EDF didnt bill me and I was daft

smudgesmum

Hi, I changed to EDF for dual fuel in Dec2010 but they got their lines crossed and only billed me for electric. This went on until Nov 2012. I kept nagging them but until I went to the Ombudsman in Oct 2012 they did nothing about it. However, and this is where I was stupid, because I didnt want a large bill to build up I kept paying my direct debit as if I was receiving gas and electric so I built up a large credit in my EDF account. When the ombudsman sorted it out I was told that I wouldn't have to pay for the gas for 10 of the 22 months because they couldn't bill me for more than a years supply. However, because I had behaved in a responsible way and put money into their account they only wrote off the small amount of debt not 10 months worth which is what would have happened if I had not put money into my EDF account. I guess the moral is it doesn't always pay to be sensible?:A:rotfl:

yangptangkipperbang

smudgesmum wrote: »

I guess the moral is it doesn't always pay to be sensible?:A:rotfl:

I suppose it depends on your definition of "sensible".
You kept your DD going, so you weren't hit with a huge bill at bthe end of the day, to me that is sensible.

I had a similar thing (guess which company ? one guess only !). I got no bill for 14 months despite sending them numerous meter readings and emails.
When they finally did something, I persuaded them to pay me 8% interest on the £1400 that had accumulated in their bank account plus £50 for the "aggro".

David_Partington

To me the moral is don't use direct debits even though its slightly cheaper, pay for what you use at the time. DDs are just a load of hassle and its easy to lose track and go OD.

bob_bank_spanker

David_Partington wrote: »

To me the moral is don't use direct debits even though its slightly cheaper, pay for what you use at the time. DDs are just a load of hassle and its easy to lose track and go OD.

I have to disagree. DD's are covered by your banks DD guarantee. As for paying for what you use at the time - PPM are a much bigger hassle IMHO

David_Partington

But the guarantee doesn't cover you against overpayment or bank charges due to going overdrawn, it only covers payment in error. I'd sooner keep things simple and stick to my quarterly bills.

bob_bank_spanker

But with quarterly bills you aren't paying for what you use at the time, you're paying 3 months later!

David_Partington

Good point, thats even better then I'm getting the meagre interest available rather than the energy companys.

bob_bank_spanker

This is a money saving website, advising people to pay quarterly to accrue interest whilst at the same time forgoing DD discount is somewhere between stupid and irresponsible.

t0rt0ise

Getting back to the original point.. how can they choose to use your money to cover more of the bill than is necessary? Surely they shouldn't do that. You should be charged for just the 12 months and any extra refunded to you. I'd raise a complaint.

insanegloss

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Getting back to the original point.. how can they choose to use your money to cover more of the bill than is necessary? Surely they shouldn't do that. You should be charged for just the 12 months and any extra refunded to you. I'd raise a complaint.

The back billing guidelines are not designed for a means of avoiding payment, but rather a protection for consumers to prevent suppliers charging for unbilled usage over 12 months ago.

Payments made prior to the 12 months will go towards the cost of energy during that time, and the supplier will not charge for the rest. Payments made after the 12 months will count towards to bill after the 12 months.

And if there is nothing for a supplier to not charge for (as its covered by the consumers payments for that time) there is no back billing relief as they haven't been put in a debit situation for the unbilled usage.

After all, if we're as society encouraging each other to avoid payment, these costs are borne by the companies and ultimately means higher costs for them, ergo higher costs for us as a society. But that's a WHOLE different discussion!

t0rt0ise

insanegloss wrote: »

After all, if we're as society encouraging each other to avoid payment, these costs are borne by the companies and ultimately means higher costs for them, ergo higher costs for us as a society. But that's a WHOLE different discussion!

This is a money saving forum. We encourage people on here to claim their entitlements. If as you say he isn't entitled then fair enough but I thought he might be.

Due to your social conscience I presume you don't encourage people to use the cheapest tariffs either!