EDF SME (small business) bill problems

keen_kat

Hi all,

Bit of background... I live in a building that has two flats in total. therefore I and the owner of the other flat are responsible for the "landlord's supply" to the communal hallways.

First of all, can this be classed as a SME business, therefore requiring a business rate??

Second of all, I have recently received a renewal notice from them staying that unless I pay the overdue account I cannot automatically renew my fixed contract.

My problem is though, is the fact I haven't received a bill since the end of 2010. I live at the supply address so there is no excuse for not receiving them. However, since getting this letter I decided to sign up for the my account to see what the dickens was going on. Bills and bills galore online that I had no knowledge of.

Granted, I should have realised I wasn't getting bills, but without going into details of my life, that was the least of my worries occupying my mind. I have since contacted edf stating I have received nothing from them for years, and only received this notice in the last few days. They are basically saying the bills were sent and that it's my problem to take up with royal mail.... yeah right, that will get me far.

They are also saying I contacted them in September 2012 updating contact info and should of queried bills then. I have not contacted them at all, and had no need to change contact details?!

Basically they are calling me a liar and have said the bills were sent but they cannot prove they were delivered and it's for me to prove they weren't through royal mail,who are also as useful as a chocolate tea pot.

Also, meter readings have been done by myself and edf workers, and yet I still receive no bills. Also, someone came in April to do reading but when I spoke to edf they said no one read it and so April bill was estimated. Yet when I spoke to manager earlier they said someone came in April to read it, I said yes that's what I have been telling your colleague but apparently I was mistaken and that they hadn't. My bill for that period is estimated, and still I did not receive it.

Coincidentally I read that edf changed there system in Jan 2011 and had major issues and complaints of bills not being issued correctly. The last bill I received and paid was November 2010, and that I receive them quarterly, stands to reason why I didn't get my bills from 2011 onwards. EDF are saying that's not a valid reason, and basically putting the onus on me to prove I didn't receive them. Can anyone tell me if the onus is on me?

Also, I had paid my bills all up to date to the end of 2010, clearly showing I was historically a good payer, and I just find it all ironic and coincidental that I stopped receiving bills right at the change over of the new system.

Any help and advice gratefully received. I am currently waiting on another call back from the manager after he listens to the supposed call someone had with me back in2012.

[Deleted User]

I read quite a few landlords supplies, in most cases they are nt classified as SME s and I have never heard of a tenant being responsible for the electric bill. It may be quite a low bill being for lighting and alarms etc but can you not query why you re lumbered with the landlords expenses?

keen_kat

Me and the other flat own our properties, so the common hallways are responsibility per our leases with the freeholder. We deal with the communal electricity personally between us.

Do you work for edf? Are you saying we shouldn't be on a SME business tariff for just communal way lighting?

Thanks for your help so far!

[Deleted User]

I just read meters for EDF BG and S.P. and I see that the landlords supplies are not ( mostly ) down as business meters.S.M.E. meters are priority reads for us to obtain.The odd one is , but in general they are just standard cyclic reads. Maybe you could get the L/L s supplies re designated as domestic ( which they are really ), avoiding the more costly standing charges for SME s. In my opinion you dont qualify as being a Small and Medium Enterprise in any way, for a few lights in a hallway.

keen_kat

Well I have asked EDF that very question and apparently it is classed as a SME according to thrm
Here's an extract from the the email I received from them:
"I can confirm the only account that can be set up as residential is where you are living in the area. As this is not a living area but a communal are it cant be residential. We would treat this the same as if it were a garage at the side of a building where you would keep your car, the garage is for domestic use but can’t be lived in so it stays as business.
!
Most communal areas do not use a lot of energy and the use is below 33 units per day which keeps the VAT at the same amount as residential use this is 5%."

Am I being fobbed off???

Robin9

What you need is an up to date bill addressed to you - i presume split 50/50 with the other flat.

Read the meter,ring EDF and check their correspondence address.

keen_kat

The correspondence address is the same as the supply address as we both live on the premises where the communal lighting is.

Splitting a bill and paying is not my issue. My issue is edf calling me a liar when I say I haven't received their bills, despite the fact I received them up to end of 2010 when they then changed their systems. Therefore I don't think I am to blame for not receiving the bills.