THOUSANDS of customers in the region are waiting months and sometimes years to get refunds from their energy supplier, a consumer watchdog said last night.

Energywatch said consumers in the County Durham and North Yorkshire areas were kept waiting for the refunds, which they are entitled to if they have overpaid bills by monthly direct debit.

Lou Knight, from Mickleton, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, contacted Energywatch North-East after she tried to get a refund for £360 from npower in January, but the cheque did not arrive until April.

Alister McCourt, from Meadowfield, Durham, was owed £664 by TXU Energi and it took him months to get the money.

Energywatch North-East director Carole Pitkeathley said: "This is the worst kind of double standards. If the boot was on the other foot, energy customers would soon be receiving letters threatening disconnection or court action.

"Yet consumers who have paid for their energy up front and only want it returned to them are coming up against a brick wall and having to come to Energywatch for help."

In the past 12 months, Energywatch North-East has helped resolve more than 1,300 complaints from consumers trying to get money back.

On average, each customer was owed about £350.

And in some cases, money had been owed for years.

The group said some customers could even get in debt because they were told a cheque was in the post, and were relying on the money to pay other bills.

Customers having problems are advised to call Energywatch on 0845 906098.