EDF Energy...why don't they listen?

jackieD63_2

I moved house in Sept 09 and made arrangments regarding my gas and electricity, the previous tenants used EDF.
In Dec 09 a final gas bill arrived from EDF addressed to 'Dear Customer'.
The bill was from from July 09 to 17 Sept.
I phoned EDF and explained that the bill was not mine but agreed I was liable for 9 days of gas usage. They said they would amend the bill, but a week later I received another bill for the full amount in my name. Again I phoned them and again they said they would amend the bill.
Guess what...a week later I received a final demand saying if I didn't pay the bill it would be forwarded to a debt collection agency.
I phoned once more and was told again they would sort the situation out.
Needless to say, I then received a letter from Fredrickson International debt collection agency. I rang them and they told me to send a copy of my tenancy agreement stating the day I moved into the property, which I did.
I heard nothing back.
Today I received a letter from Bryan Carter Solicitors who are now going to issue court proceedings.
Do I let them take me to court...I'm fed up trying to resolve this situation when no one listens to what I say anyway!

Ignite

This sort of crazyness really annoys me. Time to make a complaint to Consumer Direct. They will take it up on your behalf and advise you what to do.

I do sometimes wonder if the best thing in these cases is to get it into the court room. If you were to turn up with a copy of your Tenancy Agreement, a diary of your dealings with EDF and Fredricksons, a copy of your credit reports and cash for the 9 days worth of useage, probably the judge wouldn't be very happy with EDF and their cronnies. In this case, you would have full proof that you didn't owe the debt and that you had tried to sort it. Having a copy of your credit reports with you means that the judge could make an order that any bad marks on your credit report be removed by EDF etc and if you get that in writing from the courts, you could also send copies to the credit report agencies. Not worth the hastle though. Go to consumer direct.

robchap_2

i got a gas bill from them yesterday dates covered 1st march to 22nd march (as i went to eon) bill is 1481.34
i phonedc them and they did say it seems like a little error i also pointed out i have a prepayment meter fitted on the 23rd feb now waiting to see what they do

kiwi07

I had the same problem with EDF when they made a "little" error by demanding me to pay £2.780!!! I rang them.. . it was only £59!!! They are hopeless.

jackieD63_2

Quick update: Still getting harrassed by debt collection agency. I phoned them this morning and was told that they never received the letter I sent them along with my tenancy agreement.
They told me that Royal Mail is not 100% reliable (lets blame everyone else apart from ourselves) so now I must resend it all again.
Unfortunatlely I lost my rag and they put the phone down on me...
I am beginning to think by the time I've sorted it out I would have saved money by paying the flaming bill in the first place!
Anyway, I am now going to take Ignites advice and contact Consumer Direct...I will update soon!

emmaur1

Hi Jackie,

Sorry to hear about the troubles your having with EDF Energy. Just to ask have you got it sorted yet? Also has anyone even informed you that you can email and fax tenancy agreements in to save you posting it?

markharding557

jackieD63 wrote: »

Quick update: Still getting harrassed by debt collection agency. I phoned them this morning and was told that they never received the letter I sent them along with my tenancy agreement.
They told me that Royal Mail is not 100% reliable (lets blame everyone else apart from ourselves) so now I must resend it all again.
Unfortunatlely I lost my rag and they put the phone down on me...
I am beginning to think by the time I've sorted it out I would have saved money by paying the flaming bill in the first place!
Anyway, I am now going to take Ignites advice and contact Consumer Direct...I will update soon!

Next time send your mail to them by registered post that means they will have to sighn for it

afzaal1988

its not only edf. i have had same exat problem with npower aswell. infact twice. first time my parents paid the bill, 2nd time i didnt let them pay it. and sent a written notice after 9 months to sort it or i will not pay it and i have all the bills they have sent me and all the calls i have made. received call few days after that they will send me the right bill. which they did.
if you just call customer serice they never call you back most of the time and send you the exat same bill again and sometime threating letters.its better to send it written and recorded.

DVardysShadow

This is where phoning gets you. Once a company bills you for something you do not owe and you get them to agree on the phone, you should write to record that they agreed it was not owed and keep a copy and just keep on doing it. Ultimately, if it goes to court, you can show that they are being stupid - but companies tend to avoid taking people to court when they write letters and are actually right.