EDF not taken DD Payments - now what!

Lubylu_2

I've received a statement today saying I owe £900 for 6months and they are going to take it out in one lump sum in May. I have always paid by DD and never been late, I haven't cancelled any payments, but for some reason they haven't taken money out of my account since they refunded a credit in October. They have just said this is a mistake and human error and they will spread the debit over 12mths to claim it back which it means instead of my payments being £105 p/m they are looking at £180-£190 for the next 12mths. I cannot afford this as my husband was made redundant in Dec 11 and we are not on the same money as we were. They don't seem to reallise the major impact THEIR human error has caused on my family. Is there anything else I can do...I'm fuming THEY have put me in this situation.

Lou

Quentin

Lubylu wrote: »

They don't seem to reallise the major impact THEIR human error has caused on my family. Is there anything else I can do...I'm fuming THEY have put me in this situation.

They do seem to agree they have some responsibility by offering to get this back on the drip (see if they will take it over a longer period, thereby making the payments lower)

But if they haven't taken the money for all this time, who has taken it and spent it? They are the real culprits you should be fuming with!

Terrylw1

A 12 month spread is the common way for anyone but they can go longer. Just be aware that on an anniversary dates they sometimes cancel them again so you have to keep an eye around then.

Raise it as a complaint, they have a commitment to preventing customers falling into debt needlessly. They are likely to help with the arrangement and throw some compensation at you (often £50).

beebuzz168

Did you not notice before now that no money was leaving your account? If you did, surely you must have realised that they would catch up with you eventuarlly, and if you didn't, how on earth are you managing your other financial commitments?

McKneff

While I sympathise with you, you really cant put all the blame on EDF.

I can only echo what others have said.

backfoot

Try asking for a goodwill gesture of say £100 for their failure to set up the required process.

If they object, tell them you will make a formal complaint in relation to their obligations under Standard License condition 27. This requires them to set up and advise you of the regular fixed monthly amount of your Direct Debit.

easy

If they refunded a credit in October, that suggests that you do not use the amount of energy that your monthly DD accounts for. I wonder if your usage amounts to £900 since October? In your shoes, I might consider reading the meters, and working out what your consumption costs actually were for the period.

If they come to less than £900, divide that by 12, and then ask EDF if you can pay that each month, and a suitable (lower) DD to account for the months going forward. This might make up less than the £190 they are asking for - no way of knowing until you do the maths.

I would also point out that it was their error, and ask them what their compensation for the inconvenience to you will be.

Oh, and in future, it's a good idea to check your bank statement each month to make sure payments are going out, and in the right amounts - I wonder if you would have noticed if they had take £20 a month MORE than they should have ??

macman

You've effectively had a 6 month interest- free loan from EDF. Now you have another 12m to pay it back -and you're complaining?
If money is tight, how could you not notice an extra £105pm in your account?

abwsco

Don't really see why EDF should pay any goodwill gesture as has been suggested.

McKneff

Give over with the compensation twaddle, the oP was just as much to blame over this as EDF.

Good grief, get a grip.

backfoot

McKneff wrote: »

Give over with the compensation twaddle, the oP was just as much to blame over this as EDF.

Good grief, get a grip.

So you don't think Suppliers have any obligations under the SLC's?

I do,so suggested that the OP might pursue that under one possible remedy. There may be other ways to help but I would start there.

EDF have already paid my relative £40 for much lesser DD management problems.

I suspect that the OP posted in the hope that someone might have some advice which might save money,given the unusual circumstances.

One person's twaddle has proved to be very helpful in many similar situations.