Case Studies

4CT Ltd T/A the Grange Community Resource Centre
4CT Ltd T/A the Grange Community Resource Centre:

We first met with 4CT Ltd T/A the Grange Community Resource Centre in the summer of 2016 previously they were having their energy contracts purchased by the local council for several years and had only recently started to managed the energy supplies themselves. This caused quite a few problems to start with.

We reviewed the full historical accounts that the council had agreed and discovered they had been using the Ltd company name for the energy contracts with no mention of the charity status of the business in which they had over paid on VAT and CCL for several years. We provided a full report to the client and suggested the making small changes to the accounts to have the overpayments refunded. Upon the client’s agreement, we gave them an idea of the expected refund amount and a full refund of £7151.24 was paid back to the client’s account. This was slightly more than originally forecast.

Following this, we ensured the correct status would remain in place for the business ensuring they would never again be over charges offering the business more budget certainty going forward.

Hadleigh Castings
Hadleigh Castings:

Meeting in spring of 2017 Hadleigh Castings originally had an existing broker that had previously dealt with the energy requirements for the client. Upon review of both gas & electricity supplies for the client, we successfully reviewed the supply period dating back 4 years.

When reviewed we calculated that the client had been overcharged for TNUoS (Transmission Network Use of System) costs. We then discussed the findings of our initial report with the client and suggested the next steps to reconcile this. Upon the client’s agreement, we have had the period reconciled which resulted in a full refund of £6780.98 being paid back to the client’s account.

Following this, we reviewed the product and procurement methods used by the client for gas supplies and discussed better products and costings for this. This resulted in annual savings of £18670.94 for one supply, along with annual savings of £2821.01 for a secondary gas supply.

The total return for this client annually is £28272.93, which can also be multiplied by the term as fixed offers were accepted.

The total return over the term for the client is £71256.83.

Fontygary Leisure Park
Fontygary Leisure Park:

The Problems Experienced:

  • A large private party held a serviced contract with the client that covers the maintenance of supply points on site along with the procurement of the energy supplies themselves.
  • As the private party were billing the client, this did not show the true transparency of the actual supplier charges. Charges could be hidden or added by Mitie without knowledge.
  • The private party takes 50% of any financial savings made.
  • You are unhappy with the relationship with Mitie, and you felt the level of the service you receive has lowered over time.
  • You have Telecoms services currently looked after by a local contact and in-house technician.

Investigation Results:

  • The Client had been placed on to a variable rate contract for electricity without being informed.
  • Change to one electricity supply under P272 directive meant that it had been placed on to a pass through product which includes high charges for use of electricity during peak times. This does not suit the business requirements.
  • Climate Change Levy & Other taxes had been imposed on the client, incorrectly.
  • The private party had overbilled by £53464.20 for gas

Resolution:

  • Reconciliation of charges with the energy supplier and new fixed offer placed moving forward, concluding with £7837.80 refund to the client.
  • Full open tender completed and the correct product selected for the client which meant annual savings of £11065.44
  • All levies and taxes reconciled correctly and balance of £9578.02 credited back to the client.
  • Total return to the client so far £28481.26

Swedish Church Services Ltd T/A the Swedish Church in London
Swedish Church Services Ltd T/A the Swedish Church in London:

Meeting in winter of 2016 Swedish Church Services Ltd T/A the Swedish Church in London originally had an existing broker that had previously dealt with the energy requirements for the client and felt they could possibly receive better service than they previously had received. Upon review of both gas & electricity supplies for the client, we successfully reviewed the supply period dating back 4 years through accounts with various supplies.

When reviewed, we calculated that the client had been overcharged for VAT & CCL costs and that was previously never pointed out or mentioned to the client. We then discussed the findings of our initial report with the client and suggested the changes to the accounts to the benefit of the customer. Upon the client’s agreement, we have had the full period re-billed correctly which resulted in a full refund of more than £9000.00 being paid back to the client’s account.

Following this, we reviewed the product and procurement methods used by the client for gas supplies and discussed better products and costings for this. This resulted in annual savings of £5600.37.

We have also ensured the client is charged at the correct rate of VAT, verifying the account through the current contracts

The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply:

Meeting in summer of 2016 The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply originally had been dealing with their energy requirements themselves with the focus more on the business. Upon review of the electricity supply for the client, we successfully reviewed the supply period dating back 4 years.

When reviewed, we calculated that the client had been overcharged for VAT, CCL and data collection costs. We then discussed the findings of our full report with the client and suggested we make the supplier of the registered charity status of the business as well as letting them know the business had a direct agreement for data collection. Upon the client’s agreement, we have had the period re- billed and credited which resulted in a full refund of £18827.01 being paid back to the client’s account.

Following this, we reviewed the product and procurement methods used by the client for electricity supplies and discussed better products and costings for this. This resulted in annual savings of £5403.47 for the supply on top of the reduction in forecasted costs.

The total return for this client is £24230.48.

Tremadart Findings Ltd
Tremadart Findings Ltd

Brief
Our initial meeting was in the winter of 2016. Tremadart Findings already had an existing broker, but had an ongoing complaint with Extra Energy dating back to 2015. We successfully resolved this complaint by the summer of 2017.

Investigation
A review of all historical correspondence between Tremadart Findings and Extra Energy showed that out-of- contract rates were applied for a period of 11 days as supply was rejected a transfer to Total Gas & Power due to an outstanding balance on the account.

Resolution
It was found that Extra Energy had not allocated payment of the final bill due to being unable to identify the BACS payment. It was proven that Tremadart Findings had correctly followed the procedure and were not liable to pay the out-of- contract rates. Extra Energy refused to fully compensate Tremadart Findings and the case was escalated to the Energy Ombudsman.

Conclusion
The Energy Ombudsman ruled in favour of Tremadart Findings and demanded that Extra Energy rebill the 11 days against the previous contract-rates and not their out-of- contract rates. Extra Energy were also made to pay £100 compensation for the time wasted and distress caused.

The total amount awarded to Tremadart Findings was £970.01.

Shirehampton Park Golf Club Ltd
Shirehampton Park Golf Club Ltd:

Meeting in winter of 2015 Shirehampton Park Golf Club Ltd originally had an existing broker that had previously dealt with the energy requirements for the client. Upon review of both gas & electricity supplies for the client, we successfully reviewed the supply period dating back 4 years.

When reviewed, we calculated that the client had been overcharged on both their energy accounts, when the current supplier had done meter exchanges they continued to Invoices for the same period twice on two separate meter for different usage. We then discussed the findings of our report with the client and pointed out the error on the supplies behalf and the steps to have this rectified. After the client agreeing to this, we have had the small period in which the clients was billed twice rectified which resulted in a full refund of £78.43 being paid back to the client’s account.