EDF switching shambles

redlion_2

Switched my elderly Mum from Sainsburys (British Gas) to EDF Online Fix March 2014 last month, took a month for the switch to happen. However when the switch was confirmed and finalised we got a letter telling us that because we have an Economy 7 meter (we use virtually no off peak electricity) they would only supply electricity on an Economy 7 tariff, which of course is a lot more expensive. Since all previous suppliers have been happy to supply at a standard tariff I thought that a phone call would sort this situation out. Not a bit of it. After waiting nearly 30 minutes to speak to someone at their customer services I was told that the only way to get supplied on a standard tariff would be to have them change the meter to a standard meter. As far as I am concerned I believe that this is downright misrepresentation as I was not asked during the sign up process if I had an Economy 7 meter. What utter madness is this? I am now in the process of making yet another switch, NPower have confirmed that they will supply on a standard tariff but only after signing up to an Economy 7 one first, which makes me rather suspicious.
With all the talk of making switching more easy and straightforward this experience goes to show that it is in fact getting worse, as I have not experienced these sort of problems before. So if you have an Economy 7 meter and dont use off peak electricity be VERY aware of this pitfall and avoid EDF at all costs. Furthermore as we are now a month further on from the original switch the deals available are less favorable than they were which will cause a financial cost, for which I will be holding EDF responsible for. It should not be possible, let alone acceptable, for one of the Big Six energy companies to be able to visit such mayhem on people with seeming impunity. I have made official complaints to EDF and will be taking the matter up with Ofgen although I do not expect to get any satisfication, but if it adds to the opprobrium on EDF then that might be something worthwhile.

Strebor

Hi, I've just set up an e-petition for just such disgusting 'policy' behavior. It's about time they were held to account.

Please take a look and consider signing it.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280

I can't post links because I am a new user, but you can copy and paste the address above.

By all taking action at least we can get it discussed in parliament!

redlion_2

Thanks for the heads up, have signed your petition. As it happens my MP is Greg Barker who is the energy Minister and have emailed him about this. He is about as useful and effective as a wet paper bag but what can you do.

downshifted

redlion wrote: »

Switched my elderly Mum from Sainsburys (British Gas) to EDF Online Fix March 2014 last month, took a month for the switch to happen. However when the switch was confirmed and finalised we got a letter telling us that because we have an Economy 7 meter (we use virtually no off peak electricity) they would only supply electricity on an Economy 7 tariff, which of course is a lot more expensive. Since all previous suppliers have been happy to supply at a standard tariff I thought that a phone call would sort this situation out. Not a bit of it. After waiting nearly 30 minutes to speak to someone at their customer services I was told that the only way to get supplied on a standard tariff would be to have them change the meter to a standard meter. As far as I am concerned I believe that this is downright misrepresentation as I was not asked during the sign up process if I had an Economy 7 meter. What utter madness is this? I am now in the process of making yet another switch, NPower have confirmed that they will supply on a standard tariff but only after signing up to an Economy 7 one first, which makes me rather suspicious.
With all the talk of making switching more easy and straightforward this experience goes to show that it is in fact getting worse, as I have not experienced these sort of problems before. So if you have an Economy 7 meter and dont use off peak electricity be VERY aware of this pitfall and avoid EDF at all costs. Furthermore as we are now a month further on from the original switch the deals available are less favorable than they were which will cause a financial cost, for which I will be holding EDF responsible for. It should not be possible, let alone acceptable, for one of the Big Six energy companies to be able to visit such mayhem on people with seeming impunity. I have made official complaints to EDF and will be taking the matter up with Ofgen although I do not expect to get any satisfication, but if it adds to the opprobrium on EDF then that might be something worthwhile.

My sister has an electric meter which has day and night readings although she is on the standard tariff (with British Gas). She has never switched (she is well into her seventies) and I was about to help her move to EDF when I saw this.

Is it really the case that EDF will only move her onto an economy 7 tariff? She uses next to nothing over night.

This whole switching business is a nightmare and particularly difficult for older people

redlion_2

That is an interesting point, however if that is the case then it should be made very clear during the signup process that only E7 tariffs will be available for an E7 meter. This has never been an issue in the past and we have switched 4 or 5 times. The whole Economy 7 thing is a stitch up in any case except for those using storage heaters as the higher daytime rate more than offsets the night time savings. I see no reason why the daytime rate should be higher than a standard rate as taking power at night is to some extent doing the generators a favor to help with balancing their generating load.
Does anyone have information on which suppliers will supply a standard tariff for an E7 metered property??? Have to say that this sorry saga is in danger of causing me to loose the will to live.