Edf present me with 4 years of bills!!

jbindebt

Six years ago I moved into a new property and had an energy supplier (Npower) assigned to me by the house builder.at this time my combo deal meant my Electricity was £4 per month. My direct debits increased as normal and four years ago I combined my Gas and Electricity to EDF. I regularly had the meter read and supplied confirmation when necessary.Currently my Electricity is £17 per month. I quizzed this lots of times and was told that it was fine. Last week a new reading company produced a £3450 bill!! The operator confirmed it was an error due to an input mistake. Today I'm told the figures are now correct and they want the money asap. They sound like a bunch of cowboys. Where do I stand?
They have offered me a discount as they admit fault but claim the previous company gave them the wrong meter type. This means the other two years are also wrong but EDF "won't tell on me" as a goodwill gesture.Seemly i'ts too late anyway as it's over a year old. Then why are they claiming four years now? My new direct debit will be £65 before arrears and they want me to agree to something. Am I liable for four years of errors? They claim that when I queried it years ago they agreed it was correct based on incorrect meter facts. They have offered a supposed "substantial" discount but I feel like telling them to get stuffed. Money is tight enough as it is.

1carminestocky

This seems a common mistake where EDf are concerned.

AFAIK as they have been billing you they *can* backdate any erroneous charges, I'm afraid. You could always threaten to see them in court like Ms McCall did but I reckon the fact she is a celebrity, clearly had the money to pay a team of barristers plus the expected media circus that would have developed caused EDF to reduce hers by almost 60%.

jbindebt

Thanks for that, I was unaware of the Davina story. 60% eh? Worth a chance I suppose. Either that or get to the back of my debt queue chaps and have £1 per month!!!

Vestra

This is different to the Davina story, davina's bills were estimated and she received a catch up bill. Although yours is similar it sounds like EDF were receiving the readings from the meter operator and as far as they were aware they were correct, but now it shows they were wrong and now have the correct one's.

Kimitatsu

But if the meter has been read by the company, I would argue that the company is at fault! Regardless of their errors, and it is up to them to show that you have declined or omitted to give them proper readings then it is their error.........or am I missing the point?

If they had not read the meter for the last 4 years, since July 2007 then you would only have been liable for the last 12 months electricity, so I fail to see how in the last 4 years they have not managed to see this issue before?

I would argue the case, offer to pay the last 12 months as a gesture of good will, and ask them for an affordable repayment plan otherwise you will take it up with your MP.

I had this issue with a water meter when I moved house, it was only when they presented me with a bill for around £2500 (our yearly bill was less than £200) and I flat out refused to pay that they went back to previous bills. They admitted it was the meter reader who had transcribed the numbers and gave me a bill on previous estimated usage - I paid a reasonable amount and they got their money quickly!

jbindebt

Just to clear it up. I had my meter read a couple of times each year and if it was estimated then I would submit my own readings verbally with an operator. EDF say that the previous supplier told them I had a five dial meter and now they realise it's a six dial meter.They are clearly admitting fault and I don't want to agree to a ludicrous arrangement that I can not afford. Never mind the fact that my monthly direct debit has increased by 4! I'm not in the "Davina" league but coming to someone saying they have made a mistake four times a year for four years and then asking me to find the arrears seems to be a bit much.I'm sure Npower wouldn't be pleased that EDF is covering up a mistake?

SwanJon

[Devil's Advocate]
When you recived your bills/statements with 5 digit readings but your meter had 6 digits on them, did you pass on this discrepancy to them?
In the same way it is your reposibility to check your change in a shop it is your responsibility to check your bills.
[/Devil's Advocate]

What kind of discount are we talking about?
Is the £3450 before or after the discount? If before you've been using about £850 a year (assuming all 4 years at the same price). £65/month is less than this, so even without the debt, you may be storing up problems for next year.
Hunt out energy efficiency and put it into practice to bring this down.
Challenge them with the 12 mointh rule (you never know) but don't hold your breath.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

jbindebt

Thanks John. Perfectly understood and I appreciate the advice.Until today I didnt even know that five dials and six dials existed.I just read the number and gave it to the advisor. Never did they question me.Theres also a few zeros that they would also say "disregard" and I carried on blissfully ignorant that I was never paying enough.Today the EDF chap says that my consumption is high"20 units daily"but I'm not sure whether he is trying to help or just get the companys bill paid. I guess I can try the 12 months as his first words were"this is all a big mess", I don't think he really expects to get this back in any great form.In all seriousness I just don't have the funds to pay the £3450 nevermind a discounted amount and will be looking at a good few years to pay no matter what they decide.Earlier today he suggested a four year payment which I have not agreed to yet.

SwanJon

The four year plan, for whatever amount you end up with is the shortest I'd accept - it took this long for th eprobelm to build up.
The only issue would be that you are unable to switch to another supplier in the meantime.
You can, however, get on EDF's cheapest plan that suits you - have a look at the comparison sites.

jbindebt

Just spoke to the National Debtline who tell me that EDF have a "trust fund" to clear old bills?
I'll let you know.

jbindebt

Oh yes, seemly I am on the cheapest internet rate they offer.....so we'll see what today brings.