Spot the Edf spokesman's Direct Debit review "untruth"

jalexa

Interesting article, not just about Edf, but quotes an Edf spokesman saying somthing *I* know not to be true. Does that mean it is an "untruth" or just ignorant of the facts?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-2050617/How-block-energy-hike-direct-debit-starts-rise.html

You decide.

crazyguy

A spokesman for EDF apologised for the confusion and said it only reviews direct debits once a year

jalexa

crazyguy wrote: »

A spokesman for EDF apologised for the confusion and said it only reviews direct debits once a year

Yep.

The laugh is it is not even what is claimed in the Edf online procedure...

http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/direct-debit/direct-debit-existing-direct-debit-customers.shtml

"We review your monthly payments twice a year..."

Of course I know that is not true either.

crazyguy

I would bet that they all do the same thing and check the amounts people pay look at last years average amount on either the person at the address or just the address then add the increase on and say heres what you need to pay now, I would guess the dd amount is checked quaterly.

MillicentBystander

Certainly the only truth in there came from EDFs customer:

‘I have been trying to contact EDF to review our direct debit, but it’s a nightmare trying get through to speak to anyone,’ says Mrs Green.

Tell me about it

victor2

crazyguy wrote: »

I would bet that they all do the same thing and check the amounts people pay look at last years average amount on either the person at the address or just the address then add the increase on and say heres what you need to pay now, I would guess the dd amount is checked quaterly.

Or in my case it has been every time I entered a meter reading online. I've only been a customer with EDF since June and have had 4 different DD amounts. That's not counting them setting it back to what it originally was when I complained!

backfoot

What we are seeing is the tip of an iceberg with DD's. The combination of huge price rises combined with erratic Direct Debit policies will see an explosion of such complaints.

We have a range of current scenarios headed by Eon who have an openly aggressive DD 'spring zero balance' policy. Behind them we have other suppliers who are increasingly 'reviewing' Direct Debits more frequently with the impact being that seasonal consumption is triggerring advanced and excessive DD recovery rates.

Npower are an example of this and then we have the mostly 'incompetent' system of EDF producing a range of scenarios from no DD through to a review (albeit random) at every meter reading.

All of these procedures are likely to fall foul of the Licence Conditions governing Supplier behaviour. SLC27.

There are a body of excellent posters including the OP who can give excellent advice to affected customers and there is an opportunity to take any of these defaulting Suppliers to task.

Any case involving a breach of SLC27 will send a powerful and painful message to the Suppliers.

Two posters have already raised this issue formally with the Regulatory authorites and if you feel you can add your own experiences or general input then please do so.

We need to prevent Suppliers running roughshod over vulnerable customers.