I use bill smoothing for my gas account, and I received an email today to say "You're due a credit."
In fact, our account is in credit by almost $150, so I'd like to have the option either to:
- reduce the bill smoothing amount
- pause bill smoothing
- or get a refund of the credit amount.
The email from AGL said:
If you'd like us to refund the amount directly, please call us on 131 245. |
So I called.
Option 1: reduce the bill smoothing amount is not an option. Our account is not due for review of the bill smoothing amount till July - six months' away.
Option 2: pause bill smoothing. Once again, this is not an option, I was told. In fact, I did cancel bill smoothing altogether when this credit situation happened before, and got reminders as if I was in debt, even though the account was in credit.
Option 3: get a refund.
Once again, I was told this is not an option available, but I could call another department which sounds like it was to do with debt recovery.
So, my account is in credit by almost $150, and that money will not be available for me until a review in six months' time.
I think a refund to my bank account ought to be a simple option, especially if I can keep bill smoothing in place as a guarantee that AGL will get paid for upcoming bills.
This isn't a great experience.