EDF Dispute

Bearandbull

EDF raised my direct debit amount by £18 per month. I argued that it was unreasonable as it would mean EDF carrying large credit balances in their coffers. The man I spoke to insisted that EDF has to increase the amount. He would not listen to my reasoning and was, in fact, a bully. Direct debit is an agreement between 2 parties and if one party (me) disagrees then it cannot go ahead. EDF chap disagreed. He says that I have agreed to variable amounts and so they can charge any amount they feel is required. I have lodged a complaint. Has anybody experienced a similar situation? We are, in fact, away 25% of the time and so their 12 month estimates are not valid.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

What is the current balance on your account?

Bearandbull

The current balance is £24.00. Is that significant?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Of course it's significant; if you were many £100's in debit edf would have every justification in raising your DD.

However, a £24 balance is neither here nor there, particularly half way through January. edf have no real reason to raise it. As you rightly say, DD is an agreement between 2 parties; if edf don't agree to a lower payment then they too can cancel the arrangement.

Another phone call to a more experienced person should sort it, if that doesn't work, write a letter headed Complaint outlining your grievances and what you expect should happen.

macman

The EDF computer is telling them that in mid-winter you should have more than £24 credit to carry you through the rest of the winter without emerging in heavy debt.
The challenge is explaining to an EDF human that your consumption pattern is atypical.

chanz4

Give reads every month, then they will lower it but £18 aint that much

Bearandbull

£18 a month increase may not be much to you but I would rather have cash in my bank account than let EDF have it. I am already paying a large amount of DD every month!

molerat

Two meter readings put into EDF today.

1) Last bill 14 Nov £106.55 CR today £83.83 CR, DD to stay the same
2) Last bill 2 Dec £230.85 CR today £13.27 CR, DD to decrease

One with a small reduction in credit balance over 9 winter weeks has no change and the other with a massive reduction over 6 weeks gets DD reduced. Both accounts have had 2 monthly payments made since last bill. Go figure.

brewerdave

molerat wrote: »

Two meter readings put into EDF today.

1) Last bill 14 Nov £106.55 CR today £83.83 CR, DD to stay the same
2) Last bill 2 Dec £230.85 CR today £13.27 CR, DD to decrease

One with a small reduction in credit balance over 9 winter weeks has no change and the other with a massive reduction over 6 weeks gets DD reduced. Both accounts have had 2 monthly payments made since last bill. Go figure.

.......one was calculated using the EDF Sinclair Spectrum...the other using a Commodore 64:rotfl:(with apologies for our younger readers!!)

Yorksport

Bearandbull wrote: »

£18 a month increase may not be much to you but I would rather have cash in my bank account than let EDF have it. I am already paying a large amount of DD every month!

Reading your grievance and so many others like it, I do wonder why people are happy to sign up for fixed direct debits arranged by the supplier. It's a recipe for discontent. If you want to pay by direct debit it's far better to provide monthly/quarterly meter readings and ask the company to charge you only for what you have used. Your budgeting is then in your own hands and you don't need to rely on the forecast usage models which the companies use.

Bearandbull

Yorksport, the reason why many of us subscribe to DD is because substantial discounts are offered by the energy companies.
In fact, my complaint was successful. My DD amount has been reinstated.:j