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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To presume EDF have made a HUGE mistake.

47 replies

CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 18:20

I received an electricity bill for £438.51 from EDF yesterday afternoon. It covers the period 22/8/11-13/2/12. Up to now, I've been paying £52 a month by DD. They have kindly informed me they now want to change my DD to
£580 a month! Angry

Obviously, I am presuming they have made a HUGE mistake and in fact, they mean £58.00, but my heart failed for a few minutes yesterday afternoon, before rationality kicked in. I couldn't call them there and then, as their customer services close for the weekend at 2 p.m. on a Saturday, and it was after that when I picked up the letter.

I am going to call them about it tomorrow, but I am very tempted to make a formal complaint in writing too. I am wondering if I should just cancel my DD now, and tell them I'll pay quarterly from now on, or give them until the end of the week to send out a new letter with a sensible DD amount on there. I shall update you all once I have spoken to them.

OP posts:
fergoose · 01/04/2012 18:23

Is the bill generated using an actual or estimated reading? Is this large bill due to low estimates then a catch up once they finally have an actual reading?

I guess they will want nearly £40 per month just to clear this bill, before adding to that an amount for future use?

dribbleface · 01/04/2012 18:24

my guess is they meant 80, had similar Bill and my direct debit has gone to 80.

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 18:27

It's the account balance for 6 months, based on actual readings, although I am surprised it's working out more like £73 per month instead of £52 per month. The irony is I switched to them through one of those energy switching sites to try to save money.

OP posts:
Dawndonna · 01/04/2012 18:33

I too switched. It's costing me more.
Not happy.

CokeFan · 01/04/2012 18:38

Might be what they intended. They can be sneaky that way and just hope you don't notice. Obviously don't agree to that amount per month.

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 18:41

There is NO way that I (or anyone else should have to) will pay £580 a month!

OP posts:
ZhenThereWereTwo · 01/04/2012 18:43

Cancel DD now you can always re-instate it once all is sorted, it is very difficult to get the money back once they have taken it. This happened to someone I know with Thames Water and they were going on like they were going to keep the money to pay towards future bills and he was a vulnerable elderly man in his 90's!

roulade · 01/04/2012 18:44

Are you sure it's not the standard charge they they have changed? If you don't give a reading when asked then your bill will be £580 automatically. They put up my standard charge after my last bill from £280 to £475. Obviously if you give a reading then you will only be charged for that. I hope this makes sense!

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 18:52

Cancel DD now you can always re-instate it once all is sorted, it is very difficult to get the money back once they have taken it.

Yes, this is what I was thinking, Zhen.

Roulade, the account balance is £438.51 and they said they wanted to change the DD to £580. They didn't ask me for any readings, but I gave them readings for both gas and electricity a month ago when I had to chase them to start a DD for gas.

Someone on the MSE forum reckons the electricity usage is working out at five times higher than average, and I really don't know how, as it's a double-glazed, new-build house (about 6 years old) and I try to be really careful about not leaving things on stand-by or lights on etc. My appliances are old, but the only one in use all the time is the 'fridge-freezer, which is 9 years old. I only use my washer-dryer (10 years old) 4 or 5 times a week and my dishwasher (6 years old) about the same.
Oh, I'm panicking again now! Right, deep breath...

OP posts:
roulade · 01/04/2012 18:55

Cancel the direct debit and ask them to send you an energy card. You can then pay whatever you like, whenever you like and pay the balance on receipt of the quarterly bill. (This is what I do, I pay a certain amount every month and then a little extra to clear the bill or nothing if I am in credit).

roulade · 01/04/2012 18:56

You pay on the card at a PayPoint. Sorry missed that bit out!

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 19:09

Thanks roulade. I think our local Co-op has a PayPoint, so that wouldn't be a problem.

I would switch suppliers immediately, but we are probably going to move within 3 months, so it's not worth it. Anyway, I doubt I could if I owe them money.
Argh! Right, I'm going to go and have some dinner, because things will look better after a bite to eat.

OP posts:
Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 19:14

Just realised as well I've posted this in AIBU, and I meant to post in Chat!
So, Thanks to all for bearing with me and not flaming me so far!

OP posts:
Duckypoohs · 01/04/2012 19:14

Is that the balance after the 6 lots of £53 have been deducted, or before?

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 19:18

Ducky, I am not sure! The account balance/electricity statement is £438.51.

OP posts:
ZeldaUpNorth · 01/04/2012 19:23

They did similar to me except they put the dd DOWN to about £20 from £35 but they were meant to put it up to about £50. Just ring them on monday and they'll change it there and then.

ReeBee · 01/04/2012 19:23

Hi,

Please don't panic! I work for an energy company (not EDF) and think you need to talk to them tomorrow to understand what's happened as there could be a number of reasons you've been sent this bill.

When you call tomorrow, have the bill with you and also a current meter reading. Check that both readings on your bill are accurate and not estimated.

Don't rush to move away from direct debit - most companies offer a dd discount.

The bill is very late being sent (period ends mid Feb and you've only got it now) - indicates there was some kind of issue or intervention - meter could have been misread, dd calculation could have gone wrong.

If you're still concerned tomorrow, PM me with what they say and I'll try to help.

BikeRunSki · 01/04/2012 19:25

It's bound to be a mistake, calm down until you have spoken to them. Scottish Power wrote to me to tell me that my DD was going up to £270 a month. They meant per quarter.

SydSaid · 01/04/2012 19:27

If you meant to post in chat, then why did you title it the way you did?

YANBU

FrillyMilly · 01/04/2012 19:30

I had a massive bill from EDF when we were with them. Turned out they hadn't registered a meter reading for something ridiculous like two years and way overestimated our usage. In the end they owed me about £300. They transferred it to my bank account and I had it within a couple of days. I'm sure it's a mistake!

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 21:03

Thanks very much to all. I feel calmer again, after eating and tidying up a bit and re-reading the reply I got from the MSE person.
I will update you after I speak to them tomorrow.

OP posts:
NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 01/04/2012 21:44

Cancel the direct debit ASAP because they might actually take that amount of money. Even if you call them first thing in the morning and they tell you they have made a mistake and amended the figure to something more reasonable. If they have already applied for this month's money then it could be taken out of your bank account as early as tomorrow.

minsmum · 01/04/2012 21:50

Don't panic they have to give 14 days notice of your dd changing.

AliceHurled · 01/04/2012 21:55

Re the DD there is a DD guarantee which means you can get the money back from the bank. If anyone ever tries to keep money they have collected just go straight to the bank and ask for it back. They will get it back. You don't have to prove anything, it's part of the DD guarantee. Have a look on any DD form and it has a little box about it.

I knew that knowledge would come in handy one day - I used to work with DDs and know too much about them . Grin

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2012 21:58

Thanks NoOnes and minsmum. They said they would take it on the 28th April, so they can't take it straight away. I'm not sure I can trust them though, unless they agree a sensible amount with me in writing by the end of the week. Otherwise, I'll do what roulade suggested with the energy card.

As I said, I would switch, but as we're probably moving by the end of July, it's not worth it.

OP posts: