Elderly parents changed tariff unnecessarily - what can we do?

bristolleedsfan

bertha73 said:

I've asked them what they want to do about it - either stick with what they have now on the basis that it buys them an extra 6 months of protection, or possibly move to the standard rate for the short to medium term. If they do that I would try to get EDF to waive the exit fees (£150 per fuel for leaving his current "Fix Total Service Jan24v10", compared with £37 per fuel when he switched from the "Fix Total Service Jul23" in January) on the basis that the change in tariff in January was an expensive and unnecessary mistake and he's been confused. For comparison, the exit fees on the fixed tariffs they're offering him now (fixing until April 24) are £200 per fuel!

I would have thought best thing would be to appeal to EDF better nature see if they would reverse tariff change reverting back to "Fix Total Service Jul23"

bertha73

Gerry1 said:

Are your parents on the Priority Services Register?

I'll check, thanks for the reminder. Would that lend weight to a request to change back to the previous tariff?

bertha73

bristolleedsfan said:

bertha73 said:

I've asked them what they want to do about it - either stick with what they have now on the basis that it buys them an extra 6 months of protection, or possibly move to the standard rate for the short to medium term. If they do that I would try to get EDF to waive the exit fees (£150 per fuel for leaving his current "Fix Total Service Jan24v10", compared with £37 per fuel when he switched from the "Fix Total Service Jul23" in January) on the basis that the change in tariff in January was an expensive and unnecessary mistake and he's been confused. For comparison, the exit fees on the fixed tariffs they're offering him now (fixing until April 24) are £200 per fuel!

I would have thought best thing would be to appeal to EDF better nature see if they would reverse tariff change reverting back to "Fix Total Service Jul23"

Yes, that's the next move now. 

bertha73

Mstty said:

Well to decide you will need the last year's kWh usage for each energy and work out the old rates costs and the new rates costs and how better/worse off they will e with the associated exit fees.

Then decide if you want to go to EDF and have it changed.

Having looked at the figures it seems that the anticipated 30-50% cap hike in October will wipe out any potential saving of moving to the standard tariff by the end of the year before even thinking about the exit fees.

Going to ask nicely for a goodwill switch back to the original fixed tariff first but otherwise sticking it out until Jan 24 looks like the best option right now.

Thanks all for your help.

Robin9

@bertha73  It may well be that Edf won't speak to you.

Initially your Dad will have to open the conversation and then hand over to you.  Or ask your date for a letter authorising you to act on his behalf; or have you LPA?

Gerry1

bertha73 said:

Gerry1 said:

Are your parents on the Priority Services Register?

I'll check, thanks for the reminder. Would that lend weight to a request to change back to the previous tariff?

It won't do any harm, it might deter EDF from letting it go to the Ombudsman (if the Ombudsman takes it on it costs EDF over £500, win or lose) and it will give them some protection if things get harder as they get older.