Duke Energy billing mistake (credit, home, legally)

[hertfordshire]

I'm not sure this belongs in this forum, but I'm not sure where else to ask.

So a few months ago, my Duke Energy account was showing a -$200 balance. I checked my account and found that a mailed payment in the amount of $200 was credited to my account, but I knew it wasn't mine (I don't send payments by mail anymore, and I'm on the equal billing plan, so I send the same $60-ish every month).

I called Duke and explained to them that they must have credited someone else's payment to my account. The customer service rep basically said they couldn't do anything about it until someone called looking for their missing payment (but I'm wondering even if someone did call, how would they be able to find the payment posted to my account?)

I feel terrible for the person who paid $200 that basically went *poof* because someone at Duke made a mistake. I'm sitting on their money, and can't do anything to return it to them. I've continued to pay my bill and carry this balance credit. Do I just keep doing that indefinitely? Is there some point where legally it becomes mine and Duke can't take it back out of my account?

[twingles]

Very lazy but no surprise. i had this happen twice with my AMEX account and they were immediately able to trace it back to the correct account. It was a $5000 credit both times too which I would have loved to keep!

My guess is it gets sorted out eventually. Companies don't look at the checks they receive - I learned this when I went on a home office tour of my company. The envelopes are opened automatically and scanned and deposited. If you send your cable payment to them, it's getting deposited. They will eventually get it figured out but it will take some time. The person whose check got matched to your account will get their cancelled check and that should help them trace it back to your account.

[Jkgourmet]

I'd try an email instead of a phone call. The phone customer service reps probably don't have access to as much financial data as the inside office people.

Kudos to your honesty.

[JJingle]

It’s a mistake at the lockbox. It will sort itself out.