Thousands of people who moved home in the last five years could be owed cash from their old energy accounts. Experts warn millions of pounds remain unclaimed, with some households entitled to more than £100 – and checking is so quick and easy.
Energy UK, which represents suppliers. said most balances are naturally returned automatically. However, when a customer’s contact details are out of date, refunds can be delayed or missed entirely. The Daily Express has the low-down on how people can check and claim this added cash bonus.
“Moving house requires a lot of life admin – and it’s understandable that some things will be missed,” said Tim Jarvis, director general for retail at Ofgem.
“But with almost two million closed accounts currently in credit, the message is clear – if you’ve moved in the last five years, reach out to your old supplier, provide them with the correct information, and you could be due a refund.”
While many people may only be owed a few pounds at most, some households could claim back hundreds or thousands of pounds, making it definitely worth checking.
Energy UK recommends customers look through letters and emails from previous suppliers and contact them directly if they suspect they have outstanding credit.
It’s also a good idea to keep your direct debit active until the final bill has been settled, the organisation advises.
Under Ofgem rules, suppliers must issue a final bill within six weeks and pay any refund within 10 working days. Missing or incorrect contact information is often what causes delays.
“We are working closely with Energy UK and energy suppliers to make sure this money is returned to customers quickly,” said Ofgem in a statement on its website.
“Sign into the old account if you still have access and update your details. If you do not have access, contact your supplier directly.
“We want to change the rules to make bills more accurate. More accurate bills will help protect consumers from building large credit balances in the future.
“We are also looking at sharing data regularly on how many closed accounts still have credit left in them.”
Amid surging energy costs, make sure you don’t miss out – even a small refund could help offset the rising cost of living.