EDF Direct Debits

jalexa

victor2 wrote: »

They bill and review the DD annually, but request readings 6 monthly - which generates a bill and DD recalc.

I have been assured (by email) that if the 6 monthly request for a reading is ignored, there will be no bill and no DD recalc.

I have to say I am not convinced.

victor2

jalexa wrote: »

I have been assured (by email) that if the 6 monthly request for a reading is ignored, there will be no bill and no DD recalc.

I have to say I am not convinced.

Hadn't thought of doing that, but it makes as much sense as anything else they've told me!
They have verbally reconfirmed twice that the DD does not aim to have your balance at zero for a particular time of the year, but does aim to cover your annual cost with 12 fixed payments.
At least when the do recalculate it (always upwards in my case), a phone call is all(!) it takes to get it put back where it was, which is enough to cover my annual cost according to my readings, which they don't have.

brewerdave

jalexa wrote: »

I have been assured (by email) that if the 6 monthly request for a reading is ignored, there will be no bill and no DD recalc.

I have to say I am not convinced.

...... But every time a meter reader calls it triggers a bill and a recalculation - I've now been a customer since mid July (~ 4.5 months) and I've had two bills and two upward DD recalculations (as a result of which I've had to ring to have "overturned") - earlier this week the Customer Advisor definitely started off from the position that I would need to pay extra to avoid being in debt by the Spring!! - not that I would need to be in balance by the end of the 12 month period.
I explained to her that my spreadsheets indicated that EVEN IF the rest of the Winter is as bad as last year I will still be in credit by the end of the May quarter. She basically ignored that, then warned me that if I was more than £150 in debit they would take the money owing in one hit!!
Anyone know where this £150 comes from??

victor2

brewerdave wrote: »

Anyone know where this £150 comes from??

Out of the fresh air, where they seem to pluck most other numbers from?
That's a bit concerning though. I'm quite happy to pay them what I know to be a monthly amount sufficient to cover my usage and am unlikely to be £150 in debt at any point. The worst I'll be is £77 in debt (next March) according to my forecasts.
I'm equally happy never to give them readings until I'm ready to leave, but hadn't thought about a man coming to read the meters. My meters are inside, so I could always tell him to go away I suppose - assuming I'm in when he comes. My meters have been read once this year so hopefully it'll be some time before another reader turns up.

rockin_plumber

I entered my readings last night, and they reduced my gas to £1.00 a month and my electric to £5.00 a month

At those rates it wont even cover the standing charge for the month :rotfl:

And my gas on current usage wont even cover my gas for a day including the standing charge :rotfl:

As I initiated a switch yesterday it doesn't bother me much...

It just goes to prove that the only thing good about EDF was the price of the OS7 tariff and that is where it all ends :T

jalexa

brewerdave wrote: »

She basically ignored that, then warned me that if I was more than £150 in debit they would take the money owing in one hit!!
Anyone know where this £150 comes from??

It's not in the terms and conditions though it is mentioned in the online description of regular fixed monthly direct debit. It only comes into play on the occasion of the 'annual review' whenever that is, something all customers should ask the date of, and (only:() after the appropriate DD notice is served.

What I find totally ludicrous is that while my payments project an 'annual review' debit balance (because I pay "level" payments but over a short-year), the projection is a modest deficit significantly less than £150, yet they insist on ignoring the "£150" measure and continually recalculating. Interestingly enough, if only they could explain their own calculation, it might show the calculation is (now) in the correct ball-park:D.

Might, but only if they can explain why they are projecting future consumption based on last years exceptionally severe winter. A lesson there for others?:D

snowcat53

My balance is £330 in credit and i asked them on the phone today when I would get this rebated. Answer -they only do this at the 'annual review' but not at 'interim reviews' which are triiggered by new meter readings . Funny that, the interim reviews are fine to up your DDs though.

jalexa

snowcat53 wrote: »

My balance is £330 in credit and i asked them on the phone today when I would get this rebated. Answer -they only do this at the 'annual review'

That is "true" as an Edf "procedure", however under supply regulations you are entitled to request a credit balance refund at any time. The supplier must consider the request and explain their decision. I do not think a telephone "non" satisfies regulations. Complain if you are not satisfied.

brewerdave

victor2 wrote: »

I'm equally happy never to give them readings until I'm ready to leave, but hadn't thought about a man coming to read the meters. My meters are inside, so I could always tell him to go away I suppose - assuming I'm in when he comes. My meters have been read once this year so hopefully it'll be some time before another reader turns up.

Unfortunately my meters are in a box outside the property, so I have no options for "refusing" a meter reading! And looking back, my meters have been read quarterly for the last 3 or 4 years without fail. Presumably the local data collectors have a contract with virtually all of the Utility providers!
Just means I'll be phoning EDF again in February to argue for a downward adjustment (and probably in May for an upward adjustment when the "computer" miscalculates the other way:rotfl:)
Good job its a freephone number!

Jalexa,thanks,found the bit about £150 in the Monthly DDs FAQs on the EDF site. Should really be included in the original DD letters that are sent out especially as this is a maximum amount that you can be in debit at review without triggering the automatic one off clawback.:eek:

terry2

Well, this month I again gave my meter readings and yes they upped the DD again.
I phoned about this and got it changed back to the original value. This time, customer services said that the DD gets reviewed every time you enter a meter reading; and that what you should do is wait until they request a reading (every six months or so). So it seems that the system design ignores people like us who like to keep track of our usage and spending.