Changing elec & gas dd amounts?

jenagain

Hi,

We're with EDF and everything was fine until First Direct closed my bank account (due to a bank charges claim) in December last year. I asked about transferring all of my DDs to my new account and they took my new bank account details and said they would take care of it. A month later they still hadn't transferred the DDs so I started ringing companies to set up new ones as the bills came in.

I never received any bills for my electricity or gas from EDF and no phone calls or emails. I (stupidly) completely forgot about them. After about 3 months they called regarding electricity and I set up a new DD for £80 per month to cover the arrears. I asked about gas and they tried to transfer me to someone else but it was engaged. I was told I would get a phone call back within the next few days. No one called and once again I forgot (early pregnancy hormones/morning sickness/hyper toddler to deal with). In May I called again asking to sort out my gas DD as I knew there would be arrears to clear. They said they would send a bill out in the post that day for me to check. In July a final demand appeared in my post so I called once again to set up a DD. We agreed on £40 per month which was fine.

I was made redundant in September when my daughter was 3 days old, I worked from home so wasn't claiming maternity pay because we couldn't afford for me to take a paycut from £600 a week to £112 - the plan was to get straight back to work.

Now I find myself still jobhunting, waiting for tax credits and housing benefit to be awarded and with my small redundancy payout about to run out. I have enough money to cover November's outgoings, but we are going to fall seriously short for December. OH is on a low wage and tax credits when finally paid will only be a small amount as they will eventually base it on my earnings so far this year - even though I am not earning now.

Is it worth me calling EDF to ask if they can lower the monthly DDs until we are back on our feet when I hopefully start a new job after Christmas? Or will they just tell me that it's my problem? We just cannot find £120 just for gas and electric. If we can drop these lower even for a couple of months then we will have to find slightly less money next month. I don't want to call if they are just going to laugh me off the line....

Thanks,
Jen

Smiley_Mum

If you do call and ask for the monthly amount to be reduced, the worst that can happen is they say no. I don't know whether they may be able to put you on a prepayment meter for the time being that takes for the electricity you are using but also takes an agreed amount for the arrears. Call them and ask, you have nothing to lose. Good Luck.

shammyjack

They cannot cut you off if you have a baby at home , point this out to them , tell them what you can afford to pay and tell them it is only short term and you will increase payments as soon as you get back to work, insist on talking to a senior manager.

Use this freephone number 0800 096900 ignore all automated voice prompts and you will get through to an advisor .

shammy

jenagain

Thank you for your replies. I gave them a call this morning and they initially said they could do nothing for me except fit a prepayment meter for both gas and electricity. I really didn't want this as it's only a temporary money problem. After a few tears and a long chat to a man on the debt help team he agreed to put my direct debits down to £40 for electricity and £25 for gas temporarily. He said that this will only work for the next payment (due next week) most likely as when the DD is reviewed each month they will realise it's far too low. But he did suggest to call next month and ask again.

Thanks again!

Terrylw1

Hi,

Whatever you do, don't go for a prepayment meter. The unit costs are higher and the standing charge will also need to be paid whereas on your credit tariff, you may not pay standing charge.

PP meters will just cost you more and you will have less bargaining power since the Supplier can easily put the charges up without accessing your property.

Suppliers work out your direct debit payment (inc arrears) over 10 or 12 months depending on Supplier. They could cycle it up to 18/24 months if you get through to a manager. You could even make one off payments part way through to try and bring it back inline.

If you struggle, you can always go to the CAB who will give you independant legal advice. If you fall into a fuel poor category, they may write to your Supplier to discuss a payment plan. Your Supplier would be less aggressive at collection with them than a normal customer as they face a legal team in the process.

They can't cut you off with a child that age, it's against Ofgem's policy. However, they can go for the PP method, but you should do all you can to avoid it.

All the best