Barry Payling, a freelance photographer, was paid more than £2,000 by British Gas, after he threatened the company with court action following two years of disputes.

Mr Payling, was about to take the energy company to the County Court following claims they miscalculated his bills, sent debt collectors to his home for money he didn’t owe and sent his mother a letter asking her to sign up with them – after she had died.

He logged every phone call he made and every letter he sent to British Gas during working hours, then billed them for his loss of earnings, and planned to demand the £2,108 sum at court.

Audrey Gallacher, the head of energy at Consumer Focus, the Government watchdog, said: “Energy companies must realise that their customers’ time is just as valuable as their own, and when they inconvenience people it is more than just an annoyance. Not every consumer will be able to challenge the poor service they receive, so it is important that companies act properly in the first place”.

Mr Payling’s dispute with British Gas started around two years ago, after he complained about representatives from the firm calling repeatedly at his mother’s home.

She died in June last year, but afterwards British Gas sent her a letter asking her to sign up for their Homecare service, pleading ‘please come back to us’.

The company also sent a debt collector to his house two days before Christmas Eve, requesting payment for a £500 debt he didn’t owe.

“Every time I sent a letter, and every time I made a phone call, I logged it. Then I used my rate as a photographer to bill them for my time, which came to £2,108. I told them to pay me, they said no. I said: ‘If you don’t pay me I will see you in court’ – and now British Gas have paid me the £2,100.”

Which? Legal Services, said that It can be very hard to claim any costs for your own time from any company and the courts are very reluctant to order such costs. However, most Ombudsman schemes will make awards for inconvenience to compensation customers for the way a company has treated them.

If you have managed to get recompense from a utility company – do let me know, by email.