EDF promises not to hike prices before March News Discussion

hubb

JamesK10 wrote: »

I boil a kettle to do one large wash-up in the kitchen rather than leave the hot tap running, which is where the most gas gets burned. Even if it's just shifting money from the gas to the electric bill, it should make some token difference - I hope.

You think boiling the kettle to wash up is cheaper than running direct hot water from your boiler ? A kettle is by far less efficient. Whats the point of having a combi if you never use it for water :rotfl:

backfoot

I have now heard back from EDF regarding the £100 Welcome Bonus.

The response has been cleared by their Media Relations Department.

It reads ;

'As discussed, I can confirm that this clause was inserted in the Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions to protect EDF Energy against any potential abuse of our special offer. We expect this clause will only need to be enacted in a very small number of accounts. Customers leaving before the end of the tariff period would be treated on a case by case basis, with normal policies applied for final bills settlements.


Yours sincerely


Kirsty Bond
Executive Liaison
EDF Energy

wakeupalarm

That hasn't cleared up anything then. A case by case basis? The're making it up as they go along.

backfoot

wakeupalarm wrote: »

That hasn't cleared up anything then. A case by case basis? The're making it up as they go along.

I would feel absolutely confident that if I wanted to switch in April or after the Price Freeze ends, that my £100 bonus would not have to be repaid and that I would get all of it credited to my account.

If not, I think they would have an almighty stink on their hands.

In discussion, I stressed the difference between the marketing of a 'WELCOME BONUS' and the use of 'EXIT PENALTIES' to discourage early switchers. They agreed with this entirely but wanted to avoid the £100 being taken for its sake alone.

I can't say it would of been the wording I would have chosen, but I am happy to take it as intended, given the discussion I held.

If anyone continues to feel strongly about it, I suggest you take it up with EDF.

5562

Just spoken to EDF and this is what they said:

Welcome to EDF Energy's Live Chat Service. We'll be with you in a moment. Just so you know, this Live Chat will be recorded for training and monitoring purposes. Thanks for waiting.
You are now connected with Ben.
Ben: Welcome to EDF Energy Online Sales Team. You're chatting with Ben. I'm here to help you with your online tariff choice today. May I take your name please?
:
Ben: Hi, how can I help you today?
: Im looking to join EDF and wanted some clarification regarding your condition for your welcome bonus offer. What does condition 7 mean, specifically 'not redeemable or refundable if the customer subsequently changes supplier before the end of tariff period'?
Ben: It means that if you leave before the end of the tariff this amount will be added onto the final bill
: I ask because i interpret this as if there is a credit on my account if i leave before the tariff period ends then it would not be credited back to me. which is fine, but if there is no credit on the account then i will not be asked to pay this amount back
Ben: As far as we are aware we would ask for the bonus back
: ok thank

backfoot

It shows that despite my best efforts to get at an answer from EDF's Senior Management, that overall they do not have their act fully together.

I am quite clear that with the switch I have personally undertaken, together with the correspondence I have received (and posted), that my £100 Welcome Bonus is secure.

As there is still conflicting advice being given out, then I can only suggest individual customers will have to make their switching decision based on this uncertainty.

Without the £100 Bonus secure from April onwards , I would not be switching to EDF as I would probably have gone for a fixed tariff.

I have made EDF aware of this thread and if they want to further clarify the situation they are free to post or issue a further Press Release.

t0rt0ise

It's all very odd. Why on earth do they give it to us at the beginning of the contract if they can take it back? It ought to be given at the end of the year in that case. Except of course I can answer my own question.. they do it because it makes for better advertising of the product. I would like to see someone leave during the year and take them to court for something or other.

wakeupalarm

How can they take it back when you leave, surely that would be an exit penalty.

On the sign up page it stated the £100 Welcome bonus is subject to the customer signing up by 30th November and the accounts going live on supply.

It did not say signing up by 30th November, account gong live and remaining on the tariff until the 31 December 2011.

In addition the T&C refer to this as a "goodwill credit", how can you take a "goodwill credit" back if its given in goodwill?

I can see the argument that it must be used for actual gas/electricity usage and not be refunded in cash but I can't see how they can take it back once given.

I can see this being argued in court.

KimYeovil

Of course you can take back a 'goodwill' credit. It is a 'bonus' - it explicitly says it will not be redeemed or refunded if you do not stay the course. You lot are just being silly and cynically trying to exploit language in a very petty fashion.

backfoot

wakeupalarm wrote: »

How can they take it back when you leave, surely that would be an exit penalty.

On the sign up page it stated the £100 Welcome bonus is subject to the customer signing up by 30th November and the accounts going live on supply.

It did not say signing up by 30th November, account gong live and remaining on the tariff until the 31 December 2011.

In addition the T&C refer to this as a "goodwill credit", how can you take a "goodwill credit" back if its given in goodwill?

I can see the argument that it must be used for actual gas/electricity usage and not be refunded in cash but I can't see how they can take it back once given.

I can see this being argued in court.

I doubt it. They wouldn't have a leg to stand on imho.

Unfortunately, my feeling is that they didn't think this through properly and the queries have rather embarrased them. As you said before, they have subsequently acted on the hoof, and frustratingly issued a rather wishy washy response.

The call centre/online staff just haven't been updated/trained and also make it up as they go along.

If you are just switching, it will take us into the new year before it transfers. The Bonus will go on accounts within 90 days, taking us near to the end of March 2011. The price freeze ends then and we take a view about switching based on their new prices, the £60 exit penalty and other Suppliers offers at the time.

Any attempt to prevent any part of my Bonus being withheld would be met with an advisory call to my friends in the Media Relations Department.