eDF Direct Debit..Massive Increase!!

Paulstas

Hi...Just wondered if anyone can offer any advice here...Just received my estimated eDF energy bill this morning..It states that I owe £481.32!!...On top of that they are increasing my payments from £107 to £188 a month...Surely this cannot be right?

This equates to £2256 per year!!! I live in a 3 bed semi which has loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.Heating isnt used that much either.

I have checked my meter readings and they are actually LESS than edfs estimates:( Any advice what to do here? Cannot really afford to be paying that amount per month. Thanks:mad:

WestonDave

In part the £188 will be paying off the £481 owed so its not as simple as £188 x 12 equals your usage. The reality is that £107 per month has been insufficient to cover your usage over the period since the last bill and at £481 down its not surprising that your payments are going up by over £50 as they'll want that balance cleared by your next review date.

Might be worth posting up the actual consumption in kWh split by gas and electricity - we can then suggest whether your usage is higher than normal on each side and if so how you can start to cut it back. At the end of the day unless there is a meter fault (which is extremely rare) you can only significantly cut your bills by using less. Its obviously worth checking that you are on the best tariffs etc, but the bottom line is that if you use it, you pay for it.

Paulstas

Gas charges 04 sept 12 to 05 Dec 12 previous 6227(Actual) latest 6520(Estimate)...Meter showing 6590:(


Electricity charges for same period previous 74801(Actual) latest 77063(estimate)..Meter reading 77236:(

Wywth

Paulstas wrote: »

Hi...Just wondered if anyone can offer any advice here...Just received my estimated eDF energy bill this morning..It states that I owe £481.32!!...On top of that they are increasing my payments from £107 to £188 a month...Surely this cannot be right?

This equates to £2256 per year!!! I live in a 3 bed semi which has loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.Heating isnt used that much either.

I have checked my meter readings and they are actually LESS than edfs estimates:( Any advice what to do here? Cannot really afford to be paying that amount per month. Thanks:mad:

Do you:

a) call the supplier with your actual meter reading so they can bill you accuately?
b) post on MSE?
c) pop down the pub for a pint?

Well not a lot wrong with any option really
But I know which I'd do if I wanted the matter resolved sooner rather than later

Wywth

Paulstas wrote: »

Hi...Just wondered if anyone can offer any advice here...Just received my estimated eDF energy bill this morning..It states that I owe £481.32!!...On top of that they are increasing my payments from £107 to £188 a month...Surely this cannot be right?

This equates to £2256 per year!!! I live in a 3 bed semi which has loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.Heating isnt used that much either.

I have checked my meter readings and they are actually LESS than edfs estimates:( Any advice what to do here? Cannot really afford to be paying that amount per month. Thanks:mad:

Paulstas wrote: »

Gas charges 04 sept 12 to 05 Dec 12 previous 6227(Actual) latest 6520(Estimate)...Meter showing 6590:(


Electricity charges for same period previous 74801(Actual) latest 77063(estimate)..Meter reading 77236:(

So the actual meter readings are higher than the estimates?

Turn off all your gas & electric and take option (c) - it'll probably work out cheapest

Paulstas

You are hilarious pal...THANKS

backfoot

I would phone them up with your actual readings and ask for a revised bill. I would also ask them what your DD will be, based on that reading.

If you don't understand it, ask them to provide an explanation in accordance with the attached leaflet.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/FactSheets/Documents1/direct_debit_leaflet_oct_2012_WEB.pdf

Ask for the explanation in writing which should include a calculation showing how they arrive at the figure. Provide an email address for a speedier response.Keep a note of the time of your call and the Advisors full name and Department.

It is their obligation to explain it fully to you.

If you still disagree, tell them why and make a formal complaint.

p.s.take the energy saving tips provided by other posters.

WestonDave

If you could give the kWh figures for the gas it would be helpful.

You are using around 26kWh of electricity per day which is a lot given you are heating with gas - for comparison I'm using around about 12 and that's on the basis that I spend too long under the electric instant shower. You need to establish where this is going - start with big users such as heaters, auxiliary immersion elements in the water tank, electric showers, electric cookers and tumble dryer as these will eat a lot of electricity. We do use a tumble dryer for around 3 loads a week and have got the showering time down to around 15 minutes each per day plus cooking on gas so we don't drain a lot. Lighting is now all low energy as that can add up.

Re the gas its hard to tell because your meter could be imperial or metric - on a metric meter its fine, on an imperial meter its horrible! Assuming the latter you need to think about how hot you are heating the house - we run at 18C daytime and 14C overnight (although it often doesn't drop down that far at night) on a programmable thermostat so we know we aren't overheating as you tend to on a timer.

Worth seeing if your council lends out electricity monitors - ours does via the library. They are an excellent way of auditing what is using what at which point you can start to decide what you are willing to pay for and what you are going to cut out!

FOREVER21

Paulstas wrote: »

Gas charges 04 sept 12 to 05 Dec 12 previous 6227(Actual) latest 6520(Estimate)...Meter showing 6590:(


Electricity charges for same period previous 74801(Actual) latest 77063(estimate)..Meter reading 77236:(

Hi

Looking at your figures for electricity, if I have got it right, they seem excessive, 77236-74801, you have used 2435 kwhs for 3 months my annual usage is only 3000 and I think the average country wide is only 3500.:(

Paulstas

Elec KWH split 4681@ 3.665p
Gas KWH split 4681 @ 3.665p


Cheers for the replies by the way.Much appreciated:T

jalexa

Paulstas wrote: »

..Just received my estimated eDF energy bill this morning..It states that I owe £481.32!!...On top of that they are increasing my payments from £107 to £188 a month...Surely this cannot be right?

The debit balance or the revised payment?

Can you see from the most recent and past bills whether the debit balance is correct? It is a surprisingly large figure to have arisen when the previous readings were actual. While you are entitled to a full explanation for the payment calculation as advised, the real issue is the debit balance. You need to investigate if, why and how it has arisen.