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Somebody please HELP!!! I am at a loss now :(
Comments
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Hi Cardew & Woo - Cardew, I've read thro' woo's original post again and really cannot agree that the problem is of her own making - It was EDF who stopped collecting the D/Debits, which triggered woo's first enquiry to ask what was going on.
Despite woo's chasing, it took EDF 29 months to produce a first bill of just over £2000 - this a lot of money, but on a monthly basis it's app. £60 a month. This is not a huge amount in utility bill terms, but in woos circumstances it is and because she had no bills, she had no idea of the annual cost of her utilities and therefore could not budget for them
Although EDF, without admitting fault, wrote off £2,000, they then went into 'wolverine' collection mode and tried to get the debt paid off with snatched D/Debit increases.
Whichever way you add it up, EDF 's failures in not billing and not collecting D/Debits are the sole causes of the present situation, with woo cast adrift on a mountanous sea of debt.
You are quite right that woo can only claim for 4 months under the 2 year back billing rules, but I find it interesting that when woo asked EDF about this, their customer service desk denied all knowledge of the legislation.
Woo faces a court hearing at the end of this month and I would like her to be armed with a defence good enough for the court to set the debt repayment terms over a period and at a value she can afford.
Hopefully she has already lodged a complaint letter with EDF, but it strikes me that EDF's first bill covering 29 months is unlikely to to list what power is being billed, over what period at the then current prices. She is fully entitled to this information, and if she has not not got it, she should send a second Complaint letter demanding it, as EDF's position in court won't look good if they have failed to comply with the request
Woo please post if your first bill was not fully detailed.0 -
Thank you Capistan.
I have been thinking that everybody on here, apart from yourself, MattCanary and dogshome actually work for EDF or some other company that treat their customers as apallingly as EDF.
Just because people aren't telling you what you want to hear, that doesn't mean they work for EDF or that they are bullying.I have constantly said throughout my posts that I want to pay this debt however it has to be a realistic amount.
What would you say would be a realistic amount extra per month to clear the debt?I feel that out of all the posts on here, only 3 people (incl yourself) have not bullied me for daring to spend the money I had set aside for EDF on my mortgage.
Have you been spending the money set aside for the gas and electric bills on your mortgage since May of 2007?At end of 2006 beginning of 2007 I received a bill for a massive amount (over £2000)
It was agreed by myself and EDF that I would pay £20 again, the first payment of £20 was taken out 02/04/07 however on the 03/05/07 a direct debit payment of £120 was taken
In the meantime I am continually using electric that is not being paid for.In this time I have also had a number of meter readings and every now and again receive a bill that just keeps going up.
That bit I would say is definitely their fault for agreeing such a low direct debit with you in the first place considering you had already run up a bill of £2000. However by the same token, if you know that you aren't paying and can't afford to pay, shouldn't you have done more to reduce your usage?It's not easy having a good time. Even smiling makes my face ache.0 -
Honestly why did you not demand a bill after the first quarter of being with them?. (Perhaps calling them two or three times to remind them)
If that had failed why didnt you just change suppliers and the would have prompted a bill ?
Problem evaded ?His Heart Proved He Was A RedSuarez, SuarezWe Bought The Lad From AmsterdamWe Know He's Not a Chelsea Fan.Fernando Torres = El Judas0 -
After reading all this I am disappointed that a first time poster has had such negative comments made. Whatever the ins and outs of things, she should be treated with respect. She has done what many wouldn't have, and acknowledged where she may have gone wrong etc, and I can fully understand her paying the mortgage first.
Let's move on from the negativity. First Woo needs to do what has already been mentioned, and pursue her ex-husband for maintenance for her children. Next, also what has been suggested, get down to the CAB and get some "clout" from them behind her. It is surprising how much difference having CAB or Welfare Rights can make in a situation.
Woo has already said that her salary is expected to go up due to the training she has been doing. If she tells both CAB and the courts this, and that she intends paying more of the debt off when this happens, this would go in her favour. Woo, put this in writing, and the dates if you know it yet, along with what you are willing to pay off of the debt. Also remember you will be paying for your current usage in addition.
Everyone makes mistakes in life, none of us are perfect. To what seems to me to attack this first poster is enough to put them off ever posting again. I just hope to goodness that she takes heart from those of us who have tried to be more supportive of helping.0 -
Do let us know Woo of how things go.0
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