EDF demand for money from 5 year old electricity account

Bamboodyls

Looking for some advice here - I have just received a letter from a debt collector stating that they are acting on behalf of EDF Energy and that they have been instructed to collect outstanding money owed to EDF. The value of this outstanding balance is £1163.34 and relates to a 22 month period between 10th May 2012 and 9th May 2013. The problem I have is that a) I don't have the same bank account as I did back then so can't get access to old statements to prove that I paid bills; b) I'm more than certain I wouldn't have gone 12 months without paying a single bill; c) the charges for 12 months of usage given that it was for a 2 bedroom flat which I was living in on my own seem slightly over the top

How can I go about querying this and disputing the charges? Grateful for any advice
Thanks

Bamboodyls

* correction: relates to a 12 month period

Cardew

Bamboodyls wrote: »

Looking for some advice here - I have just received a letter from a debt collector stating that they are acting on behalf of EDF Energy and that they have been instructed to collect outstanding money owed to EDF. The value of this outstanding balance is £1163.34 and relates to a 22 month period between 10th May 2012 and 9th May 2013. The problem I have is that a) I don't have the same bank account as I did back then so can't get access to old statements to prove that I paid bills; b) I'm more than certain I wouldn't have gone 12 months without paying a single bill; c) the charges for 12 months of usage given that it was for a 2 bedroom flat which I was living in on my own seem slightly over the top

How can I go about querying this and disputing the charges? Grateful for any advice
Thanks

The bill may cover a 12 months, but doesn't preclude there being an outstanding amount for an earlier period.
e.g. carried forward £400 and the bill for the 12 months(10/5/12 to 9/5/13) being £763.34.

Have you got a copy of the bill with the demand? I assume you didn't leave a forwarding address when you left?

You will be able to get bank statements from your old bank, albeit by paying a fee.

I wouldn't correspond with the Debt Collection Agency(DCA) they are not interested in explanations; go to EDF. In any case unless you can provide some sort of proof of payment you are unlikely to win if the case went to court.



Have you checked your credit record?

Bamboodyls

Thank you

I did give the landlord a forwarding address which is why I find it strange that I'm only just getting this now - and if my memory serves me right I could swear that the supplier at that address was Eon and not EDF.

There was no bill from EDF supplied with the letter

I will make contact with EDF and try and find a resolution - it's frustrating to have this debt land on the doorstep all these years later - this being the first I've heard of it!

SoletraderSteve

Is it possible, as you believe from memory that the supplier was E.ON and you have your Landlord the forwarding address, that you never registered with EDF Energy and that your Landlord never informed them you moved in or out either and this has been amended later when I assume the Landlord or new tenant received a bill they weren't responsible for? Just a theory. Obviously when you contact EDF Energy they'll be able to tell you more.

Greg1504

I've recently had something similar, I moved into my property in September 2013, and changed to British gas, electric changed 31st October 2013 and gas changed 31st January 2014, and just this week received a letter from Edf saying they have tried contacting me several times (they haven't) and I owe 456 quid which they are going to sign over to debt collectors. I haven't had a bill, and don't believe I could've used that much energy in the short space of time between moving in and changing to British gas, even had they both been supplied by Edf, which I don't think they were. But now after 3 and a half years (letter says my final bill was posted 4/4/14) of nothing I'm getting threatened with debt collectors. Any advice?

footyguy

Greg1504 wrote: »

I've recently had something similar, I moved into my property in September 2013, and changed to British gas, electric changed 31st October 2013 and gas changed 31st January 2014, and just this week received a letter from Edf saying they have tried contacting me several times (they haven't) and I owe 456 quid which they are going to sign over to debt collectors. I haven't had a bill, and don't believe I could've used that much energy in the short space of time between moving in and changing to British gas, even had they both been supplied by Edf, which I don't think they were. But now after 3 and a half years (letter says my final bill was posted 4/4/14) of nothing I'm getting threatened with debt collectors. Any advice?

Start by contacting EDF and asking for a copy of the detailed bills to which this alleged debt corresponds.

Then, and only then, can you start to make any progress in resolving this matter.

You'll be able to see the start meter reading EDF have assumed (and compare it to the reading you provided them at the time, if you did and still have it)
You will also see the end readings EDF have used and the dates they have billed you to and compare these to the start readings used by the new supplier you elected.
If you don't have the relative bills from the new supplier, contact them and they may be able to advise you the information, or provide you with duplicate statements. They may charge you for the duplicate statements.

If you don't think the energy was supplied to you by EDF at the time, who do you think was supplying you at that time, and have you paid them for that period & usage?