in credit’ with your electricity supplier, your gas supplier, your water supplier, your credit card provider, and pretty much any entity you are dealing with. If you find that they are taking too long to process a refund then you can report it to the regulator who oversees them.
If your account is in credit, you’ve paid for more energy than you’ve used
This is essentially what being in credit mean, the important information now is “what next?”. Various things could happen, such as a refund issued, credit stored against your account in preparation for bills you will need to pay later in the year (see below).
If your account is in debt, you’ve used more energy than you’ve paid for
You might get some debits off your energy account for a month, sometimes a month. The winter season generally uses much more heat and you can see that you have debts at the beginning of winter. It would be an easy thing for a customer to make an account adjustment in order to get back some credit for recurring expenses. If you are changing the supplier, it may require settling a payment before you can transfer it. Call them up so you can ask for assistance. Several utilities could provide support for those who are in debt.
How to claim a refund
Get in touch with your supplier to tell them that you’re requesting restitution. Your e-mail address can be found in your credit report. Please send them an accurate meters chart. Check the readings of gas/energy meters for any errors.
Your manufacturer might deny a refund for your money for various reasons and they will explain this to you. You could also receive no refund at all if you only have very minor funds available during the summer period. This is because there is an increased chance that you are borrowing money versus a higher cost in colder months.
If a provider refuses to refund your money, it must explain why the decision was put in place.
How to report a company for not refunding your credit
If you are not satisfied with how a refund is being handled, you can report it to your local regulator. The name and contact details of the relevant regulator for each supplier are listed on its website if one exists.
In the UK, you might be able to get a payment from your retailer if they did not give you their final bill or meter readings before disconnecting your energy supply but there are many scenarios where a refund could be due and this is just one.
Where to get advice
There are a few things that you can do if you think that you’re owed a refund on your energy bill. First, get in touch with your supplier to let them know that you’re requesting restitution. You can also check the readings of your gas or energy meters for any errors. If you are confident that your credit balance is in your favour and If the supplier denies your refund, there must be an explanation to why the decision was put in place. You can report it to your local regulator if you are not satisfied with how a refund is being handled.
If you have any questions about refunds, you can contact your energy supplier or credit card provider who can then discuss your credit balances. You can also get free advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau. In any case, you can get in touch with a utility regulator to discuss your rights.
Contact Information for utility regulators in the UK are available on their respective websites. The Citizens Advice Bureau also offer free advice.
Can I receive a refund to my bank account?
If you are requesting a refund and there is money owed, your supplier might end up paying the money directly into your bank account. However, some suppliers may only issue refunds by cheque. If you have any questions about how to receive your refund transaction, you can contact your energy supplier or credit card provider. You can also get free advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
What to do if your energy company goes bust?
If your energy supplier goes bust, you may be able to get a refund from the government. The Ofgem Claims Fund was set up to protect customers in this type of situation. You can find more information about the fund and how to make a claim on the Ofgem website.
Who is Ofgem?
Ofgem is an independent and public interest regulator of the gas and electricity markets throughout Great Britain. They help to make sure that energy suppliers comply with competition, environmental and consumer protection laws.
How does Ofgem protect customers in the event of company insolvency?
The Obligation Fund was set up to protect customers in this type of situation. The fund was set up by Ofgem and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and it is funded by contributions from non-faulty energy suppliers. The website for the Obligation Fund can be found on the Ofgem website.
You must download a claim form before submitting your claim. You can pick up a copy at any branch of HM Revenue & Customs, online at the HMRC website or you can call 0300 123 9123 to order by phone.