Paying off an overdue amount to EDF in parts.

gemmajenkins0208

So as with many, i suffered a change to my income due to the virus, got laid off from my old job and not long ago found and started a new job. I am part of a couple and the other doesn't work right now so we receive UC. Money was all up in the air while i was between jobs and as a result, our energy bills with EDF fell to the wayside as i was making sure rent and other important stuff was looked after as I'm sure landlords are suffering too in this difficult time.

Last week i set about sorting out our outstanding amount with EDF, logged onto the website to see what i owe, saw the amount and spoke to someone on the chat on their website and said I'd pay the whole outstanding amount today(Fri 25th Sept).

Fast forward to today and i didn't get as much as i thought i would(turns out the extra shifts I've done will be in my next pay, not this one), and i had a couple other bills to pay off, which i had to as I'd received quite shirty letters about them. I paid them, and paid half of my outstanding amount to EDF. If i pay any more bills now I'm not going to have enough left for food.

Will this be ok? I've tried to connect with them via the chat just now but it's currently unavailable. I'm hesitant to call as like with anywhere at the moment lines are very busy. Shall i just keep trying the chat throughout the day?

dogshome

If an Energy customer's account goes into debt, the supplier has a duty to negotiate a re-payment plan that the customer can afford

Gerry1

As you know you'll have the money next month, why not make a one-off payment to EDF with a credit card? Just make sure you pay the whole of the credit card bill on time.

gemmajenkins0208

dogshome said:

If an Energy customer's account goes into debt, the supplier has a duty to negotiate a re-payment plan that the customer can afford

This is how we got into this mess. I worked out a payment plan with them when we first fell into arrears when I first got put onto furlough and while I was paying a reduced amount each month it was just getting added to so by the time I finished the payment plan I still owed 3 months worth...

Gerry1 said:

As you know you'll have the money next month, why not make a one-off payment to EDF with a credit card? Just make sure you pay the whole of the credit card bill on time.

I do not have a credit card, and I can't get one due to poor credit history. Good idea tho, I'd have definitely done that if I could. 

Gerry1

Try asking the bank for a short term overdraft, explaining what has happened, or ask your employer for a short term loan?

macman

If you've breached an agreed repayment schedule, it voids the whole arrangement, and the supplier is entitled to demand the entire balance in one hit. In theory.
In practice, the fact that you've paid 50% of the arrears in one hit should be sufficient to stave off any further recovery action until your next pay day.

gemmajenkins0208

Gerry1 said:

Try asking the bank for a short term overdraft, explaining what has happened, or ask your employer for a short term loan?

I didn't think personal circumstances etc came into play with things like that? Whenever I've made applications for things in the past it's just telling them straight up your financial details and then they decide? I mean I've seen people who go into the bank for physical meetings with the bank manager etc but i didn't think all that would be going on with the current world climate? Even then i imagine your credit history plays a big part in deciding whther they give you money or not. I could be wrong...

macman said:

If you've breached an agreed repayment schedule, it voids the whole arrangement, and the supplier is entitled to demand the entire balance in one hit. In theory.
In practice, the fact that you've paid 50% of the arrears in one hit should be sufficient to stave off any further recovery action until your next pay day.

Yeah i always thought if you can't pay the amount agreed upon but can pay at least half of it on the agreed date then that at least counts for something? It's just that inner guilt i have because i promised them the full balance today and that hasn't materialised