Hmm, thanks for the replies CitizenB, I guess I will have to let my entirely rational hatred of British Gas go and draw a line under the ordeal they inflicted on me. Unfortunately I don't have my bank and gas statements going back the full 10 years, after all even the tax man doesn't expect you to keep them that long! I was more interested in charging them interest but as no one agrees with me I'll give it up, would hate to lose to them in court.

Hi, I am thinking of making a small claims court case against British Gas. After paying them as a residential customer for nine years I tried to transfer my account to Scottish Power. Eventually it transpired that my flat was shipperless (there was no supplier) and British Gas therefore refunded me ~£7,000 they had charged me over the years. They refused to tell me how this amount was calculated saying that the information was archived. I think they should pay me interest on the money they have refunded which would come to nearly £1000. Do you think the court would entertain this? I went to the Energy Ombudsmen and they agreed with British Gas that as I had got free gas for nine years no interest was payable. In my opinion this is a separate matter, another unknown gas company was supplying me and were too useless to charge me and have now lost the right to do so. Lucky me! That doesn’t make it OK for British Gas to take my money for a service they did not supply without compensation for inflation over the years. BG took my money they had no right to and would have earned interest while it was sitting in their bank account. Any thoughts? Thanks M