EDF underestimated direct debit after cheap energy club switch

Growingmyown

I arranged to switch, using the Cheap Energy Club, to EDF. I use quite a bit of gas and elec - £130 a month. I received a welcome letter from EDF today which told me my monthly direct debit would be £65 a month. As I don't want to build up a debt and have to pay lots later, I phoned them up and asked them to change it to the amount agreed at the time of the switch - or something close to it.

I was told that I couldn't change the direct debit amount unless they gave me a new quote. This seems to defeat the whole point of using an impartial site like Cheap Energy Club to get a quote. So I've used the cooling off period and cancelled. Why is switching never easy? I may try again in a couple of weeks if I can muster the energy...:(

Wywth

Growingmyown wrote: »

I arranged to switch, using the Cheap Energy Club, to EDF. I use quite a bit of gas and elec - £130 a month. I received a welcome letter from EDF today which told me my monthly direct debit would be £65 a month. As I don't want to build up a debt and have to pay lots later, I phoned them up and asked them to change it to the amount agreed at the time of the switch - or something close to it.

I was told that I couldn't change the direct debit amount unless they gave me a new quote. This seems to defeat the whole point of using an impartial site like Cheap Energy Club to get a quote. So I've used the cooling off period and cancelled. Why is switching never easy? I may try again in a couple of weeks if I can muster the energy...:(

When I joined EDF, they used the annual consumption in kWh I provided to accurately calculate the annual cost. This then was divided by 12 to give a monthly cost (one for gas & one for electricity) This was then combined to form the total they would collect monthly by DD.

This was then not reviewed until 6 months later.

Could you think of any reason why they would not have handled your request in a similar manner?

DragonQ

Does it matter? If they're being stubborn just make sure you keep back the money so you can pay it all when they finally realise they've set it too low.

Personally whenever I've called to change a direct debit amount with Scottish Power and E.On they've always agreed to change it. Not sure why EDF would refuse.

Growingmyown

Perhaps I wasn't in a good mood yesterday. Wywth - I did provide my annual consumption details for gas and elec, but they still had to requote and rearrange direct debit. I had a 3 year old running around my legs at the time, so just cancelled.

DragonQ - yes, if interest rates were higher I would have done exactly what you're saying!

Wywth

Growingmyown wrote: »

Perhaps I wasn't in a good mood yesterday. Wywth - I did provide my annual consumption details for gas and elec, but they still had to requote and rearrange direct debit. I had a 3 year old running around my legs at the time, so just cancelled.

If it were the the same annual usage figures, why would the quote (and the resultant monthly DD calculation) differ? :huh:

brewerdave

Wywth wrote: »

If it were the the same annual usage figures, why would the quote (and the resultant monthly DD calculation) differ? :huh:

Because its EDF's absolutely useless computer system perhaps??:rotfl: