Can't change supplier as EDF have the wrong information on the national database

perrybeard82

I was originally with another supplier but changed to boost when they stopped trading we was automatically switched to EDF after a massive spike in the bill we noticed that switching to bulb would save us over £600 a year ( 2 smallish bed house but have no gas hence we spend between£180 to £230 a month on electric with EDF) whist attempting to switch to bulb we was informed we can't switch as the national database has it down that we pay monthly for our electric and not by key, so spoke to EDF webchat to get the information corrected to show we are pay as you go customers not pay monthly case told it had been sorted so few days latter tried again but same thing so this time I called EDF spoke to a customer service representative who said it still shows that we pay monthly so asked for a picture of meter showing key slot and serial number ect did this an a week or so latter she calls me back to confirm they have updated the national database, so 6 days latter I try again to switch only to find out I'm still getting the message that the national database shows we are not on a key, 
Have tried switching to other companies not just bulb but get the same response even though EDF say they have updated the national database, what can I do to get this sorted as at the moment we are paying around £12.50 a week more than we could be if we was able to switch

UnclaimedEnergy

Part of the issue could be a delay in EDF getting it updated and it showing correctly on Ecoes (national database) - not 100% sure if there is a delay.

If they've told you it's been updated but it still hasn't, raise a complaint.
It won't give an immediate resolution, but should give them a kick up the backside to get it sorted properly.

TaxedAndSpent

I am experiencing a similar problem with an error on the database that has put a planned change of supplier on hold, not because of our payment method, but because the address is wrong!

Our house used to be numbered 65a, even though there is no house numbered 65 on the street. Fifteen years ago, when we moved in, we were told that we could drop the unnecessary "a" and all the legal documents show our property as number 65 now.

When I recently tried to move suppliers (ironically, we are trying to move AWAY from Bulb as their gas price has become uncompetitive!) I was told by my prospective new supplier (Ovo) that the gas database was showing my MPRN number as belonging to the non-existent number 65a. (I assume the electricity database must be ok). They suggested I write to Bulb requesting them to update the database, which I have done, but as I expected, given their recent much-publicised decline in customer service, I have heard nothing back from them other than the usual automated generic e-mail response. 

I suspect that the gas database has probably been wrong for the last fifteen years. Strange then, that it didn't stop us changing to Bulb from Coop Energy, or from Scottish Power and (I think!) EDF before that. This switch is the first time in all those years that I've been made aware there's an issue.

If the only way to change what's on the database is to get it done by my existing supplier, I'm torn between simply picking another provider instead, hoping they're not as eagle-eyed as Ovo and that the switch goes through, and then telling the new supplier to change it once I'm on with them, or going the whole nuclear option and telling Bulb that if they still haven't actioned my request within 8 weeks, I'll get the Energy Ombudsman on the case (and maybe send them the bill for all the extra money I've had to spend on gas in the meantime!)