First big Gas bill has arrived

Norman_Castle

The first page of my EDF bill would say, YOUR GAS BILL, -£75.00. I would read this as being behind by £75. However, the £75 would be the credit balance after my current bill had been paid. If my bill for the previous quarter was £100, I would expect my bill to say, YOUR GAS BILL £100. Then show any direct debits that had been paid and then show the balance on my account. I asked EDF about this and was given a twisted logic reason for it being shown in this way. If I was being sceptical I would say it was designed to confuse!.

Unless you get candles for free, running a low energy bulb may be cheaper.

mrs-stressed

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Yes, I agree - that's why I said my comments weren't anything to do with this thread, just a response to Allecat's observations. Sorry, I shouldn't have posted off topic.

Please please dont feel that way. I guess I am just over reacting!
And no you didnt really post off topic - there is always someone on here that brings me down to earth with a bump!!

mrs s

mrs-stressed

Norman_Castle wrote: »

The first page of my EDF bill would say, YOUR GAS BILL, -£75.00. I would read this as being behind by £75. However, the £75 would be the credit balance after my current bill had been paid. If my bill for the previous quarter was £100, I would expect my bill to say, YOUR GAS BILL £100. Then show any direct debits that had been paid and then show the balance on my account. I asked EDF about this and was given a twisted logic reason for it being shown in this way. If I was being sceptical I would say it was designed to confuse!.

Unless you get candles for free, running a low energy bulb may be cheaper.

I have gone through the 'bill' with a fine tooth comb and it is deff a bill rathen than a statement. Its the bill from 16th October to 22nd December. The £75 is the charge after all the credits (monthly payments) and their discounts have been taken off. You are right though these bills are horrendously confusing to read let alone understand! But, I do understand them and I take everything into account (like the weather, being at work blah blah). The bank bounced my last dd as there wasnt enough money in to pay it (so incurring a £27.50 charge) so that would have brought the bill down to £57.65 - now that would have been a real result. So I had to pay the bank £27.50 instread of the £18.00 immediately.

mrs s

mrs-stressed

Igot a load of candles last year when they were on offer and they dont drip everywhere and last ages btw. I also have the low energy ones in every light and hate them! But one gets used to the piffly light they give off whilst warming up......

mrs s

Norman_Castle

If you pay monthly by direct debit you would get a statement and not a bill. Are you being asked to pay £75 as well as your monthly payment of £18?.

grahamc2003

Norman_Castle wrote: »

If you pay monthly by direct debit you would get a statement and not a bill. Are you being asked to pay £75 as well as your monthly payment of £18?.

I agree it normally would be a statement for someone paying by dd.

However, her last dd bounced, so it may be that she is no longer paying by dd (and therefore possibly losing her dd discount) and this May be a bill in this instance (if the supplier has kicked her off the dd scheme).

Does it say anywhere on the bill/statement 'Please pay your £75 immediately' or anything like that, indicating it is a bill and not a statement?

If it doesn't, and is therefore likely to be a statement, have you checked to see if it says your dd is being increased (as I would expect if you are in debit)?

mrs-stressed

Norman_Castle wrote: »

If you pay monthly by direct debit you would get a statement and not a bill. Are you being asked to pay £75 as well as your monthly payment of £18?.

Yes, the £75 is after all the discounts are taken off. It says: gas bill £75.65 and then the summary of everything. There is no mention of being kicked off the dd plan at all. I am presuming they will just double the amount to £36 in Januarys payment to cover the lost £18. Havent heard anything other tbh. So it should have been £95.24 before the discounts.

mrs s

mrs-stressed

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Does it say anywhere on the bill/statement 'Please pay your £75 immediately' or anything like that, indicating it is a bill and not a statement?


QUOTE]
No nothing at all. I cannot read the words 'statement' 'pay immediately' on any of the three pages...

Norman_Castle

It says: gas bill £75.65

Ignore this !!!

On your bill breakdown look for "total charges for this period". This is the cost of gas used after any discounts and including vat.
Now look for "total for this period". This is the balance of your payment plan. ( £75.65 ? )
Depending on when your payment plan started you may currently be ahead or behind. During the cheaper summer months you will catch up.

EDF bills are very misleading!.

I am looking at an old EDF bill now. Page 1 says "gas bill -£47.87".(This actually means I am ahead with my payments by £47.87.)
Page 3 says "Gas charges £68.44". If this is the cost of gas used for this period surely it should say on page 1, "Your gas bill £68.44"

EDF bills are very misleading!. I have to keep saying this as you have reminded me how poor EDF bills are at informing customers of the cost of gas used.

wheezy57

I have just checked on my EDF online account summary and yes it was £75.65 but the bank have just paid out the £18 it bounced on xmas week which brings it down to 57.65. There is no panic from EDF - its just as you say a totally misleading and confusing billage system. I have re-read the 'bill' and followed your word to the letter and after reading my account with EDF it made their 'statement' or 'bill' clearer.

I feel somewhat better having spoken to you and clearing it up I must admit. The only winner in this is the bank charging me £27.50 for bouncing the dd in the first place. I am also in credit with my electricity by £37! Thank heavens for that.

Spartacus Castle - I hope your bill isnt too bad this winter and that you continue to explain in plain english what the b hell the bills mean and thanks once again.

I hope 2011 is a good one for you and cheers!

mrs s