EDF want to massively increase payment

emz1907

HI Im hoping someone can help me here. I pay fixed monthly direct debit gas and electricity with EDF and have just had a letter from them saying they want to review my gas payment. At the moment I pay £20 a month which was on their recommendation from previous meter readings, but my account is now £250 in debit and they want to increase my payment to £105!! Thats over £80 extra a month I really don't have. I am in serious financial difficulty at the moment and from my wages get about £60 a month for food and living costs after bills, this extra will swallow that up and still not be enough. Im so scared now I dont know how to proceed. I rang them up and they said more or less tough, I need to pay the outstanding somehow so either like this or all at once as a one off payment which I dont have. How would you proceed with this, cant be cut off from gas at this time of year!

zomerzet

Probably is hell of a shock. Was this bill produced with an actual meter reading or an estimate? If you look on the back of the bill, generally energy companies have a note saying if you're having trouble paying, give their customer services a ring and explain your situation and they may be able to adjust to a more suitable level direct debit for you.

Premier_2

They won't cut you off. Worst they'll do is install a prepayment meter and collect the debt that way.

But then you won't get many of the discounts they offer for credit metered customers, like for payments by monthly DD.

If you've used the energy - you have to pay for it.
You didn't say how long it took to accrue the debt of £250, but they will usually offer a repayment plan over the similar period with a vredit meter.

Of course, the payment increase will be made up of 2 elements initally - the ongoing extra energy you are clearly using over what you are paying for plus the monthly amount to pay back the debt.

Once you've paid back the debt, you'll find the monthly payments decrease again (assuming prices and consumption stay constant)

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

you don't state how long it has taken you to build up the £250 debit, but as a rule of thumb they normally let you pay off the arrears over the same period as it took to build up the debt. That isn't an entitlement - but a concession they normally allow.

So if for example(to make the arithmetic easy) if it took 10 months to build up the £250 debt you should have been paying £45 a month instead of £20. So you would need to pay them £45 + £25 to pay off the debt = £70.

The problem you face is that they will install a pre-pay meter unless you start paying off the debt to their satisfaction.

You best bet is to ask to speak to a manager and ask him/her to review and see if they will drop the payments a little. Be nice however, you are requesting - and not in a position to demand

emz1907

they say it is actual but unless they have done it without me knowing no one has been out to the house. I am getting my husband to get an accurate meter reading to make sure they are right. I did explain on the phone I just didnt have that money but hit a brick wall with them. To be honest Ive been in tears as even a £20 increase to pay £40 a month means Im only left with £40 a month to live on and to buy food/nappies etc. Im so stressed out and no way can I afford anymore than I am paying out now.

BargainGalore

£20 a month is very low to pay for both fuels if for low consumption. I pay £84 a month for both and by any means not a high user although probably above average

As others said if you cant afford to pay it then install a pre payment meter which will result on you paying more for energy and this will take off your debt each time

If you cant afford this unfortunately you will have to cut consumption drastically or find another way of paying

EDIT I note you said you are on benefits have you checked you are getting all what you are entitled too?

Benefits check http://www.entitledto.co.uk

Some energy suppliers have social tariffs and may even check your benefits

http://www.edfenergy.com/sustainability/our-sustainability-challenge/affordable-energy/energy-assist-social-tariff.shtml

I believe some energy supplies also have a charity which may help


http://www.edfenergytrust.org.uk/

gemstars

I've heard that they should allow you to pay off the debt over the time you accrued it. Do you know how long that is?

emz1907

I have been with them since last march when we moved to this rented property. I was with them at our previous address too so this time its been nearly a year. The girl on the phone explained that at the 1 yr review they would look to recover any outstanding on the account within 14days and I would HAVE to pay it all. So I have a few months to try and pay off this big excess and not the 10months it took to build it up.

emz1907

Im not on benefits, I am working - just been hit really hard money wise. Would we be able to install a meter on a rental property?

The £20 is just for gas, I pay £35 a month for elecrtric too.

BargainGalore

You can still get benefits if you work like tax credits etc check that site out I gave

£20 is still very low for gas and almost certainly wont pay what you are using this time of year

emz1907

Thank you Ill take a look, we do get child tax credits and I may be getting disability allowance soon but didnt think any of these made a difference to our energy payments?