Help! I'm in debt to EDF but is it my fault?

Poppyblue02

I'm getting nowhere with EDF at the moment, basically I'm desperate to leave but I'm in £2000 of debt to them, I cant afford to pay it off in one go but they wont let me set up a payment plan with them without signing up to a new tariff but the best one they can offer me is double what a different provider is offering, and I don't know what to do as i believe they got me into this mess in the first place.
To give you a bit of background on the situation;
Towards end of last year my direct debit amount was changed from £50 a month to £385, without any warning this amount was taken out of my account, I assumed to begin with this was a fault and hoped it would be rectified, unfortunately this wasn’t the case and when I contacted EDF, I was informed that I hadn’t been paying enough for sometime and therefore it had been increased to try and pay back what I owed. I explained that I could not afford this amount and a new amount was agreed of £260. I then received a letter to inform me that as of May they were going take over £500 per month from my account, with no other discussion or contact. This has caused me no end of distress as my husband is self employed and has not had work for several months, I have a 4 year old and obviously other bills to pay so there is no way we can pay this amount per month.
I just can't believe they could let it escalate to that amount and think what they were taking was acceptable without even asking me, my question to you all i suppose is can they do this? They have put a hold on my address so i can't move supplier and have said they can set up a 24 month payment plan only if i sign up to a new tariff with them which like i said is double to what I could pay else where. I just don't know what to say and do as part of me feels that it is negligence on their side by not informing me sooner that has got me into this mess in the first place. I really don't know where to turn and could do with some advice. Many Thanks

brewerdave

Were you getting regular bills? If so, were they based on estimates? Did you ever read your meters and supply actual readings? If you have been billed then the best you can hope for, is a payment plan to repay your debts over the length of period that the debt accrued.

Streaky_Bacon

As you have probably read elsewhere, you will be able to switch if it is the supplier's fault (for example, if they underestimated the bills).

Here are a couple of links:

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

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal/how-switch-energy-supplier-if-you-re-debt

You have explained that they increased your direct debit, but what bills have you received?

If you can provide the dates, amounts, meter readings, and whether they were estimated, for the last few bills, it may be clearer on how you can proceed.

It may even be that the supplier may have to write off some of the debt, but let's see what you have received.

SwanJon

If this is catching up, but you can afford to pay what you are currently using, try
https://www.edfenergytrust.org.uk/ to see if they can clear the balance for you.


You can then find a supplier & tariff that suits your circumstances.


Take and supply regular readings to make sure you are aware of how much you are using.

PennineAcute

It annoys me when this happens, as it is obvious that some suupliers' systems are not working. No other organised business would let happen, but energy suppliers do.

Although you have to accept some of the blame, I agree that they are not completely innocent. The most probable reason for them only accepting a payment plan if you commit to another tariff, is that they are guaranteed to get their money back.

As someone else has mentioned, there are funds out there for people who are stuggling to pay their bills. I have used similar funds for white goods, so please do use them.

Boho356

In my option there's seems to be a fault their end, as you have said why didn't they try to rectify this sooner to avoid the amount increasing?

dogshome

EDF will raise a bill within days of whenever you give them a meter reading - If they don't get readings they ESTIMATE the useage and bill on guess figures - These are indicated on the bill with an E against the readings



At a guess you have not activated your online account and given regular readings - If so,do this today - You can then see all the bills they raised and enter you present meter readings, which will update your account to it's true Credit or Debit value

molerat

As for "double the price", for me EDF are showing as 2nd cheapest for dual fuel and 6th cheapest for electric only. Maybe worth checking to see if you can switch to one of the on line exclusives, usually can be done.


edit: the weekly newsletter states that the EDF tariff is available to current customers.

The_Fat_Controller

No way are EDF double the price !

As for your actual consumption, have you never given EDF actual readings throughout the time they have been supplying your energy ?