EDF Fail Ofgem Direct Debit Rules

welshee

amiehall wrote: »

This thread has terrified me.... I'm switching to edf as a result of their penalty free fixed tariff. I'm very paranoid about building up arrears and tbh would always rather pay more and have it refunded than be slapped with a huge bill.

I'm used to submitting regular readings so I can see my account balance and make sure I'm building up a bit of credit for the winter. I'm particularly paranoid of this now as it's my first year in an all electric property and if it's a cold winter that could be £££

Is the consensus that once I have a DD that I feel is at the right level, I shouldn't submit any readings to edf?

On the contrary if you submit regular readings you will not have any problems !

I too would rather pay a bit more than a bit less and be in credit .
:T

victor2

amiehall wrote: »

This thread has terrified me.... I'm switching to edf as a result of their penalty free fixed tariff. I'm very paranoid about building up arrears and tbh would always rather pay more and have it refunded than be slapped with a huge bill.

I'm used to submitting regular readings so I can see my account balance and make sure I'm building up a bit of credit for the winter. I'm particularly paranoid of this now as it's my first year in an all electric property and if it's a cold winter that could be £££

Is the consensus that once I have a DD that I feel is at the right level, I shouldn't submit any readings to edf?

That's what I do because I am confident (and have proved it with actual bills) that the amount I set my DD at will cover my usage. The 5 times EDF have had readings, they have adjusted my DD amount up and I have had to phone them to get it put back where it should be. They have never argued about doing that, presumably because they know their own system is a mess.
So, if you can predict your own usage and therefore the cost, work out your own DD amount and keep an eye on your actual usage, to make sure you are covering it - on an annual basis. Of course you will build up a bit of credit in the summer.

The only time they get a meter reading from me is when the meter reader actually visits. That takes a phone call to put the DD back, but at least it isn't every month!

Crazy situation, but that's how it works for me with EDF, and I'm clearly not alone with that issue.

jalexa

amiehall wrote: »

... I'm switching to edf as a result of their penalty free fixed tariff. I'm very paranoid about building up arrears and tbh would always rather pay more and have it refunded than be slapped with a huge bill.

I'm used to submitting regular readings so I can see my account balance and make sure I'm building up a bit of credit for the winter. I'm particularly paranoid of this now as it's my first year in an all electric property and if it's a cold winter that could be £££

Is the consensus that once I have a DD that I feel is at the right level, I shouldn't submit any readings to edf?

First of all I think a penalty free fixed rate tariff (which is near the top of the comparison) is a good tariff to switch to:).

Before you consider whether your payments are right you should establish what you consider is your annual consumption. You can get that from your bills or ask your old supplier. Then using a comparison website find out the headline cost for your consumption and divide by 12. That is an appropriate monthly payment to start with.

Currently Edf online information states you have an 'annual review' (between 9 and 12 months is Edf's definition of 'annual':D) and an interim review, that's 2 in total. For the past year every reading I submitted has resulted in a bill being generated and a direct debit recalculation being performed:(. It is the experience of many here that the calculation is wrong or "random".

If you are satisfied your payment is adequate there is no need to submit readings until you are asked for one prior to your 'annual review'.

One suggestion I would make is to set up an online payment arrangement from your bank, account details are in MyAccount. Then if you ever felt you wanted to pay a little more you can make an extra payment. Test the arrangement with a token amount.

I find that call wait times are short on weekday mornings and in nearly a year Edf staff (with only one exception) have been helpful and personable. Be alert to your balance but do not be terrified. There are worse out there.

backfoot

welshee wrote: »

On the contrary if you submit regular readings you will not have any problems !

I too would rather pay a bit more than a bit less and be in credit .
:T

In principle and in general your advice is sound.

In respect of EDf it is incorrect. Submitting regular readings,as seen in this and many other EDF threads, causes problems and confusion,which EDF can't explain.

Amie, I would recommend the advice of Jalexa, Victor and Terry.

jalexa

I have just noticed the appearance of something called "midata" at the foot of the account details screen. Amongst other things it includes specific annual cost projections (but not kWhr usage if less than 12 months custom).

The figure appears little influenced by 11 months of regular customer and actual readings and is not in accordance with the Edf narrative...

"the estimated cost in pound and pence for the next 12 months if you stayed on the same tariff the tariff stayed the same (e.g. no price rises or price cuts) and if you carried on using the same amount of energy. This could be based on estimates where no/limited meter readings are available".

victor2

Thanks jalexa for pointing out the midata info.
They do actually have 12 month's figures from me now and the annual usage almost matches what they have :shocked:
They say I use 3914 kWh of electricity per annum and even using a full year proportional to the 364 days usage they have, it comes out at 3897 kWh. They say gas is 20157 kWh per annum and their actual readings give 19329 kWh over 353 days, which could multiply up to 19986 kWh in a year.
The cost is pretty accurate for the figures they give too, although doesn't include the 6% discount for paying by DD.

jalexa

victor2 wrote: »

They do actually have 12 month's figures from me now and the annual usage almost matches what they have :shocked:

Progress I suppose. A month to go before my 12 months is up. Wobetide midata if it does not then have my actuals:D.

However I also have "progress" to report. That's 2 bills generated which didn't trigger a DD recalculation (my current payment is exactly right for my "projected actual") but the Edf "payment estimate" is 10% higher. Are they paying attention? I'd like to think this is compliance with the published policy for an 'annual review' plus one (only) interim review.:T

Given your recent temperature records I'm pleased to be on track.

victor2

I'm almost tempted to put in a reading and see what happens.
My July payment has already gone in, so I'll have the rest of the month to get it back where it should be, assuming the DD amount goes up like it always has done in the past....
I'm just in credit now, even if I gave them a reading. Maybe I'll have a go next month.

notbritishgas

jalexa wrote: »

Progress I suppose. A month to go before my 12 months is up. Wobetide midata if it does not then have my actuals:D.

However I also have "progress" to report. That's 2 bills generated which didn't trigger a DD recalculation (my current payment is exactly right for my "projected actual") but the Edf "payment estimate" is 10% higher. Are they paying attention? I'd like to think this is compliance with the published policy for an 'annual review' plus one (only) interim review.:T

Given your recent temperature records I'm pleased to be on track.

Well so far so good. I have deliberately not entered any meter readings on line and have had 2 bills, one after only 3 weeks and the second 6 months later, both were as a result of a meter readers visit.
The first one resulted in an upward change to my gas DD but only to a price that I had worked out to be needed.
The second produced no changes at all.

Now however I have just had the email saying my annual review is due and to enter meter readings. That has produced a credit of £5 gas and £13 electric. I will report back what their review produces.

Jalexa, I do not have the "midata" on my account. Do not know if it is because I still have 2 account numbers for gas and electric? That may also be the reason I have had a trouble free 11 months, unlike some people with one account for both.

brewerdave

Just looked at "midata" - switched mid July last year so ,as Jalexa says, only estimated costs for the next 12 months - which are a) higher than my estimates by ~ £75 pa and b) £60 pa higher than my current DDs.
One thing which I still haven't worked out - I had the annual review meter requests back in May (after 10 months!!) - a bill was raised,no change to DD proposed (hooray!!) but nowhere on that bill does it mention "annual review".
Everyone else ??