EDF Energy and penalties...

The_Fat_Controller

When I first joined EDF, my kWh rate was around 11p, how in just 3 years has that gone up to 17p? I honestly don't know.

Because wholesale prices have gone up, see this chart

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/data-portal/all-charts/policy-area/electricity-wholesale-market

You have absolutely no chance of getting them for anything.

thetriggerhappypwner

So apart from risking going overdrawn at my bank, and owing them money, what do you suggest? Give them my bank details to take out as much as they want when they want? I dont think so.

The_Fat_Controller

I do not understand how you ever got to be £500 in CREDIT if you are having issues paying your bill.

What payment plan are you actually on and how often do they bill you ?

AndyPK

All companies (phone, electric etc) like Direct Debits because it is cheaper for them to operate, and not because they can withdraw whatever amount they like. This is a 1970's attitude which is just not true. To save yourself money, you need to work out how you can make them work, so you give them less.

1. You can choose the date of the DD per month.
2. I don't know what happens if the money is not available on the date. I suggest you read the small print and see what it says.

The_Fat_Controller

EDF offer this, as I posted before.

https://edfenergyuk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1432/~/how-does-direct-debit-whole-amount-%28monthly%29-work%3F

thetriggerhappypwner

So here is a question...

Can I cap the amount that they are able to take? Similar to a standing order if you like.

As for £500 credit, I pay a particular amount every 2 weeks, consistent with my income. It had built up over a period of around 18 months.

Nebulous2

thetriggerhappypwner wrote: »

So here is a question...

Can I cap the amount that they are able to take? Similar to a standing order if you like.

As for £500 credit, I pay a particular amount every 2 weeks, consistent with my income. It had built up over a period of around 18 months.

Dd amounts can only be altered by notifying you in advance. There is also the direct debit guarantee, which gives you - as it says - some guarantees about how it will be operated.

The_Fat_Controller

I am still totally confused as to why you pay them every 2 weeks, are you now in arrears and clearing a balance ?

Why did you overpay to such an extent that you were £500 in credit ?

How often do you read the meter and get billed ?

matelodave

No you cant cap the amount, because you've agreed to pay for the WHOLE AMOUNT every month - it's in the title. If you use more you pay more and if you use less you pay less. Most direct debits are averaged over the year so you pay the same both in winter and summer - the trick is to work out what the correct amount should be so that you dont end up hundres in credit or hundreds in arrears.

Regarding your credit, if you pay a fixed amount every two weeks then that's not a great deal different to a fixed DD amount every four weeks. You seem to have been significantly overpaying to end up being £500 in credit.

It costs the energy company less money to collect your DD than it does to process a cheque, cash or run the PayGo system and they are passing some of that saving back to those customers who agree to have a DD.
Likewise it should cost them less to collect meter readings via a smart meter than is does by having to do it manually by sending a meter reader round to do it so they can offer a discount for those who choose to have a smart meter

You are not being penalised for not having a direct debit, you are just choosing not to get the benefit of the DD discount which is your prerogative, but please dont whinge about it.

thetriggerhappypwner

The_Fat_Controller wrote: »

I am still totally confused as to why you pay them every 2 weeks, are you now in arrears and clearing a balance ?

Why did you overpay to such an extent that you were £500 in credit ?

How often do you read the meter and get billed ?

I am not keen on releasing personal details regarding my circumstances or my specific position. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR, I will not be disclosing that information.

Suffice to say that I have a 2 weekly income, I pay a particular amount every 2 weeks on my card, which is purposely slightly more than I am being asked for to help cover winter bills. Aparrently, we are expecting a long freeze in this country in the next few weeks. So in some respects, this credit is a good thing, but the unit rates are aoutrageous! I cannot understand why a "penalty" is imposed for not hading over my bank details, and then 5% on top of that for VAT. That adds around £30 to my energy bill in PENALTIES!!!!!

I am the better part of £200 in credit with my supplier, and that is more than enough to cover my bills at this stage. I just dont believe that EDF have any right to charge more because I don't feel keen on handing them my bank details, I have had a bad experience in the past with that payment method, and paid dearly for it. I am sure that anyone can appreciate this.