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EDF late payment problem
Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can offer any advice on the following.
In September I moved into a new flat with one other flatmate. We share the bills, and the electricity account with EDF is in my name. We're generally efficient with electricity usage, in particular we only ever used our electric heating on a few occasions over the winter since our flat is quite well insulated. Therefore it came as a suprise that our two winter bills were ~£300 each. I paid the first, but queried the second, and found out that our meter was broken and that EDF had been estimating our useage based on the previous tenants.
EDF fixed the meter in early April, and agreed to re-estimate the bills based on our average usage since then. They informed us that our account had been frozen and that we did not need to pay anything until the revised bills had been sent.
However, I continued to receive late payment notices. I repeatedly called EDF and they said that these warnings are automated and would be sent irrespective of whether we were expected to pay anything. Several times they 'advised' me that I could pay 'some' of the bill if I wanted (!), but each time told me the account had been frozen so I could wait for the new estimate.
However, today I got a letter saying the bill had been turned over to the collectors, threatening we would be cut off next week. Not wanting to risk it any more I paid the full (overcharged) amount. I have two questions:
1. Will this affect my credit rating? Obviously the late payment was not intentional, but this may not have stopped them from automatically informing the credit agencies. If so, how should I deal with this - I don't feel I've done anything wrong.
2. If it turns out that we were overcharged for the winter quarters, will I ever see that money again, or have I just been ripped off?
Sorry for the long message: people on these forums seem to know more than the average member of the EDF customer service team.
In September I moved into a new flat with one other flatmate. We share the bills, and the electricity account with EDF is in my name. We're generally efficient with electricity usage, in particular we only ever used our electric heating on a few occasions over the winter since our flat is quite well insulated. Therefore it came as a suprise that our two winter bills were ~£300 each. I paid the first, but queried the second, and found out that our meter was broken and that EDF had been estimating our useage based on the previous tenants.
EDF fixed the meter in early April, and agreed to re-estimate the bills based on our average usage since then. They informed us that our account had been frozen and that we did not need to pay anything until the revised bills had been sent.
However, I continued to receive late payment notices. I repeatedly called EDF and they said that these warnings are automated and would be sent irrespective of whether we were expected to pay anything. Several times they 'advised' me that I could pay 'some' of the bill if I wanted (!), but each time told me the account had been frozen so I could wait for the new estimate.
However, today I got a letter saying the bill had been turned over to the collectors, threatening we would be cut off next week. Not wanting to risk it any more I paid the full (overcharged) amount. I have two questions:
1. Will this affect my credit rating? Obviously the late payment was not intentional, but this may not have stopped them from automatically informing the credit agencies. If so, how should I deal with this - I don't feel I've done anything wrong.
2. If it turns out that we were overcharged for the winter quarters, will I ever see that money again, or have I just been ripped off?
Sorry for the long message: people on these forums seem to know more than the average member of the EDF customer service team.
0
Comments
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when they re-bill you it will take into account the payment you made so it may be that this puts you in credit and this can even go towards you next bill or be refunded to you.
Your credit rating will not be affected.0
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