legal action for overdue payment, advice please!

lj777

Hi guys, I use EDF for electricity (didn't set up direct-debit). I was on a long trip for around 3 and a half weeks, came back today and I received a "notification of legal action" from EDF. it says there's an overdue payment of £109.4 and 'this bill is now overdue that we have no choice but to commence legal action. If you fail to make this payment...........we will be visiting your property on or after 1 Oct to collect payment or fit a prepayment meter. If we are unable to gain entry..we will seek a Warrant from the court pursuant to the Rights of Entry to either disconnect your electricity or install a prepayment meter.
All additional costs will be passed to you and such legal action could impact on your credit rating."

The letter was dated 21 September and I fear that they have already done something when I was away. I don't want anything affecting my credit rating and I already made the payment as soon as I came back today.

Has anyone received this letter before? Do they actually do anything or is it just a bluff? I called and asked but they say they haven't visited the house yet. I ask whether any action has been taken, the call centre staff says no but he seems impatient and I doubt he has actually checked anything for me .

Would they put this overdue payment on my credit record /If they did visit my house between 1 oct and now and i wasn't there, will it affect my credit rating? Any advice?

chanz4

They will if you have not paid apply for a warrant, as overdue they do have a right to record it with cras

McKneff

If you called them and it is bothering you, why not just pay it.

Wywth

lj777 wrote: »

Hi guys, I use EDF for electricity (didn't set up direct-debit). I was on a long trip for around 3 and a half weeks, came back today and I received a "notification of legal action" from EDF. it says there's an overdue payment of £109.4 and 'this bill is now overdue that we have no choice but to commence legal action. If you fail to make this payment...........we will be visiting your property on or after 1 Oct to collect payment or fit a prepayment meter. If we are unable to gain entry..we will seek a Warrant from the court pursuant to the Rights of Entry to either disconnect your electricity or install a prepayment meter.
All additional costs will be passed to you and such legal action could impact on your credit rating."

The letter was dated 21 September and I fear that they have already done something when I was away. I don't want anything affecting my credit rating and I already made the payment as soon as I came back today.

Has anyone received this letter before? Do they actually do anything or is it just a bluff? I called and asked but they say they haven't visited the house yet. I ask whether any action has been taken, the call centre staff says no but he seems impatient and I doubt he has actually checked anything for me .

Would they put this overdue payment on my credit record /If they did visit my house between 1 oct and now and i wasn't there, will it affect my credit rating? Any advice?

I think they would have done some things before you went away ... like issued a bill! :cool:

Then when you didn't pay it, they woul;d have issued a reminder ... :cool:

As Mckneff asked, why didn't you pay it when you called them? :cool:

EDF appears to have answered your other issues in the call you made to them. :cool:

lj777

Wywth wrote: »

I think they would have done some things before you went away ... like issued a bill! :cool:

Then when you didn't pay it, they woul;d have issued a reminder ... :cool:

As Mckneff asked, why didn't you pay it when you called them? :cool:

EDF appears to have answered your other issues in the call you made to them. :cool:

I already paid online today before I made the call, I just called to check and wondering what actions they have taken. I turned off international roaming when away so I'd imagine I've missed like 100 calls from them, missed all letters and reminders as well. Honestly, no bills received before I go. SHould have check EDF account. They've started to bill irregularly now not sure what the problem is.

lj777

McKneff wrote: »

If you called them and it is bothering you, why not just pay it.

as I said:
"The letter was dated 21 September and I fear that they have already done something when I was away. I don't want anything affecting my credit rating and I already made the payment as soon as I came back today."

daveyjp

Do EDF give a prompt payment discount for non DD customers? If they do take advantage and pay when the bill comes. If they don't find a supplier which does!

jalexa

lj777 wrote: »

I turned off international roaming when away so I'd imagine I've missed like 100 calls from them, missed all letters and reminders as well. Honestly, no bills received before I go.

You were quite right to point out that your critics had failed to read and understand the very clear payment statement made in your post.:T

Regarding your own customer relationship with Edf are you aware that you can register for online access and paperless billing. In that case you would receive email notification of billing and could download the bill. If you can't do that on your phone when roaming then I give up.

Where I do have common cause with the critics, loosely "no smoke without fire", is in the timing you report. Either you were unlucky (or evasive), or Edf claimed to but failed to bill (i.e. a corporate "lie"). This is where paperless billing scores, the supplier's conduct can be clearly established.

I note that you specifically mentioned not setting up a direct debit. My strong advice is that Edf direct debit is not appropriate for a globe trotter unless you always have a very healthy bank balance.

McKneff

lj777 wrote: »

as I said:
"The letter was dated 21 September and I fear that they have already done something when I was away. I don't want anything affecting my credit rating and I already made the payment as soon as I came back today."

Sorry. My apologies, I missed that bit. Must not speed read in future.

To the PP who pointed out that I had not read it nor understood it, well all I can say to him/her is mistakes do happen, the man who never made a mistake never made anything worthwhile.

undaunted

If they'd applied for a warrant you'd be given a date to attend Court & contest it if you wished to do so.

They've told you they haven't attended the property yet & irritable call centre operative or not that sounds likely to me. (if they'd attended & been able to get at the meter they'd probably have changed it)

Your concerns about credit reference agencies are futile - if it's recorded its recorded, the information is correct and cannot be changed just because you don't like it being there (though there is no evidence it has yet been reported) One minorly late payment would make minimal difference if it were there but all you can do is ensure payments are on time in future if it bothers you this much.

You've now paid the bill & can expect that to be the end of the matter.