Feed-in Tarrif form returned/rejected ?

Martyn1981

Capt.Radar wrote: »

Hi,
I have exactly the same problem with EDF FIT regristration.

I had exactly the opposite!!!!

I e-mailed my form, then when I got a delivered receipt I rang and asked them to go through it (27/7/12).

Was told that I'd not signed the final page, and that everyone misses that page. I pointed out that I'd written "Extension N/A" across the top as 3 pages earlier it told me in bold, not to sign it for extensions. After some paper rustling sounds and a short pause, he said, well I didn't see that before, I've learn't something new today!

Apologies for the anecdote, but the bold bit might be of use?

Mart.

Energetic_2

I have a lot of sympathy for you guys, i hope you have had a positive resolution. I also have a small amount of sympathy for installers (not the fraudulent ones), when we started out FiT application forms were 2-4 pages in length, now they are up to 17! Our MD sits with the customers to fill the form in with them at the end of the install, it's become that important to get it right.

We have had a couple rejected, one customer who worked for EDF chose not to accept any help from us and had his rejected, been a manager there for 12 years! another two new builds had theirs rejected because of epc issues. All three were resolved and edf honoured the original tariff.

It may be worth carrying on with edf, going up the chain untill you get someone who can help. Apologies this might be too late to help some of you.

It seems its only EDF that are inforcing this kind of nonsense as observed earlier by others.

edfnightmare

Hi all,

Its good to find I'm not alone in this though I wouldn't wish it on anyone. If we can get together maybe we have a better chance of fighting this. I think we have a better case if there are more people affected as it demonstrates that it is foreseeable and not a unique situation. If anyone wants to private message me I'd like to be able to take this further. eDF seem to be the main culprit although I have heard from people who have had a problem with other companies. eDF seem to be blaming OFGEM. We need evidence from as many victims as possible.

Capt.Radar

Hi Again,
Spoke to Ofgem yesterday, told them my problem and they confirmed the procedure to follow:
Make an official complaint to EDF and give them 8 weeks to resolve, following their own procedures.
If not satisfied, then pass all details to the ENERGY OMBUDSMAN, tel. 033 044 01624.
I have now again contacted EDF and confirmed my complaint with a pleasant operator (Carolyn) who said they can only follow 'the rules' and an EDF Manager will phone me soon to further explain. I made it clear I have already contacted OFGEM and will also escalate to the Energy Ombudsman if required.
Regarding 'strength of numbers', I have also asked my PV installer, who guided me on completion of the forms, to conatct EDF to also support my case and bring their experience of such issues with other energy suppliers.
Also thinking of contacting the fincial press, e.g. money mail, as they sometimes enjoy this type of challenge for the individual against corporations...
Ray.

Realme

:mad: Reading all these threads prompted me to send my complaint. We had solar panels installed on 11th May and duly filed in the FIT forms and returned them to EDF on 15th May when we posted them by recorded delivery. EDF failed to respond so these forms were resent. We still received no contact so telephoned EDF and their advisor said she would pass the complaint to a higher department and someone would be in touch later that afternoon. However they did not phone so eventually on our return from holiday we telephoned again and were told that the forms we sent were filled in incorrectly so the rate of 21p no longer applied. We have proof of postage and copies of emails and letters asking EDF if they had all the information they needed back in July to which we had never received a reply. After more phone calls and emails and sending in a meter reading in 25th August to no avail we finally contacted the Ombudsman on 6th November. On 16th November we received an email from EDF asking for us to return our signed Statement of Terms (this is a different form) and a meter reading form which was emailed to us on 22nd October but of course it was not emailed on that date. We emailed EDF straightaway and requested these forms which they then sent on 16th November via email. We returned them immediately and obtained a postal receipt. The next day we received a letter from the Ombudsman which was dated 15th November saying that they had been in touch with EDF and that as we did not complete the application correctly we were not eligible for the higher rate. They stated that this is an OFGEM rule and neither EDF nor the Ombudsman can make exceptions to customers. On 26th November we sent another email to the Ombudsman telling them that we were not sent the correct forms i.e. the Statment of Terms, until 16th November so how could we have filled the forms in incorrectly if we did not receive them! We are still awaiting a reply. We do feel that EDF Energy have been negligent in this instance and also looking at other letters on this forum it strikes us that we all have a good case against them. Please does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can sue them without it costing us more money?

