Edf - should they give me a discount?

bloolagoon

Afternoon all


I posted a while ago that EDF had stopped our direct debit and were not taking payments. This was resolved last week when they took a vast amount of money out of account leaving me overdrawn.

I was given no bills or warning of the date they were taking this money out. I rang to complain and they have now reactivated the DD and informed me it occurred because they refunded me over £800 I overpaid and they didn't restart the DD.

I am unhappy that they took a vast amount of money without notification leaving me hugely overdrawn and also because they won't give me the 6% DD discount when it was their error.

Should I be forceful and at least request this discount given I have had a lot of trouble through no fault of my own and charges for going overdrawn when I wasn't informed they were removing nearly a years payments in one go.

bloolagoon

McKneff wrote: »

But if you knew they were not taking payments, the money you did normally pay should have still been in the bank, presumably you spent it.

No I never spent it, I just put it into a different account and would have transferred it as soon as I got a bill. I didn't like having that amount of money in my current account, so had transferred it to a holding account awaiting a bill. I asked (their records show) on several occasions for the DD to be activated again and they never, the discount would have been approx £100 had they complied with my request.

dominicr

I don't think any DD originator has the right to take money without advising you in advance, and in any case you always have the right to demand it back, just speak to your bank. That doesn't mean you don't owe the money of course, only that they can't take it from your account without your consent.

bloolagoon

dominicr wrote: »

I don't think any DD originator has the right to take money without advising you in advance, and in any case you always have the right to demand it back, just speak to your bank. That doesn't mean you don't owe the money of course, only that they can't take it from your account without your consent.

I have no objections to paying I just wished notification to transfer and also to know how much the bill was. It was more the DD discount. I also do not know what the effects and penalties of being overdrawn are yet, as I sent a faster payment as soon as I received a text from my bank so it was the same day it returned to black, but 2 other regular DD are on the statement the same day.

dominicr

You may not have a legal right to the discount but it certainly sounds like you have a moral right.

It may depend on your bank whether they charge you for going over your limit during a working day but not by the end of the day. IMO they shouldn't!

bloolagoon

Thank you, I think I may write and request they apply the DD discount, although I acknowledge I am partly to blame for not noticing its removal for a while but I was receiving cancer treatment and so was not fully functioning.

dominicr

My pleasure. If writing doesn't work, you may try phoning (but be prepared for a long phone call!)

bloolagoon

dominicr wrote: »

My pleasure. If writing doesn't work, you may try phoning (but be prepared for a long phone call!)

They declined the request over the phone saying as I hadn't paid by DD it wasn't applicable. They acknowledged this was their error. I will write to customer complaints.

McKneff

My apologies, I should not have presumed. I have deleted my post (yes I know its still there quoted in yours, before anyone points it out. )

Lots of people who post like this have actually spent the money and I shouldnt have let that colour my judgement.

I agree with everyone else in that they should not have taken the funds without first consulting you. And I would push hard for the DD discount too.

Good luck and let us know how you get on, it may help other posters in the future.
x
Annie

bloolagoon

Sorry to add, if any charges are occured via the bank I am to forward them a copy of my statements and they have assured me that they will also pay any charges, however, after speaking to Halifax because it was paid by the close of banking they say it should not matter.

I am just grateful I have a text alert when my funds go below a certain level or it may not have been the case.

McKneff

Well done for digging your heels in and getting a result.

I've actually been with EDF for many a year and to be honest the only problem I ever had with them is when they estimated my usage for the coming year was £1200 (which to my mind is £100 a month, yes) and they tried to get my direct debit to £150 a month, ha, I was sharp on the phone, and they dropped it to £100.

Good luck and hope it all settles down for you.
Annie