EDF - petrified?

RoseGold2021

Hi all,

I am in a real pickle @ the moment with my Gas and Electricity, and so will try and be as concise as I can with this situation.

I moved into my new home on the 29th October 2021. Originally I was intending to go with my previous energy supplier from my old home, Scottish power, as I found them to be quite alright. However, it transpired the previous owner of my new home was with EDF Energy, and with all this talk of the price cap and etc, I was advised I could not go elsewhere and had to stay with current supplier. 

I provided meter readings when I moved in. However a few weeks later I received a massive bill of £1600 for being in the property for one month!!! Informed EDF that I had NOT racked up that amount of debt as I had only been in the property a month, but also I provided meter readings from day of move in. During this time I had a Smart Meter installed as well, as the house is relatively dated, and needs some updating, so thought it would be cost effective to assist with monitoring usage. The advisor took on board my meter readings date of move in, & reading at the time of the phone call, and it was worked out at £235 in debit. I did not pay much attention to this, as I assumed my monthly DD of £122 would offset that. I was at one point in credit by £8.65. 

A few days ago, I received an email from EDF, to state my DD was increasing based on an ''annual review'' (I've only been at the address since end of Oct 2021). When I opened the app, I almost fell off my perch. My DD was going up from £122 to £427 A MONTH from 1st April!?!?! I live in a 2 bed mid terrace house, and it is only me. I literally cannot afford this; it will leave me with virtually not money for the remainder of the month. I attempted to discuss this with an EDF representative, and she was very dismissive and rude; ''your meters are fine, the readings are fine, the increase is your usage!?!''. And then to add insult she asked if I was happy to proceed with the DD of £427 come April! You can probably guess what my response was!?

I am very frugal with my energy usage. I hardly work from home anymore, I use minimal lights, central heating - (on a timer)/hot water set to reasonable level, use not much gas. So I do not understand where they have got this significant increase from. 

In the midst of trying to settle into my new home, I have received numerous letters from EDF, marked urgent for the previous owner. I have been returning these as of course they aren't mine. However I received a serious demands letter, and so I opened it. Transpired the previous owner owed in the region of £5000+ unpaid gas and electricity bills!
I immediately notified EDF the previous owner no longer resided at the property, and that they would stop sending demand letters, which they have since stopped. However, given my issue now with the gas and electricity, I can only assume because EDF are struggling to get their money from the previous owner, they are trying to ''con'' me instead to claw back their money!

I am planning to call EDF energy tomorrow, and speak to another rep because I am already worrying about this sudden hike. But I just wanted to ask if anyone has experienced similar with EDF?

markin

They are doing a ''annual review'' based on winter usage, so it must be wrong. How many units of gas and Elec have you used the last month? and the total on the new meter?

Keep_pedalling

You can request to go from direct debit budget plan where you are relying on their guesstimated energy use to their direct debit whole amount payment scheme where you will pay for exactly the amount used the previous month.

theoretica

Do your bills have the right readings on them? Do the serial numbers for the meters on your bill match you meter? What kWh have you used since you moved in?  Do your smart meter readings match with what you are doing in the house eg heating on/off?

RoseGold2021

markin said:

They are doing a ''annual review'' based on winter usage, so it must be wrong. How many units of gas and Elec have you used the last month? and the total on the new meter?

 . .And basing their review off the previous owner, who never paid a bill!

From 15th Dec - 9th Feb, the bill states the following:

Electricity - 544kwh @ 26.99p kwh rate = £146.83 - reading 54 - to 598 (smart reader)
Gas - 347 = 3844 kph @ 7.67p kwh rate = £294.83 - reading - 31 - 378 (smart reader)

RoseGold2021

Keep_pedalling said:

You can request to go from direct debit budget plan where you are relying on their guesstimated energy use to their direct debit whole amount payment scheme where you will pay for exactly the amount used the previous month.

I am going to request this, and hopefully it is honoured. 

RoseGold2021

I should also add I have installed a new boiler as well, as the previous one was not efficient. However that has made no difference to my gas bill @ all. 

BUFF

Actually, an earlier bill based on true meter readings may help you refute/minimise their planned increase by showing evidence of actual usage & at the highest consumption part of the year (winter) .

Are you on a fixed tariff or the SVT?  If SVT then like the rest of us your bills are going to jump significantly come the 1st of April anyway.

RoseGold2021

BUFF said:

Actually, an earlier bill based on true meter readings may help you refute/minimise their planned increase by showing evidence of actual usage & at the highest consumption part of the year (winter) .

Are you on a fixed tariff or the SVT?  If SVT then like the rest of us your bills are going to jump significantly come the 1st of April anyway.

I've got the amended bill from December, as they tried to charge me £1600 for ONE month. However that was based on the previous owner who paid no bills, so EDF were trying to put the arrears on me! Thankfully I had my meter readings still from when I moved in. So it was that that offset the outlandish bill, and reset it to my usage from 29th October. 

I am on a Fixed Rate until November 2023, which is why I cannot understand this massive hike!

BUFF

Looking at your gas rates you are (& have been) paying now higher than people on SVT will be come 1st April (typically ~7.3p/kWh). Of course, come October if SVT goes up again you could be on a winner but not for very long until your tariff ends. ... 

Looking at your figures provided earlier you are using ~ £250/month in electricity & gas at what should be the highest consumption time of the year. That is what I would be aiming to draw the line at for DD  - they may, however,  have something in their T&Cs that allow them to recover additional if your balance goes negative & to put you back into a credit situation.

RoseGold2021

BUFF said:

Looking at your gas rates you are (& have been) paying now higher than people on SVT will be come 1st April (typically ~7.3p/kWh). Of course, come October if SVT goes up again you could be on a winner but not for very long until your tariff ends. ... 

But how am I on a higher rate when I am on a Fixed Rate?

This is really worrying me as I cannot afford this price hike! I know things are going up, but not this much! I am literally left with very little, if anything, to live on for the remainder of the month! And it is only me living in the property.