bord gais deposit

djdunny

just looking for peoples opinions on this. last year i switched over from ESB to Bord Gais electricity. I paid a 100 euro deposit on the 14th of April 2009. I called them earlier to ask if my deposit would be sent out to me and they informed me that only after 7 bills are paid would they send it back. I'm currently only on bill 5 which means I'll be waiting another 4 months to get my deposit back.

Do people think this is fair practice??

I also asked the lady what would happen if i switched provider and she informed me that i would get it back on my final bill. I told her that i would move so just to get back my deposit and all she could say was "ok". absolutely not effort in customer retention.

FYI, all bills were paid on time by DD, I am aware that i will more than likely be subject to another deposit if i switch provider but its more the principle of it.

Paulw

I'm sure this was all specified in their terms and conditions when you first signed up?

Fair or not, it's their terms you agreed to.

Mr. Presentable

To answer your question, OP, yes, I think it's fair practice.

Cabaal

Hang on you are 5 bills behind? IF thats the case then yeah its very fair

axer

djdunny wrote: »

Do people think this is fair practice??

Why would it not be fair practice? I have just switched to them myself and didn't realise I was getting it back in a year and two months.

I fail to see the issue here.

bungler

yea i think its fair and they do give it back with no hassles, ive heard horror stories about trying to get money back from airtricity.

as the above have said its all in the terms and condtions that you signed on my good man

djdunny

@ Cabaal. No all my bills are all paid on time and up to date. but they told me that i would have to have received 7 bills before they would issue me back the deposit.

and to the people saying that its all part of the T&Cs. its actually not stated in the T&Cs how long the period is before you get back your deposit.

I just posted the topic because I thought that 17 months seemed a bit long to hold onto a deposit. But if thats standard practice then so be it.

Cabaal

djdunny wrote: »

and to the people saying that its all part of the T&Cs. its actually not stated in the T&Cs how long the period is before you get back your deposit..

they say you'll only get it back when you close your account or they'll decide when to give it to you. To be honest its pretty reasonable and if memory serves me right its a better deal then ESB's deposit

7. Security

If we decide it is required at any time, you must provide us with security cover (the form of this to be decided by us). This is for the payment of any monies which become due by you under the Contract. Any security cover provided to us which is in the form of a cash deposit will be repaid to you when you close your account provided all sums due have been paid or within a certain period provided you have satisfied our payment terms on a continuous basis.

http://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/terms-and-conditions-supply/

hardship

It is worth noting that deposits are normal practice to charge by utility companies as well as others, but not always easy to have returned.

Ask the question when paying any deposit, what the mechanism is for having it returned.

There are massive deposit accounts built up by these companies which have never been claimed back.

Deposits are required from
ESB
Bord Gais
Eircom
BOC

(feel free to add more)

Make sure that if you are a consumer, or someone that has set up small business that you get your deposit returned.

It's valuable cash flow and better that you have it!

:-)