EDF Disputed Bill / Debt Collector

AnnaLicious_2

I have been disputing a £390 bill with EDF, my final bill with them from last year. I had escalated this to their complaints department. They did not follow their own complaints procedure and sent the bill to a debt collector last week.

I wrote to the debt collector to inform them I will not be paying them as:
1. I am disputing the estimated bill against my own supplied meter reading and
2. I have filed a case with the Energy Ombudsman.

I also put in the usual things about not visiting the house, and as my husband is in poor health I would consider this harrassment, etc.

The debt collector wrote today to say they are 'returning the account to the client'. Does this mean:
1. EDF is holding off of debt collection whilst the bill is with the Energy Ombdsman or
2. The debt collector considers this uncollectable and have suggested EDF take me to court.

Has anyone been through this before, or have any insight? Thanks.

Hellblazer

To get the matter resolved, who was it you moved to? Energy Companies usually only accept a final meter reading from the supplier the customer is moving too. So whoever you moved to needs to supply EDF with the correct reading in a dataflow.

They will recalculate your bill, everyones happy.

Premier_2

AnnaLicious wrote: »

I have been disputing a £390 bill with EDF, my final bill with them from last year. I had escalated this to their complaints department. They did not follow their own complaints procedure and sent the bill to a debt collector last week.

I wrote to the debt collector to inform them I will not be paying them as:
1. I am disputing the estimated bill against my own supplied meter reading and
2. I have filed a case with the Energy Ombudsman.

I also put in the usual things about not visiting the house, and as my husband is in poor health I would consider this harrassment, etc.

The debt collector wrote today to say they are 'returning the account to the client'. Does this mean:
1. EDF is holding off of debt collection whilst the bill is with the Energy Ombdsman or
2. The debt collector considers this uncollectable and have suggested EDF take me to court.

Has anyone been through this before, or have any insight? Thanks.

It means the DCA have returned the debt to EDF as you claim it is in formal dispute.

You can't complain to the ombudsman unless you have exhausted the suppliers own complaints procedure. i.e. you have a deadlock letter (in which case they probably don't agree you have grounds for any dispute) or 8 weeks have passed since you originally complained (in which case they either probably didn't get your complaint or don't agree you have the basis for a dispute, and in either case are probably wondering when they will get their money.)

The supplier will compare the outgoing reading you claim to be correct, with both their estimate and that of the incoming occupant after you.
They may even have sent a meter reader round after you left.

What proof do you have of the meter reading you gave? £390 worth of energy is one heck of a large discrepency - almost a years consumption for me.

Hellblazer

An interesting question is did you get a final bill because you moved out of the property, or because you changed suppliers? Either way you got an answer.

DVardysShadow

AnnaLicious wrote: »

... The debt collector wrote today to say they are 'returning the account to the client'. Does this mean:
1. EDF is holding off of debt collection whilst the bill is with the Energy Ombdsman or
2. The debt collector considers this uncollectable and have suggested EDF take me to court.

Has anyone been through this before, or have any insight? Thanks.

Result!

'returning the account to the client' is the jargon for they are not handling it any more and it is between EdF and you. So EdF must resolve the dispute, taking you to court themselves if they need to.

EdF may employ another debt collector as 'agent' but while there is a live dispute, they should not sell the account as a 'debt' to a 3rd party.

AnnaLicious_2

It is the same property, I switched suppliers in January to nPower (online tariff much cheaper than EDF).

I supplied both EDF and nPower with a final meter reading. EDF billed me with an estimated reading, which is more than double my usual usage for the winter months. That also covers winter months where I had cavity wall and loft insulation installed, and a more energy efficient heater.

I went through the complaints procedure to an extent, however EDF did not follow their own procedure. I therefore do not have a 'deadlock letter.' In looked online it seems EDF has been pulled up before for this. I won't go into the back and forths on letters and phone calls, as well.. it's rather dull. I did read in detail what criteria I need to fulfill to file a complaint with the Energy Ombudsman, which I'm happy I meet.

I had a little 'yippie' moment when I got the 'we give up' debt letter today. Then I thought 'christ, they're taking me to court aren't they'?

Sorry if that's dull. Was that boring?

Hellblazer

AnnaLicious wrote: »

It is the same property, I switched suppliers in January to nPower (online tariff much cheaper than EDF).

I supplied both EDF and nPower with a final meter reading. EDF billed me with an estimated reading, which is more than double my usual usage for the winter months. That also covers winter months where I had cavity wall and loft insulation installed, and a more energy efficient heater.

I went through the complaints procedure to an extent, however EDF did not follow their own procedure. I therefore do not have a 'deadlock letter.' In looked online it seems EDF has been pulled up before for this. I won't go into the back and forths on letters and phone calls, as well.. it's rather dull. I did read in detail what criteria I need to fulfill to file a complaint with the Energy Ombudsman, which I'm happy I meet.

I had a little 'yippie' moment when I got the 'we give up' debt letter today. Then I thought 'christ, they're taking me to court aren't they'?

Sorry if that's dull. Was that boring?

You need to contact Npower. Only they can give EDF the final reading to rebill you to the correct meter reading.

Do that and this complaint will be resolved.

DVardysShadow

Hellblazer wrote: »

You need to contact Npower. Only they can give EDF the final reading to rebill you to the correct meter reading.

Do that and this complaint will be resolved.

While probably true in terms of switching protocols between energy companies, I think it would be a good move to send EdF a letter with the final reading - and keep a copy. This should be quite helpful in keeping them on the backfoot if they try to take it to court.

Hellblazer

DVardysShadow wrote: »

While probably true in terms of switching protocols between energy companies, I think it would be a good move to send EdF a letter with the final reading - and keep a copy. This should be quite helpful in keeping them on the backfoot if they try to take it to court.

Yes she can do that as well, but EDF arn't going to contact npower for her. Well not under these circumstances anyway.

DVardysShadow

Hellblazer wrote: »

Yes she can do that as well, but EDF arn't going to contact npower for her. Well not under these circumstances anyway.

Hence sending EdF a reading, which coincides with nPower's opening reading and ask for a bill based on that reading. EdF will have to have an actual reading to make it stick in court, they cannot pluck a figure from the air. And an offer to pay on the basis of the reading which nPower are already using is actually an offer to pay in full the amount that EdF will ultimately bill. So rug neatly pulled out form under EdF as far as court action is concerned. All that remains is for EdF to get the reading from nPower. Not OP's problem.

Hellblazer

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Hence sending EdF a reading, which coincides with nPower's opening reading and ask for a bill based on that reading. EdF will have to have an actual reading to make it stick in court, they cannot pluck a figure from the air. And an offer to pay on the basis of the reading which nPower are already using is actually an offer to pay in full the amount that EdF will ultimately bill. So rug neatly pulled out form under EdF as far as court action is concerned. All that remains is for EdF to get the reading from nPower. Not OP's problem.

Well it is OP's problem because if nPower don't send EDF the readings he has alot more heartache. It's OP's account and OP's bill, it's his responsibility to make sure everything is as it should be. If a reading isn't provided to the company that need to produce a final bill, it will be estimated, not their fault a read wasn't supplied. No it isn't Op's either but EDF arn't obliged to go looking for this reading, nPower is going to need to contact EDF.

Sending a letter though is a good idea as it just concrete's OP's arguement.