EDF DD changed overnight even of a fixed tarrif

Nick9967

Hi all
it seems EDF have taken from my bank double the usual DD without notice, more to the point I’m on a fixed tariff Easy online Renewal Aug22v2 till June 22 , how can they change this whilst on a fixed tarriff , anyone have any experience of this,?

razord

Are you in any debt to them at the moment? ie: did you use more energy than they expected over winter and now they're billing to catch up?

GingerTim

Check your actual usage against the tariff - a direct debit figure is not 'all you can eat', it will go up and down depending on how much energy you use.

The_Fat_Controller

There will have been some notice, they must do so when altering a DD amount.

Check the information on your last bill.

MattMattMattUK

Nick9967 said:

Hi all
it seems EDF have taken from my bank double the usual DD without notice, more to the point I’m on a fixed tariff Easy online Renewal Aug22v2 till June 22 , how can they change this whilst on a fixed tarriff , anyone have any experience of this,?

It depends what exactly has happened. If the Direct Debit has been taken twice that is simple and will be fixed and you are covered for any consequential costs by the Direct Debit Guarantee. If they have increased the amount they they will have notified you of this on your last bill, the main reason would be that your consumption exceeded your Direct Debit and/or that you have a debt because of usage exceeding payments. Your usage has nothing to do with being on a fixed tariff, the unit rates and standing charge are fixed, not the payments. 

victor2

Nick9967 said:

Hi all
it seems EDF have taken from my bank double the usual DD without notice, more to the point I’m on a fixed tariff Easy online Renewal Aug22v2 till June 22 , how can they change this whilst on a fixed tarriff , anyone have any experience of this,?

As with the previous posts, the amount you pay is not fixed, only the rate is. The adjustment to the DD will have been notified to you, probably in your last statement.
Have you been giving actual readings, or allowing them to estimate? Has your direct debit not been enough to cover your usage to date? 
EDF could have over-estimated your future usage and therefore increased the DD unnecessarily, but a careful analysis of your current situation is needed before concluding that.

Nick9967

I understand DD is not fixed but the rate i pay for each part of my usage absolutely is (or should be) , there has been no notice given in any format, i am at net "0" as far as debt/credit goes and fixed till end June, so unless there is a loophole somewhere that's not been widely discussed I fail to understand how that can happen? I'm also on a Smart Meter so readings shouldn't come into it really.

rp1974

Nick9967 said:
 I'm also on a Smart Meter so readings shouldn't come into it really.

Have you checked that the smart meter has been sending readings,are they accurate and have you checked your meter yourself?.
The readings as you say shouldn't make any difference,as for the Direct Debit if it's been taken in error contact your bank and have it refunded under the guarantee that applies.
Previously had to do that with Scottish Power,money was back in my account in around two hours.

The_Fat_Controller

It is virtually impossible to be at "net 0" when paying a fixed monthly DD, after the winter you will likely be in debit and after the summer in credit.

Any company that takes fixed amount DDs is obliged (by law I believe) to advise customers of any intended change of amount.

You must have missed it if it has been taken as one DD.

If the double amount actually transpires to be one normal DD and an extra of the same amount in error, then under the guarantee you can request the error to be corrected.

pochase

EDF does a debit order review only every 6 months for the next 6 months.

If your fix ends at the end of June your cost will easily double, so a increase of your DD for the next six months will be justified, even so doubling is a lot, especially as it will be 3 months old and 3 months new rate.

EDF also has almost doubled my DD in January, but that was with a fixed tariff ending on 28th of February and the account being in debt. But that was definitely announced on the latest bill I received.

At the moment EDF website is only half functioning, but you should check your bills on the site before reversing the direct debit if there is information of the increase in the bills.

One other question, you said you are on "Easy online Renewal Aug 22v2" until June 22, either the tariff is wrong or it should end in August, not June? If the fixed tariff ends in August the higher DD makes even less sense.

Nick9967

pochase said:

EDF does a debit order review only every 6 months for the next 6 months.


One other question, you said you are on "Easy online Renewal Aug 22v2" until June 22, either the tariff is wrong or it should end in August, not June? If the fixed tariff ends in August the higher DD makes even less sense.

I think you may have a point here, my typo on the June/Aug thing , I will go back and double check my 6 monthly bill and see if I've missed anything, although i cant even get at that at the moment, servers are more than a little bit down!!

I have to say , if i need to go back and double check the double checking to see if anything tells me my DD is possibly going to double on 1st April then EDF need more than a bit of a kicking, you would expect multiple reminders of such an incredible change - and note that Martin on Radio 5 yesterday makes the clear statement( if you're on a fixed tarriff it wont effect you , yet!)  clearly seems to have missed this point which is likely to effect many more millions than first expected!
I usually am relatively astute with my finances,  I thought, clearly not as astute as i need to be!

If i don't like how a company treats me i usually change, but in this case change to what! what a mess! I'm not looking forward to the next 12 months , Fuel, double, car fuel add 50%, council tax add 5% +,. water that'll go up as well, then watch all the rest of them get in whilst the irons hot!