EDF won't allow us to leave

Stitching_Witch_2

Whats the point

System

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-in-debt/

Robin9

What EDF tariff are you on?

Can you switch to EDF' s cheapest tariff ?

matelodave

I do hope that you can see their point of view, if you've managed to rack up several hundreds of pound in debt they don't really feel that by letting you go that they'll definitely get it back, whatever you promise.

There are plenty of people around who've defaulted on debt management deals.

I'd guess the way round it is to do your utmost to pay the arrears back as soon as possible - don't forget, you've used the energy and are now enjoying a long term interest free loan from them.

I'm sure that if you drove down to the petrol station, filled up the car and left without paying, they'd not consider it a long term loan with time to pay it back.

It sounds as though they been fairly reasonable in not insisting that you have a pre-pay meter to try and recover it.

It's different if you've ended up having to have a pre-payment meter as the debt can transfer with you.

System

If you are on EDF s standard tariff, and intend to stay on it, then a change to prepayment meters would allow you to switch to Scottish Power with up to £500 debt. The meters are now free , with some conditions. Ideally you should reduce the arrears asap and then go to Scottish Power where they now have a terrific tariff on their March 2018 fix (£43 cashback available through Simply Switch, or £30 vis the Cheap energy Club ).The gas is cheaper than EDFs price blue fixed deals.The way forward to you is to keep the credit meters and from now on scour the internet for the cheapest gas and electric available.That is something I dont think you have been doing.You can save £300 a year if you are dilligent at this and much less likely to end up in debt in the first place.These fixed tariff deals are mostly direct debit only so you have to manage your money .

cajef

Stitching_Witch wrote: »

I know I am probably being unreasonable about this but I am angry that EDF won't allow us to leave when we have every intention of paying them what we owe

Put yourself in their position would you be happy to be owed money by someone and let them leave on their word that they have every intention of paying you back at sometime in the future.

How much is a few hundred pounds?

Stitching_Witch_2

Whats the point

Stitching_Witch_2

Whats the point

McKneff

Stop being so defensive for a start, people are trying to help you. Double check the tarrifs for Edf and SP. I dont believe for a nano second that Edf are anywhere near that much more expenive. Did you do the calcs yourself or Did Scottih Powetell you that.

matelodave

No one is making any judgements at all.

Gas, electricity and water are all the sort of things that get pushed to one side when other things take a higher priority because they are significantly more flexible that the petrol station, Tesco's or even using a bus. Sky or Vodaphone dont let it happen either, neither do the telphone or broadband suppliers.

I'm not saying that you do any of these but it's a case of perhaps prioritising paying for energy instead of having a mobile phone, sky, virgin or other "luxuries". The problem is that energy companies actually make it easy for people to put off paying and people get all defensive when they want it back.

We've been there and got into debt and so had the phone taken out so we could get our essential debts down as soon as we could. Yes it was inconvenient but the world didn't stop because we didn't have a phone. We just decide what was more important

molerat

For me EDF are showing 2 tariffs cheaper than the cheapest SP both with no exit fee. Have you checked on a comparison site using accurate kWh annual consumption figures ?