Cheque from energy company, 5 years overdue

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

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I received a letter in the post today from e-on who were my energy supplier 5 years ago, the letter contained a cheque for just over a £100, which apparently my account was in credit by when I left them.

Am I right in thinking that I should be able to claim interest on this and if so what amount?

I need to ring them anyway as the cheque is made out to my wife's maiden name but it'd be good to know beforehand.
 
Probably not but could try. Plus 1% over 5 years is only £5 anyway so is it really worth the effort?

Assuming you didn't know about this just cash it and buy yourself something pretty.
 
The interest will be negligible and if you start chasing it there's a possibility they find it's an error and ask for it back. Bank it and move on imho **






** Unless you're with NatWest, in which case you'll probably struggle to bank it.
 
Russinating said:
Probably not but could try. Plus 1% over 5 years is only £5 anyway so is it really worth the effort?

Assuming you didn't know about this just cash it and buy yourself something pretty.
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Would be a bit more than £5 due to compound interest!
 
Heh gonna quibble over a tenner on a 100 quid cheque you never even knew you had coming?

Come on get a grip, bank the 100 quid and be happy for the Xmas bonus....
 
I seem to remember there was some criteria including having to show you had made efforts to chase it up to be able to claim interest but I'm going on a bad memory of a related incident so could be totally wrong.
 
I would be interested to see where this came from to be honest (I work for said company) While i do know there were some late refunds 5 years seems out the norm.

My advice is cash it and let live. If you start chasing for interest you're probably going to go down the complaints procedure.... then most likely the ombudsman and than after a long drawn out saga be no better off.
(Obviously this isnt any official statement but purely my opinion)
 
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Its more the principal that is annoying with companies / gov departments...

You owe them and its harassing letters, taken to court, extra charges, bailiffs, possible bankruptcy or prison.

They owe you and they treat it as an interest free loan for 5 years :)

anyways... just annoying
 
I received a cheque a few years ago when I'd unknowingly overpaid a loan from a few years previous. I recall being paid interest at 8% pa. I didn't know I was owed the money so had never chased it but interest was paid. When statutory interest is calculated it isn't compound. If you're owed interest and you claim it isn't 'greedy' - it's your money.
 
Eon's customer account info is a hell of a mess. They have at least 10,000 accounts in the UK that they have no user details, readings or billing info for. But because the mpans are registered with them, there's nothing they can do.

This means all these companies / house owners will get free power forever! Unless they register with a new energy company. But their final bill from Eon would be zero as they have no records for them.

The downside of acquiring other companies who haven't kept their records up to scratch.
 
HardwareGeek said:
Its more the principal that is annoying with companies / gov departments...

You owe them and its harassing letters, taken to court, extra charges, bailiffs, possible bankruptcy or prison.

They owe you and they treat it as an interest free loan for 5 years :)

anyways... just annoying
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Did you read the OP?

They were given the promise of payment in the form of a cheque which is a perfectly normal way to pay someone.

It's not the companys fault if you then fail to cash it in for 5 years.
 
Hotwired said:
Did you read the OP?

They were given the promise of payment in the form of a cheque which is a perfectly normal way to pay someone.

It's not the companys fault if you then fail to cash it in for 5 years.
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Clearly you didn't read the OP.

How awkward and embarrassing for you.
 
Make one phone call and see if they will give you something more, you have nothing to loose. All these big companies work on the basis of offering the absolute minimum they can legally get away with and hoping you will accept it. Chances are as soon as you speak to the complaints department they will offer you something more straight off to stop you going to the ombudsman. They've had your money for 5 years you are due more than just the money back, I have successfully got extra several times in the same situation.
 
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