EDF overpayements / large credit

chiefdave

Running out of patience with EDF and could use some advice on what to do next.

The short version: Moved to EDF after running a comparison price check using real usage figures from the previous 12 months. This came out with EDF being the best option and priced at £71 a month.

I switched and started making payments at £71, a few months in EDF, for no apparent reason, hiked the payments to £110 a month. I queried this and was repeatedly told they were correct and paying any less I would have an outstanding balance to pay at the end of the year.

Predictably12 months on the account is nearly £1K in credit. When I again queried, last November, I was told I would have to supply current meter readings and then the payments would be recalculated. I did this and nothing happened. I followed up with EDF and was told it couldn't be changed until my annual statement was generated.

I then receivedthe annual statement which showed my monthly payments should be around £71 a month. I asked for the payments to be changed and was told it would happen automatically but it would take time for the payments system to catch up with the billing system.

Now 3 months since receivingthe annual statement and I've been told the statement can't be used to alter the payment amount, which makes no sense at all. They now want meter readings again but as above I have previously been down this route and nothing happened.

Feel like I'm going round in circles while they have £1K of my money I have no way of getting back.

EDF still shows as the cheapest so I don't particularly want to switch but this seems like it may be the only option to get my money back.

Cannuck46

I am also in similar situation with EON having moved to EDF late last year. I made my switch just before price increases, and had close to £700 in credit. This was taken down to around £500 after the final statement and it has been a category of problems since, and still no money returned. My DD was increased but I had always maintained we never used what they said we did but the amount never varied over the year. I sometimes think, coming from Canada I would just like to pay for what I use and not bother with the whole DD thing. I am sure that legally they cannot hold onto your money, but still they do. Legal advice necessary....!!

devildog

Firstly I have to say that I don't like EDF, and switched from them as my home's supplier approx. 2 years ago.
However, I am currently 'lead' name on utilities for a house of student's(don't ask ) and EDF are the supplier. Initially they wanted £115 pm(gas and elec) but I argued it to £100pm(students out most of the time). Four months into the tenancy, we did readings and EDF immediately reduced the month dd to £70 pm. So despite having had problems with my home's account over the years I have to say they were quick to act in this case (perhaps they have all the correspondence I previously sent them )

Consumerist

Start EDF's formal complaints procedure, preferably in writing. Head the letter with the word Complaint in bold so it is clear you are making a formal complaint. If the complaint is not resolved after 8 weeks you can refer it to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.

admania

there really is no need to complain follow this plan

step1 - take an actual meter read
step2 - ring the call centre
step3 - they will bill the account for you up to date and you can have whatever credit returned to you, it really is that simple.

when you say predictably the account was in £1000 credit after 1 year, i would suspect this is because the account hasn't actually been billed hence the request for a meter read