The so-called Big Six – Britain’s six largest energy suppliers – have come in for a lot of stick over their practices.

I’ve had the misfortune of dealing with one of these huge multinationals recently and I’ve come to understand why there is so much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

It all started around six months ago when I received a letter from a debt recovery company demanding around £150.

The company had taken the liberty of adding about £50 in “administration fees” for their trouble of sending a letter.

So I was faced with an unexpected bill of £200 and I had absolutely no idea why.

I immediately called the company and I was told that I owed one of the Big Six the cash for a period when I lived at a previous address some years ago.

I remember contacting the power supplier at the time and settling any outstanding balance before moving so I was surprised that they had only recently decided I owed them an additional £150.

Under threat from the debt collection agency I paid the £206 they said I owed them and then contacted the power company for an explanation.

After a number of calls and emails over several weeks it became clear that the firm had no idea why I had been charged this amount either.

I was becoming more and more suspicious so I began a complaints procedure against the power company.

I received numerous emails saying they were glad they were able to resolve my issues but at no point was I given an explanation for the large bill.

I became so frustrated that I took to Twitter to raise my concerns on the public forum. The reaction from other people was interesting. It seemed I was not alone in experiencing abysmal customer service and receiving mysterious bills.

The power company responded quickly promising to settle the matter once and for all if I would just speak to them over direct messages, meaning the exchange would be hidden.

I agreed in the vain hope that I had made progress and I was at last being taken seriously. Sadly this was not the case.

After further email exchanges, communication again tailed off and I was still in the dark as to why I was billed.

I took up the fight again at the turn of the year. After two hours on the phone to one complaints handler last week the power company finally admitted they had absolutely no reason to bill me or to refer it to debt recovery agency.

I was promised a refund of the money I had paid as well as the administration fees as a “goodwill gesture”.

I have yet to receive it and when I called back a few days ago I was told the person I spoke to left no notes or record of the call.

The entire process has been exhausting but I’m not beaten yet.

However, I can’t help thinking that other people may have had similar bills and paid them without question.

There may be many more customers who have been stung by the Big Six energy companies and are unaware.

I have chosen not to name the company in this column because I am still in dispute with them but I intend to keep battling to get my money back.

If you are in a similar situation I can only wish you the best of luck and urge you to keep fighting.

It is the only way to stop these companies holding people to ransom.