Hounded by EDF Energy debt collectors

MotT

Hi there,

I'm hounded by LCS, a debt collector working on behalf of EDF energy. But I've never been a client of EDF.

In April 2011, I moved into a flat where I lived for 1 year. After moving in, I registered with Good Energy and paid both, my gas and electricity bills to them.

From August 2011, EDF started sending gas bills - first over £30, then £60, then £90... accummulating to £350 in total. Pretty much every time I received another bill, I contacted EDFs customer care team to tell them that they shouldn't send these bills as I'm with another provider. They seemed to think though that it's them who are the actual gas supplier and wanted to prove it by sending engineers around - this has never happened.

It's been quiet for over a year and I had forgotten about the issue. But now I'm chased again by EDFs debt collectors LCS who threaten to take legal action against me if I don't pay £350. I'm of course not willing to pay but fear for my credit report and the legal action.

What would you do?

Thank you, MT

mothershipton

hi, I had a similar problem with a broadband company. i tried to sort it out with them but they were rubbish ( having dealt with EDF they are equally rubbish) but the letters kept coming.

I would write to EDF stating what you have in your post and write to the debt collection stating the same. Include copies of your bills from good energy.The debt collectors will probably go away quite quickly but you may get the passed to someone else.

BTW are good energy a good company to use as I was thinking of switching to them once my fix with the dreadful edf comes to close.

Dont worry about it though just send the letters

MotT

Thanks very much for this. I'll do as you advised.

I can really recommend Good Energy. For a start, I like the idea of being provided with renewable energies only; I also like supporting the smaller energy providers as don't trust the big ones (for obvious reasons); they are also very nice and quick to deal with. They are slightly more expensive but I think it's worth it.

Thanks again, MT

societys_child

Who were the suppliers until you "registered" with Good Energy?

chanz4

On ecoes and xoserve who is the registered supplier, for all you know Good Energy may be bad and just taking your money

MotT

My predecessors were using EDF Energy.
Good Energy said they would repay me if EDF Energy could proof that it was them who provided gas. But EDF never checked despite announcing to do so.

happy_bunny_2

These clowns:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2983648

Wrote and complain to EDF and LCS. Take to energy ombudsman if required.

chanz4

happy_bunny wrote: »

These clowns:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2983648

Wrote and complain to EDF and LCS. Take to energy ombudsman if required.

But if edf are correct, then they are doing nothing wrong. Op has to remember that if he didn't register edf could of objected to the transfer. If this good energy were so good they would of checked the national databases which resolves in seconds if no access they can call the m number line

societys_child

MotT wrote: »

My predecessors were using EDF Energy.

In which case you did have a (deemed) contract with EDF and should have switched to Good giving them the readings on the switchover date etc . . .
You owe EDF for the gas used from the day you moved in until the day you switched to the new supplier. Did you do this correctly? Did you take readings on the day you moved in and again when you switched?

MotT

Hi All,

Thanks for all your advice. The LCS warning in particular is interesting!

Yes, I switched to GE as you described - ie, took metre readings and (from memory) paid a small amount covering the in between period. Remember, that was in April 2011 so I can't quite remember everything in there anymore.

The national database gave contradicting information which is why EDF wanted to send engineers around what they've never done. Good Energy, as I said above, said they were willing to repay everything I paid to them if EDF can proof that indeed they were the gas provider.

Thanks, MT