Shop bills error gives Severn Hospice a cash boost
A Shropshire charity has been given a funding boost of almost £7,000 after it was discovered a shop was being incorrectly billed for its energy.
The money from the Severn Hospice shop in Albrighton will now be invested further in end of life care at the hospice facility which provides care and support for Shropshire and Mid Wales, with in-patient wards in both Shrewsbury and Telford.
The incorrect billing, which had accumulated over a number of years, led to the charity being refunded £6,800.
Associate Director – Trading for Severn Hospice, Rob Wilde, said: "We are not experts in utility bills but we knew something was not right in the Albrighton store as the bills were particularly high.
"We decided to call in experts at cost management company Auditel and they have made a tremendous difference.
"We knew there was a problem but could not get to the bottom of what it was until we spoke to Adrian Burton from the company, since we have, it has been a huge benefit.
"Being a charity, every penny is precious.
"A proportion of our funds are raised by selling goods in our shops and we do not want it wasted on utility bills when instead it could be going to patient care."
Mr Wilde said he did not realise the rights they had and when the retail team rang up utility companies they were blinded with science.
He added that Auditel have saved a "phenomenal amount" because they know what to look for – they deal with the right people, the right departments and know the right questions to ask.
Since the initial investigation at Albrighton, better energy deals have also been secured for the two latest shops in Poyners Court, Lawley and Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton as well as a store in Llanidloes which is due to open soon.
Mr Burton said: "We uncovered some incorrect billing by the energy supplier where they were misreading the meter at the Albrighton shop which saw a refund back to the charity of £6,800.
Making a difference to charities is a hugely rewarding job."
He added: "The need to be cost conscious has never been greater and for a charity a lot of work always goes into fundraising, to erode this money on paying over the odds for their essential business overheads is such a waste. Without dedicated professional help many organisations do not know that money can be saved."
