Raised direct debit

Carmel_barnett1

I have been with EDF for gas and electricity for 2 and a half years. Since then, I have changed my internet supplier and failed to update my details with my new email address.
I sent meter readings in July this year when I realised my electricity bills had been estimated for over a year.
My monthly bill then went up to �297 (from �93) as they said my annual usage was very high.
I queried it and sent photos of my meter readings but they insisted it was correct.
I thought once I had a smart meter fitted last month I would have been due for a rebate, but my final meter reading is in line with my usage.
I have phoned the complaints team several times and they insist the usage is correct.
The only thing I can think of is that my monthly payments have been inadequate all the time I have been with them. They reduced my payments a year ago to �80 (based on an estimated reading).
I have resigned myself to paying it off and am then switching . EDF have estimated my annual usage to be �2850 for next year.
I live alone in a 3 bed semi.
My question is : should they have insisted on an actual reading during this time? Am I entitled to any of this money back?
Thank you

welshmoneylover

No you will not get a refund; tbh it is your responsibility to ensure meter readings are sent in so your bills will be accurate.
no point complaining about it now 

TadleyBaggie

And stop using your current internet providers e-mail and avoid these types of issues when you switch. Use an independent  email provider such as Gmail/Outlook or similar.

A_Lert

You cannot be charged for gas or electricity used more than 12 months ago if you have not been correctly billed by a supplier. (Back billing). I'm not sure if this would apply in your case. You've been sent bills on the basis of estimated readings, and you have presumably been informed you can submit your own meter reading.

If back billing restrictions don't come in to play (and they won't for the most recent year) then you will have to pay for it one way or another. If you previously weren't paying enough and you've built up a debit balance, you'll either need to make increased DD payments or make a one-off payment to clear that.

You can however ask your supplier to change your direct debit amount if you feel it's wrong. I would say only do this if you're confident the usage prediction the supplier used is way too high, and there is no debt to repay or you plan to repay that separately. If you have a decent record of past readings, in the same home over a few years, you can make your own prediction.

Also do verify that one, the closing reading on the old meter as listed on your bills is plausible, and two, the smart meter is giving sensible readings (in kWh for electric and cubic metres for gas, ignore any money values from the meter for this check). It's recently been found that some electricity smart meters significantly mismeasure consumption by certain appliances.

Neil_Jones

Carmel_barnett1 said:

I have been with EDF for gas and electricity for 2 and a half years. Since then, I have changed my internet supplier and failed to update my details with my new email address.
I sent meter readings in July this year when I realised my electricity bills had been estimated for over a year.
My monthly bill then went up to �297 (from �93) as they said my annual usage was very high.
I queried it and sent photos of my meter readings but they insisted it was correct.
I thought once I had a smart meter fitted last month I would have been due for a rebate, but my final meter reading is in line with my usage.
I have phoned the complaints team several times and they insist the usage is correct.
The only thing I can think of is that my monthly payments have been inadequate all the time I have been with them. They reduced my payments a year ago to �80 (based on an estimated reading).
I have resigned myself to paying it off and am then switching . EDF have estimated my annual usage to be �2850 for next year.
I live alone in a 3 bed semi.
My question is : should they have insisted on an actual reading during this time? Am I entitled to any of this money back?
Thank you

Not the provider's fault you didn't update your email address and they sent all the correspondence to an email you don't have anymore.

If all your bills have been estimated (and you didn't notice this until July this year) because you haven't read the meters (being a Smart meter doesn't mean you can totally ignore the thing, you should check the readings yourself), then the fact you have now effectively a catch-up bill is hardly surprising.

The fact that your debit was reduced based on an estimated reading should have rang alarm bells.  Also note a direct debit payment is not an "all you can eat" thing either.

RelievedSheff

As well as paying of the debt you really need to find out what is consuming so much energy.

You also need to make sure that you are on the most competitive tariff that EDF can offer you and not their stupidly expensive standard tariff.

brewerdave

RelievedSheff said:

As well as paying of the debt you really need to find out what is consuming so much energy.

You also need to make sure that you are on the most competitive tariff that EDF can offer you and not their stupidly expensive standard tariff.

Ditto - how can you be using £2850 py on utilities ??What is the split between the two utilities ??
 My bills come to ~£1100 py for gas and leccy ,for two of us, both retired, in a 5 bedroom detached house ! 

oldagetraveller1

Like Carmel, I live alone in a 3 bedroom semi. My annual combined spend is about £800. £60/month DD, was £80/month until recently, because I have over £120 credit in my account.

£2850 is a crazy amount!

fifthofwhisky

It likely won't explain that high bill but due to COVID lockdowns/restrictions people are at home a lot more and using more power.