Rip-off tarrifs which should be illegal ie EDF

jimexbox

Re. UW thread, it will be back.:p;)

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

I also emailed them and got the same reply. BUT it's frankly a ridiculous T&C if we have to email them to ask them what it means - it should be written in a totally unambiguous way. Let's look at it again:

6. You agree to remain on the EDF Energy Online Tariff Version 5 for each account
until the Online Tariff Version 5 comes to an end, which,unless we write to you to advise of any extension, shall be 31 July 2010 (the ‘End Date’).

The truly cynical (not I, obviously :rolleyes:) would suggest this is another example of confusion marketing. How many people will actually take the trouble to ascertain that this ISN'T a cancellation fee clause, I wonder? 6? 10? 20?

Like I said before, ambiguous T&Cs like this should be outlawed. And the T&C regarding just guaranteeing a 2% reduction on standard rate when it's currently more like 16% to get to the top of the switching sites should be nuked into orbit. It's yet more confusion marketing. EDF are by no means the worst exponent of this, BTW, IIRC Scottish Power's new Online 7 tariff has a very similar T&C but even worse this actually DOES have an exit fee...

Much as it pains me;) I have to agree with the sentiments above re ambiguous T & Cs

When I first saw that condition 6, I assumed that there would be a penalty clause for leaving before 31 July 2010. Why else would EDF get me to 'agree' to remain to that date?

Now being something of an anorak, if I was interested in the tariff I would investigate, but only to see what the penalty would be for leaving early - it really surprised me to see that there is no penalty. In fact I am not convinced that it is not a mistake by EDF to have no penalty.

I suspect many customers will make the same assumption, as I did, about there being an exit penalty. Equally I suspect the majority of customers wouldn't even read the T & Cs and be unaware of the meaningless July 2010 statement.;)

gwapenut

1carminestocky wrote: »

The truly cynical (not I, obviously :rolleyes:) would suggest this is another example of confusion marketing. How many people will actually take the trouble to ascertain that this ISN'T a cancellation fee clause, I wonder? 6? 10? 20?

I tend to agree with you - I have taken away the impression that it may be safer not to cancel until the appointed date, even though I have confirmation of no exit penalty! I do believe this is confusion marketing ...

mech_2

I don't know what all the fuss is about. The right to cancel is enshrined in their general terms and conditions for energy supply (section 4). The special terms and conditions of this tariff don't override it and they don't apply an exit fee.

The wording of the rule that seems to get people confused quite clearly talks about what tariff you agree to keep your EDF accounts on, not whether you agree to stay with EDF at all. Presumably the rule exists to make it clear that they have no obligation to switch you to a cheaper EDF tariff should one become available. This doesn't bother me because in the event that a significantly better tariff becomes available from another company, I'd probably just switch anyway to get cashback rather than try and sweet-talk an EDF customer service rep.

epsilondraconis

1carminestocky wrote: »

Back off ignore now the UW thread is no more.

Oh no, why has the UW thread disappeared? Even though it would just go around in circles, it was always great to dip in and out of to see how things were going. That thread was one of those things in life that I could rely on - I can't believe its gone...RIP UW thread ...:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A

Chrysalis

usually its the capped tariffs that have a get out penalty clause, the variable ones which can move up and down in price at any time are on a monthly basis which I assume someone can leave when they please as long as they pay off any balance they owe.

jimexbox

epsilondraconis wrote: »

Oh no, why has the UW thread disappeared? Even though it would just go around in circles, it was always great to dip in and out of to see how things were going. That thread was one of those things in life that I could rely on - I can't believe its gone...RIP UW thread ...:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A

Stay tuned....

1carminestocky

mech wrote: »

I don't know what all the fuss is about. The right to cancel is enshrined in their general terms and conditions for energy supply (section 4). The special terms and conditions of this tariff don't override it and they don't apply an exit fee.

The wording of the rule that seems to get people confused quite clearly talks about what tariff you agree to keep your EDF accounts on, not whether you agree to stay with EDF at all. Presumably the rule exists to make it clear that they have no obligation to switch you to a cheaper EDF tariff should one become available. This doesn't bother me because in the event that a significantly better tariff becomes available from another company, I'd probably just switch anyway to get cashback rather than try and sweet-talk an EDF customer service rep.

Interestingly, that isn't EDF's understanding of the T&C, which sort of backs up the 'confusion marketing' argument.

Katie-Kat-Kins

There is an easy answer here, if Capistan is so convinced that the terms of the contract are as he says then he could always challenge them legally.

However no energy supplier would insist that you have to remain with them until an unspecified date in the future that they decide with no "get out" as doing so would put them firmly in breach of the unfair contract terms act.

I do agree that the term is unclear when viewed in isolation though.

mech_2

1carminestocky wrote: »

Interestingly, that isn't EDF's understanding of the T&C, which sort of backs up the 'confusion marketing' argument.

So what do you reckon is EDF's understanding of the T&C?