ilkley_lad

Just to say that my beef is with my installer as he didn't send in declaration 5, and once EDF got it they set me up , although I'm on 16p and not 21p. My installer missed out declaration 5, but sent all the other forms. Went to Citizens advice and saw a retired solicitor. Basically its civil law. The installer by sending forms off owed me a duty of care to do it right. By missing the declaration out he is in breach of the duty of care. I have suffered a loss (about £12000 when you work it out), so therefore I can ask him for compensation to cover my loss. Apparently its a more or less dead cert if I take him to court but currently going through the REA complaints scheme. They seem to realise what the position is, but won't intervene if you have started legal proceedings- which I haven't yet. The chap at the CAB thinks they will make an offer as they know if it goes to court he will lose. However, wouldn't surprise me if he decided to wind up his business ? but hopefully I'll have caused so much bother he wont be able to get MCS registered again. By the way, before you feel sorry for him, he has a big fancy house and cars - he's not short of a bob or two !

Sorry it does not help anyone arguing with EDF, but if your installer sent the forms take advice, its not your fault.

The_Green_Hornet

ilkley_lad wrote: »

Sorry it does not help anyone arguing with EDF, but if your installer sent the forms take advice, its not your fault.

The moral of the story (and my recommendation to anyone installing solar pv) would be to complete, and send off, the forms yourself.

Capt.Radar

Hi Again,
Anyone made any progress with EDF? My FIT complaint is now with EDF 'general' compliants team (Not Green Energy). The general complaints have a proper published escalation process and statistics have to be reported to OFGEM.
I have also been busy checking the OFGEM published guidance for GENERATORS (us) and SUPPLIERS (EDF) as EDF have often quoted extracts from the GENERATORS document in their replies to me. What they dont quote is their obligations under the same guidance, such as:
- 'when providing information to a FIT Generator (whether in writing, by electronic display or orally) in relation to the FIT scheme, the mandatory FIT Licensee shall take all reasonable steps to ensure it:
(a) is complete and accurate
(b) is capable of being easily understood by the FIT generator
(c) does not mislead the FIT Generator; and
(d) is otherwise fair, transparent, appropriate and delivered in a professional manner both in terms of content and in terms of how it is presented (with more important information being given appropriate prominence)."

This is not the case with EDF. Their forms are long and complicated (e.g. British Gas form = 4 pages, EDF 12 pages) and EDF have confirmed their errors by modifying their application form since the version 4 form available in July. The EDF v6 form now has the Multi-Installation declaration included in the checklist on page 2 and very prominent BOLD TYPE warnings regarding accuracy of applications on the first page. No such essential information is on form v4! So why would you include a declaration not even requested in the EDF checklist? And why rush to submit or verify the form when there is no written warning. To me this equals unprofessional, incomplete and misleading information from EDF, contrary to OFGEM guidance!

The guidance also includes definition of eligibility date, refering to when an application for FIT registration is received by the Supplier. It does not say it has to be perfect, just an 'application recieved by the Supplier' (EDF).
I feel we have a very good case against EDF and will not sign any contract with them until this is resolved. I have also indicated I would rather remove the Solar installation (and gain plenty of negative publicity for EDF) than be treated so badly by EDF.

Comments Welcome!

Dave_Fowler

I sent my FITs application paperwork by email to EDF at 11:18 on 18th December. I telephoned them at 11:50 to check they had received the pdf files and they looked in the incoming mail and found them. I received an email from EDF confirming OFGEM registration along with the agreements to sign during the afternoon of 21st December.

I congratulate EDF on the speed of their actions when no problems were found with the documents.

Dave F

Capt.Radar

The latest docs from EDF are now more or less correct and actually include all the right BOLD TYPE cautions and the needed certs etc. are actually in the checklist.
This was not the case in July, when their docs were misleading to say the least and FIT applications were at a peak. EDF took over six weeks to even confirm receipt of my application, irrespective of any missing Muti-Installation cert.
EDF have nothing to gain now, the FIT is reduced and no great milestones in reduction of FIT.
A suitably misleading form and delay in handling applications at the end of the 21p FIT has saved EDF money for the next 25 years, to the detriment of honest consumers like me.
If I had known EDF would behave in such a way, I would have called to confirm receipt of application and accuracy of completion. I was foolish and expected a big corporation to be reasonable and treat its customers with honesty and fairness.