legal advice please?

Chivalry

Hi,, sorry to bother u all just a little problem ive got any i really dont know where i stand..

At the beginning of the year i took out the dual Internet deal EDF were doing,, which meant i was contracted to be charged a little over 10p a unit for electricity..... i signed up no problem.. recieved contract in post and email confirming all sorted..

not had any probs for 10 months or so... until last week i got a bill.. saying my DD was being increased from £20 a month to £80 to cover a £120 debt that had built up.....

Needless to say i phoned up to see how the hell my estimnated usage had been so badly calculated, and in the course of the phone call i was enquiring about the Unit price,,,,, to which i was told i was being charged over 18p a unit,,,

??? my contract said 10p!! even on there website it only states 14p for a normal account.. so how am i being charged 18p!!

someone looked into it and said i have never been charged 10p.... allways a far higher price.... and the reason?
Because i have an economy seven meter!! and they said that they cant offer the internet tariff for there electricity to anyone with a economy seven meter! ???
Ive never been informed of this...... there was nothing about this when i signed up.. and ive never been told in the 10 months or more this is the case...

i was then told i could go onto the internet tarriff if i have my meter changed.... are they havin a laff?? overcharge me for 10 months and then tell me ive never actualy been on my contracted tariff!??

surely this cant be legal?? can anyone advise on best course of action?
please help

researcher

Contact citizens advice bureau, and on the back of your bill is a number for the energy watchdog - contact them too.

Keep all relevent documents and emails. Always make a note of who you speak to, time/date and exactly what they say/said

I'm sure someone will be along soon with more information.

Good luck.

Cardew

IMO it will all boil down to this statement of yours:

At the beginning of the year i took out the dual Internet deal EDF were doing,, which meant i was contracted to be charged a little over 10p a unit for electricity..... i signed up no problem.. recieved contract in post and email confirming all sorted..

"my contract said 10p!!" Are you sure of that ?

If it does(and I hope you are correct) you will be OK.

Chivalry

well heres a part of the email i recieved when i joined up.... u decide,,,

" This confirms in writing that you have agreed to enter into a Supply Contract today with EDF Energy for supply of Electricity at 10.62 pence per kWh unit for the first 900 kWh units per annum and 5.10 pence per kWh unit for all units thereafter, Gas at 2.046 pence per kWh unit for the first 5860 kWh units per annum and 1.590 pence per kWh unit for all units thereafter and a combined Standing Charge of £0.00 per annum. These prices are before discounts, if applicable, and include VAT at 5%."

shammyjack

Check thoroughly that there is no mention in your contract that E7 is not included and if not STICK IT TO THEM !

Insist that they honour the contract and give them 14 days to resolve the problem or County Court Action wil take place without further notice !


shammy

tripled

If you are on an E7 meter you can usually either be charged at E7 rates (meaning your nightime is cheaper but adytime more) or the standard rate for all you use. If you are happy with te second option there is no reason you shouldn't be charged what you signed up for.

cdon

Prices have increased several times in the last year so the rate would now be higher unless you were on a fixed/capped deal.

Chivalry

i know they have increased but not up to 18p..... plus they have confirmed in an email ive never been charged the internet tariff due to the meter being economy seven.. so no matter what the price rise is,,, ive never actualy paid the agreed ammount....
In anotherp ost i made someone else in my area posted they were on the standard internet tariff and there charges were

tandard internet tarrif. first 168 units are 9.9p, then after that they are 6.65p

damn sight better than my "18p" ;0(

Cardew

I would have thought that email wording is sufficient for them to charge you those prices,(plus any subsequent rises) regardless of what the contract says.

I would try to opt retrospectively out of your E7 tariff and pay for all your electricity at the rates in the email. To do this it is simply a case of them adding the consumption from both meters together and treating it as 'normal' electricity. - This is exactly the situation I have as I opted out of E7 some years ago but retained both meters.

With gas in your house there is not likely to be much of an advantage being on E7 anyway.

You would appear to have a pretty strong case.