Random bill

Sncjw

Hi all

I am on a plan with edf that is supposed to bill be every 6 months..o joined in October 21 and I got my first bill in February. I am still in debit for that and was nearly paid off. I thoihht I would be building up credit soon.
Anyways I got an email to say my new bill is ready for period Feb to may. I'm thinking what is this about. I thoihht I wouldn't have one for 6 months after the first one. So why is this random bill that's added 200 onto my current debit amount.
Thank you 

The_Fat_Controller

@Sncjw are you paying by monthly Direct Debit ?

The random bill should be a warning.

You need to calculate whether that DD will ever bring you into credit based on your actual usage.

What is your tariff, annual usage and how much are you paying monthly ?

If on a fixed tariff that is due to end, be prepared for a big shock.

Alnat1

I think that more regular bills might help you realise how much your fuel is costing you. You have to realise that just because you haven't had a bill doesn't mean you don't owe the money. Seems like your monthly payments need to be increased to help the debt reduce.

Robin9

@Sncjw -  if you go to Chat they will send you a bill -  they'll say that will prompt a new DD but that may not be a bad idea.

I switched to a Variable DD which does bill monthly but doesn't necessarily help with budgeting - you will get big monthly bills in winter.

Whatever you do read those meters monthly and keep you own record.

pochase

@Sncjw
EDF usual bills and direct debit reviews are every 6 months, that us correct, but nothing stops them from doing it more often.

You are saying you wanted to build up credit before the next bill, but getting a bill now does not make a difference here. Yes, the debt in your account will come down nicely with just the debit orders every deducting from it and no bill adding to it, but in the end there is no difference if there are two bills or one, the end amount will be the same.

More interesting is the question if you have submitted a meter reading that has triggered the bill, or are they using estimate reading, or do you have a smart meter?

With the bill you received now are you still on track to build up a credit?

The variable direct debit @Robin9 is mentioning is a good thing if you want more control. Two issues with it so

1. When you set it up with EDF they will ask for the current meter reading/take it through smart meter, and they will immediately create a bill and debit you for the full amount including your debt
2. You need to budget yourself for energy cost. In winter the bills will be much higher, and you cannot build up a bit of debt, you have to pay all when the bill arrives.

Sncjw

I didn't say I wanted to build up credit. I just thought that I wouldn't get a bill for 6 months after my last one which was in Feb. I thought the next couple of payments would have made my account in credit and it just looks better to me. 

I am just querying how quick they decided to create this new bill only 3 months after the last one when it says on the accout they review my usage every 6 months. 

I pay by direct debit each month.

I apprently suddenly have a smart meter now even though they said for months I didn't have one. I have an in home display unit sent to me after I requested one but it just doesn't want to work.


So on this bill they have used actual usage and not estimated so it must be a smart meter and I can see daily spend on the app. 

Sncjw

Alnat1 said:

I think that more regular bills might help you realise how much your fuel is costing you. You have to realise that just because you haven't had a bill doesn't mean you don't owe the money. Seems like your monthly payments need to be increased to help the debt reduce.

I know I Owe for usage between bills. I'm not trying to get out of paying. I just thought I. Line with the account information that I would build up money through paying by direct debit and when I get billed it would come off that. 

molerat

They should bill monthly and review 6 monthly.  About time Ofgem clamped down

Mobtr

Sounds like you have a SMETS1 meter that has now been enrolled & working as smart again.  If a reading is obtained more than 28 days after the last one a bill is sometimes produced. Doesn’t really matter if you get billed every 3 months or every 6 months it’s still for what you’ve used & if it’s more regular, at least you know how your account stands & if you’re paying enough 

MWT

Sncjw said:

I know I Owe for usage between bills. I'm not trying to get out of paying. I just thought I. Line with the account information that I would build up money through paying by direct debit and when I get billed it would come off that. 

It shouldn't matter when you get billed, if you are paying enough with your DD each month then the bill will be fully covered...

If you are still trying to catch up after the previous bill then you are not paying enough, or you need to make a one-off extra payment to get caught up.

[Deleted User]

Sncjw said:

Alnat1 said:

I think that more regular bills might help you realise how much your fuel is costing you. You have to realise that just because you haven't had a bill doesn't mean you don't owe the money. Seems like your monthly payments need to be increased to help the debt reduce.

I know I Owe for usage between bills. I'm not trying to get out of paying. I just thought I. Line with the account information that I would build up money through paying by direct debit and when I get billed it would come off that. 

Have they actually asked you to pay anything? I confess that I would firstly check that the reading used is correct and, if it is, then I would want to check that what I am paying each month will result in a zero balance in October. The debit balance shown on the statement should include all credits made to your account since the last charges were raised. 

Like others, I agree that 6 monthly billing should be banned by Ofgem. It makes no sense when energy prices are so volatile; particularly, as all suppliers have a Licence obligation to prevent consumers from getting into debt. With this in mind, I wonder whether EDF monthly billing will become the norm when consumers are switched to the Kraken billing platform ( a platform developed by Octopus Energy).