EDF Problems- Charging a ridiculous amount for information.

lvf

Cardew wrote: »

However do you not think it just possible that this approach has been tried by EDF?

Of course, but from each case I try to go from experience and people come to this forum for advice, and I generally try to answer the case like the person is being completely genuine and honest, because if they are not, they really are only fooling themselves. Anyone lying on here or withholding the truth do not get the correct information, simple as that.

Cardew wrote: »

If the OP has been paying £30 a month more than consumption, how has a debt of £750 accrued?

Again, I go from experience. From my days with one of the 'big six', there has been numerous different reasons why a big debt can occur on an account. In fact, when I first read the post, I had taken it that the OP had a larger debt at one point and the £30 per month towards it had reduced it slightly.

A debt can occur when things like stopped meters go unnoticed, incorrect billing, underpaying on a DD for a long time, transposed reads going unnoticed for a while, stopped billing (due to missing flows, esp after a meter exchange), really the list is endless.

maas

It seems that the debt has accrued over a very long period of non-payment and the energy supplier will have exhausted their collection process (and patience).

But I dont think OP is not disputing this, she just wants to have the information at hand for the court case and not pay £1000's requested so far? I think the answer in post #2 is they way forward.

angel91baby

Hiya Joyful,

A card would be difficult for me as my local shop doesn't do EDF cards, and I am unable to walk to the nearest shop that does them due to disabilities.

Yes, I am on benefits. I get ESA (support group with the severe disablement add on) DLA etc etc,

Maas,
They did exhaust their options last year, and if this had happened then I would not contest it. But they agreed to a payment plan, agreed it could be done via standing order (although this was retracted after) and I have been paying as per the agreement since. I have all the emails containing proof of that plus my bank statements proving payments have been made. I just don't understand why they are taking me to court when I have been paying them regularly for a year?

Cardew

angel91baby wrote: »

Maas,
They did exhaust their options last year, and if this had happened then I would not contest it. But they agreed to a payment plan, agreed it could be done via standing order (although this was retracted after) and I have been paying as per the agreement since. I have all the emails containing proof of that plus my bank statements proving payments have been made. I just don't understand why they are taking me to court when I have been paying them regularly for a year?

If you have written proof of an agreement; with which you have complied, then you should have no problem in court and will probably be awarded costs. If you have all the emails containing proof, why do you need all their records?


If that is so, why are you unwilling to pay the £100 by DD. They cannot increase it without giving you notice; and then you could cancel the DD.


You say that your 'usage' is £70 a month - is that an average? Most people pay twice as much in the winter months than the summer. Does your £100 cover the winter cost and pay £30 off your costs.

angel91baby

Cardew wrote: »

If you have written proof of an agreement; with which you have complied, then you should have no problem in court and will probably be awarded costs. If you have all the emails containing proof, why do you need all their records?


If that is so, why are you unwilling to pay the £100 by DD. They cannot increase it without giving you notice; and then you could cancel the DD.


You say that your 'usage' is £70 a month - is that an average? Most people pay twice as much in the winter months than the summer. Does your £100 cover the winter cost and pay £30 off your costs.

I have records of emails, but I wanted transcripts of all our phone conversations (which contain further proof) and notes on the system (saying they should only send female operatives to my door).

I don't want to pay by DD as I tend to spend the money I get very quickly. I don't have the discipline not to spend money set aside for bills, so I have standing orders set up for all of my bills for the day my money comes in, meaning I don't see the money so can't spend it. This was part of the reason the debt piled up in the first place.

Yes, the usage is an average cost. I over pay in the summer to cover the deficit in the winter. I do give regular meter readings to ensure I am paying the right amount.

xx

Cardew

angel91baby wrote: »

I don't want to pay by DD as I tend to spend the money I get very quickly. I don't have the discipline not to spend money set aside for bills, so I have standing orders set up for all of my bills for the day my money comes in, meaning I don't see the money so can't spend it. This was part of the reason the debt piled up in the first place.

Yes, the usage is an average cost. I over pay in the summer to cover the deficit in the winter. I do give regular meter readings to ensure I am paying the right amount.

xx

With any company you can set up a DD for the 'the day your money comes in'

naedanger

angel91baby wrote: »

I have records of emails, but I wanted transcripts of all our phone conversations (which contain further proof) and notes on the system (saying they should only send female operatives to my door).

I don't want to pay by DD as I tend to spend the money I get very quickly. I don't have the discipline not to spend money set aside for bills, so I have standing orders set up for all of my bills for the day my money comes in, meaning I don't see the money so can't spend it. This was part of the reason the debt piled up in the first place.

Yes, the usage is an average cost. I over pay in the summer to cover the deficit in the winter. I do give regular meter readings to ensure I am paying the right amount.

xx

As already mentioned earlier in this thread you can get all the information you are after (as a legal right) for £10 in total by making a request in the correct way i.e. by submitted a Subject Access Request.

(One small point is they don't need to send you a transcript of calls but they do need to send a copy of the recordings themselves e.g. on CD.)

The following link gives details of how to make a request in the right way, including a template. (Personally I would ask for "all information I am entitled to receive including, but not limited to, all computer records, including comments, and all recordings of telephone calls".) Do not tell them why you want the information.

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/personal-information

angel91baby

Cardew wrote: »

With any company you can set up a DD for the 'the day your money comes in'

DD's come out on the same day each month. My money comes in on different days each month.... Cute bit of sarcasm though!

JimmyTheWig

angel91baby wrote: »

DD's come out on the same day each month. My money comes in on different days each month.... Cute bit of sarcasm though!

So the SO goes out on different days each month?
Did the energy company know this when they agreed to you paying in this way?

angel91baby

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

So the SO goes out on different days each month?
Did the energy company know this when they agreed to you paying in this way?

The SO comes out each second Thursday. DD's can't be paid that way, which is why I asked for the standing order. They agreed, gave me all the bank details I needed, and set up the payment plan. They then retracted that statement and said I couldn't pay them this way. I disagreed. I know they are getting the money and applying it to my account, and I have that conversation plus my bank statements in writing.