urgent help needed.

vik6525

help, i really do need some advice. i have an outstanding balance with edf energy. i rang a month ago, and arranged to pay it off at £30 a week. the woman i spoke to told me it was no problem, but there was a delay in the cards being sent out to make the payments on. this morning ive recieved a court order saying they want to cut off my electric or install a meter. ive rung them to ask about it, and theyve told me i have to pay the full amount now, or they'll go ahead with the application... i have no way to pay the full amount, and now im really stressed because i've tried my best to pay this bill, but they dont seem to want me to, by having not sent me the card. i dont know what to do, im so upset cause ive tried my best and im just sat here in floods of tears. what should i do?

Crystaltipps_2

Ring them and tell them you didn't get the card.

Have you kept the money for the £30s that you would have made to one side? If so, you should be absolutely fine if you offer to pay that bit immediately.

Don't worry too much about it though, it's very unlikely that they will disconnect your electricity. The worst that can happen is that you just have to have a prepayment meter, which many people have by choice as it helps them to budget better.

bargain-hunter-uk_2

yeah, sounds unfair. You could easily argue the case. Just mention you will have to take the case to energywatch... they'll sort something out. At the very worst, they'll install a PP meter, and not disconnect you.

tripled

If they do go to court, you can go as well and argue your case to the judge. However, if the application were succesful it would be very costly to you as they add court fees and disconnection fees, so it is better to try to resolve it before it gets to that stage.

As mentioned above, speak to them again, if you can't come to a resolution speak to energywatch. Also pay them the money you would have put on the card had you received it either by posting them a cheque, by debit card over the phone or internet banking, and keep paying the £30 a week by this method until it is resolved and a card received.

vik6525

I ring them, cried, got angry, everything. But at half 9 tomorrow morning theyve got a date at the local court, and theyre going to make me get a meter fitted. Im so upset I cant tell you...

tripled

You'll have to go to court and explain the circumstances to the judge. He may turn down their warrant application. It would proabbly look good if you offer to pay what you would have given them had they sent you the card. Also put in a complaint to energywatch (to force them to refund any charges).

elaine373

I am probably going to get slated for this but maybe a meter is the answer, I had one and found it suited me. I know they are meant to be more expensive but i didnt find it too bad at all. Just make sure its set at a rate that you can afford to pay your arrears at.

vik6525

i dont know the first thing about meters though... can someone tell me a bit about them?

tripled

All you do to operate a prepayment meter is put credit on a card or key at a paypoint then insert the device into your meter. The credit is then transferred onto the meter. If you run out of credit on the meter you have a reserve you can use, usually only a few pounds. Once that is gone you will automatically be cut off. The meter can be configured to recover debt as well, so each week it would take a fixed amount off your available credit to repay money you owe EDF.

Most companies charge a higher unit rate or standing charge for prepayment meters, so it is always better where possible to keep a credit meter. However if you do decide this is the way to go you should still object at the court tomorrow as most companies who force fit a meter charge several hundred pounds in fees, whereas if you ask for it voluntarily at a later date you can get it for free.

vik6525

well i didnt go to the court this morning, as im more than happy to pay the debt (i did run it up after all) however, i now have the fear of god in me, as sometimes our local paper prints things that have happened in the court the day before, and i will just DIE if my name is in there tomorrow... does anyone know if they do this for electric being cut off etc?

niklepic

you wont be in the local paper - we get a "this week in court" section but thats for the magistrates court. the electric company would have gone through the county court and the only thing that is in the paper from there is notice of people who have applied for bankruptcy which wouldn't apply for you.