EDF Gas Billing

Violet3

So, last August I believe I switched my gas and electricity over from British Gas to EDF, to their Fixed S@ver V2 tariff. I was paying £20 for my electricity per month but wasn't billed for my gas. I called EDF who told me their was a known problem with their computer system and that they couldn't bill me for my gas and that I should wait until contacted. Now, almost a year later I finally receive my gas bill...except they've billed me for the entire year! I have called EDF who have said based on my readings I should be paying £25 per month for my gas.
The bill for the whole year comes to around £300.00 so EDF have said that they will start billing me £30 a month, instead of the £25 to obviously begin paying off this years gas bill. However if I am paying an extra £5 a month for my gas, it's still going to take me a considerable amount of time to pay off this gas bill, and it also stops me from switching to another energy provider as I will be left with a huge bill to pay, if I wish to leave before the debt is paid off. I'm really annoyed that their inability to bill me all year for my gas has resulted in this. Is there anything I can do?

dogshome

You are not alone - Lots of people have been EDF'd

I'm afraid that you do have to pay the bill, and in truth EDF have recognised the place they have put you in by offering you 5 years to pay it off !
I don't know the End Date of your Fixed v2 contract, but to stand a chance of Switching at it's end, this debt has to be less than £200 at that time - Even better if you have cleared it completely

Your Gas & Elec costs are very low and suggest an annual Elec consumption of around 1900 Kwh, with Gas at roughly 7500 Kwh - With these figures it could be worthwhile moving to EBICO when you contract ends - Have a look at their web site

victor2

Even though you were not being billed for the gas you were using, you should have been putting the money aside for it. That's of little help to you now though, and the bill has to be paid. There is some legislation regarding energy companies not being able to back bill more than a year under certain circumstances, but that isn't going to help you either.
As already stated, they are giving you a long time to pay it back, but that will involve you remaining a customer of theirs. Unless you are in a position to clear a substantial portion of the bill, you won't be able to switch to another supplier, so speak to EDF and make sure you are on the best tariff for your usage from now on.
Put your annual actual usage in kWh into a comparison site to see what the best offers currently are. If EDF come somewhere near to matching that, then it may not be financially worth you switching if you can live with the debt for as long as it takes to clear it.

jalexa

Violet3 wrote: »

So, last August I believe I switched my gas and electricity over from British Gas to EDF, to their Fixed S@ver V2 tariff.

Fixed S@ver V2 is fixed until 30 September 2012 but liability for early termination charges lapsed on 31 March 2012. In the circumstances it may be worth investigating Edf's current offer. When I last checked Edf Blue was fairly competitive and there is a Fixed option. I always recommend fixing over a forthcoming winter.

In that case up to you to calculate how much you would save by sticking with Fixed S@ver V2 until maturity against the risk of a current (fixed) tariff no longer being available at that time. IMO quite a high risk.

NowVillager

I second Ebico. I changed six months ago and my latest gas bill (summer quarter, 2-bed flat) was £14. The only time I managed lower with British Gas was £10, and that was when I was working away from home five days a week!

Electricity for the same period with Ebico was £35, down a third from what I paid EDF this time last year.

Toxteth_OGrady

jalexa wrote: »

Fixed S@ver V2 is fixed until 30 September 2012 but liability for early termination charges lapsed on 31 March 2012.

That's the tariff I'm currently on. Hadn't spotted the 31 March date. How/when was that announced? Not saying you're wrong, just me not aware of it.

jalexa

Toxteth_OGrady wrote: »

How/when was that announced?

No idea. I was only quoting from the online T&Cs. Best check with Edf if you have any doubts.

Terrylw1

They can't stop you switching providing you have not got any Outstanding Charges.

Standard Licence Condition (SLC) 14 doesn't allow a supplier to object to a switch if the Outstanding Charges are made up of a Disputed Amount AND/OR Supplier Error Amount.

Supplier Error Amount is a value of accumulation due to supplier error. This covers your bill catch up.

Suggest checking the .pdf's on Ofgem's site in this link.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Licensing/Work/Pages/licence-conditions-consolidated.aspx

I also suggest you check out 27.15 which states your DD should have been based on accurate data. The fact they can't create a bill value doesn't mean they can't estimate usage.

Rethink the 5 year plan as well, its likely it will be picked up by staff and messed with causing you to keep re-raising the issue. This will happen at your anniversary dates if its going to.

Toxteth_OGrady

jalexa wrote: »

No idea. I was only quoting from the online T&Cs. Best check with Edf if you have any doubts.

I double checked the online T&Cs Fixed S@ver V2 T&Cs pdf download and cannot find any reference to early termination fees for this product not applying after 31 March 2012.

It looks like those wishing to switch from this product before 30 September 2012 may be charged £50.

:cool:

TOG

jalexa

Toxteth_OGrady wrote: »

It looks like those wishing to switch from this product before 30 September 2012 may be charged £50.

At the time I posted what (I thought) a brief search revealed. I agree its not currently obvious today.

Anyway I think we both agree that its best to engage with the supplier on the issue. Preferably with proof as the payment would not in any event appear until the next bill by which time retrospective proof may be difficult. Personally I advocate an "open question" by email.

societys_child

they've billed me for the entire year!

Why not just use the money you saved when you weren't paying for your gas? That's what I did.