Help with EDF and Pre-Payment

Deva2005

Hi All,
I hope this is the correct place for this, forgive me if I made a mistake.

We are having some serious issues with EDF and our account with them.
Due to lots of personal and work issues, we owe them an awful lot of money and are trying to make a claim through the EDF Energy Trust for some help, but in the meantime, we are also trying to make a payment to cover our usage and a token towards our arrears.

They have threatened us with a pre-payment meter, but this option frightens and worries me so much, it is driving me to the point of serious depression and stress over it.
I have a 13 year old son who suffers from time to time with chest complaints and asthma, and also my mother-in-law lives with us and she is not of very strong health.

Would these factor be able to play a part in persuading EDF to NOT fit a prepayment meter as we might have serious health issues within the home if this takes place and for some reason we don't have enough funds at any point to top up the meter.

I am at the point of going back to my GP to be prescribed medication for my nerves and stress over this.

We also have serious Council Tax arrears, but these are being 'managed' via attachment of earnings orders.

I don't know if anyone has any experience in this type of situation, but ANY advice or guidance which can be offered will be gratefully received.

Many thanks to anyone who reads this!

Thanks again
David

Wywth

david.richards27 wrote: »

Hi All,
I hope this is the correct place for this, forgive me if I made a mistake.

We are having some serious issues with EDF and our account with them.
Due to lots of personal and work issues, we owe them an awful lot of money and are trying to make a claim through the EDF Energy Trust for some help, but in the meantime, we are also trying to make a payment to cover our usage and a token towards our arrears.

They have threatened us with a pre-payment meter, but this option frightens and worries me so much, it is driving me to the point of serious depression and stress over it.
I have a 13 year old son who suffers from time to time with chest complaints and asthma, and also my mother-in-law lives with us and she is not of very strong health.

Would these factor be able to play a part in persuading EDF to NOT fit a prepayment meter as we might have serious health issues within the home if this takes place and for some reason we don't have enough funds at any point to top up the meter.

I am at the point of going back to my GP to be prescribed medication for my nerves and stress over this.

We also have serious Council Tax arrears, but these are being 'managed' via attachment of earnings orders.

I don't know if anyone has any experience in this type of situation, but ANY advice or guidance which can be offered will be gratefully received.

Many thanks to anyone who reads this!

Thanks again
David

No, if you are struggling to repay debts you have already incurred with your energy supplier, the supplier may consider a PPM is the only realistic way to get their money ... and from what you have posted, I suspect a PPM would benefit you too.

I suggest you request a PPM, rather than allow the supplier to force one upon you as it could well save you extra fees (which will be added to your existing debt)

WantToBeSE

I have a son with Asthma, and i have a pre-payment meter..it makes no different if anyone has 'chest complaints'..i don't understand why that would be an issue?

I find that a pre-payment meter has worked out well for me. I put £30 a month on it, and it always covers my usage.

lstar337

david.richards27 wrote: »

They have threatened us with a pre-payment meter, but this option frightens and worries me so much, it is driving me to the point of serious depression and stress over it.
be offered will be gratefully received.

There is no reason to be scared of a Pre-Payment meter.

You will pay a little more for your electric (and debt), and you will have to top it up like a pay and go mobile phone.

If you have run up debt, you could really benefit from one as it will help you to reduce consumption.

They really are not scary, and as stated above, you should request one to avoid any forced charges.

shakeitright

I find having a prepayment meter actually saves me money,when I was paying it quartely I would just chuck the washing in the tumble dryer,now I can see how much is being spent on a hourly/daily basis,I am much more concious of saving electricty therefore saving money.

lstar337

shakeitright wrote: »

I find having a prepayment meter actually saves me money,when I was paying it quartely I would just chuck the washing in the tumble dryer,now I can see how much is being spent on a hourly/daily basis,I am much more concious of saving electricty therefore saving money.

Same here.

I inherited the meter with the flat, so I have never had any debt, but a Prepay meter is the perfect tool for the job it was designed for (re-collecting debt, educating users on their usage, and helping to reduce that usage).

I cant say I enjoy paying more than credit meter users (especially since I am trying hard to reduce my usage), but I do like the control and feedback that the Prepay meter gives me.