EDF - Unfair Direct Debit Increase

Keswick1uk

jimjames said:

Keswick1uk said:

Whilst Mum was ill we put in regular meter readings but they only prepare a bill every 6 months. That's so woefully out of touch and a huge risk next winter.

You/he can switch to pay on bill monthly DD with EDF so you get billed for your use each month which is what I've switched to for the same reason. It's early days so might be just as chaotic but hopefully easier to keep on track. It does mean bills will be much more over the winter than summer though.

Thanks. I'll let him know its an option.

I think he will move to Octopus, though, as their systems are excellent for bill creation (you could do one daily if you wished,  although that's rather overkill). They don't hassle you by calling on the phone. And my brother and I use Octopus so understand their systems as well as can advise remotely if the home page changes, for example, when he is putting meter readings in.

If he understands the cost in the winter months he can make a decision to stay downstairs and turn the heating off. His downstairs room has a woodburner and a bed. 

Keswick1uk

Or, in extremis, he could just pay the standing charge and minimal tick over and come and live with us. 

Depends how bad it is to be honest.

He used to pay 91 and that gave him a 250 credit, so if its going up to 132 he can afford that. It was the extra 50 again he was worried about. 

He's not yet used to his finances settling after losing Mum. Council Tax has fallen but only by a bit. Food is about the same because Mum cooked and used garden veg from her garden whereas Dad's moved to ready meals but we've started cooking for him. It's so new to us all at the moment and we live some distance away so it's a case of keeping on top of all these changes.

MattMattMattUK

Keswick1uk said:

Or, in extremis, he could just pay the standing charge and minimal tick over and come and live with us. 

Depends how bad it is to be honest.

He used to pay 91 and that gave him a 250 credit, so if its going up to 132 he can afford that. It was the extra 50 again he was worried about. 

If you get his annual usage figures, they will be on his bill, then we can calculate the estimated costs going forward. 

To give you an idea of how much the prices might be impacted, my annual usage has stayed roughly the same, but by the end of this year when the October price cap rise hits, I will be paying nearly three times what I paid before I came off my previous fix. Depending on when the £91 was from (eg. which point in the rises and what were his fix rates) he could easily be looking at over £200 pcm going forward and potentially £250+ would not be out of the question. 

Keswick1uk said:

He's not yet used to his finances settling after losing Mum. 

Probably worth you jumping in now, rather than before he gets himself in knots, if you can. As well as getting a power of attorney in place for if/when it is needed. 

Keswick1uk said:

Council Tax has fallen but only by a bit.

He should be eligible for the 25% single occupant discount, if he is on a low income he may also be eligible for further reductions, possibly all the way down to 100% reduction.

Keswick1uk said:

Food is about the same because Mum cooked and used garden veg from her garden whereas Dad's moved to ready meals but we've started cooking for him.

Is he likely to start cooking properly for himself, eg. is it temporary for the change, or is he of the generation where men did not really cook (my dad was the same)? Ready meals are going to be just about the most expensive way to eat and apart from the premium end of the market also tend to contain high levels of salt and sugar. Even if he could have a few basic meals up his sleeve that would probably save him a reasonable amount. Something like a slow cooker could be great, where he just has to throw everything in and leave it for six hours could work incredibly well and also produces lovely means very cheaply. 

Keswick1uk said:

It's so new to us all at the moment and we live some distance away so it's a case of keeping on top of all these changes.

It can be difficult when older people lose a partner as they have often spent the majority of their life with the other person, often tasks were solidly divided and so one partner might almost completely lack the skills that the other had. I know when my dad died my mum went through a period of not wanting to bother any more, before coming out the other side of that as the grief got easier to manage. It was easier for me as I lived near to my mum, but I know for friends with parents further away setting up things like a tablet that can be used for video calls worked well, it was nice and simple and allowed them to keep in easy contact and works especially well if there are grandchildren around. If he has a laptop that he uses then you could also set up remote access on that so you have the ability to help him with online tasks if he needs that. 

Keswick1uk

Yes, I can work out his likely fuel cost when I'm next with him for a few days. He was on an exceptionally good two year deal.

He does have options. He could live downstairs with his woodburner as there's a bed there. Or pay basic standing charge and tick over cost and move in with us....our deal lasts until June 23. We are exceptionally lucky fixing when we did for 2 years.

I'm hoping he may have a POA sat waiting, so to speak, as there was something next to his and Mum's will when took it out for the solicitor and Ive a feeling it said POA on it. 

He does get 25 percent off. He's on a SP and very small PP. But he doesn't have rent to pay.

He was a baker! In theory he should be able to cook but never has at home. I've made him meals and showed him what to do with the garden veg, but he leaves it for me when I go up. However today he picked the gooseberries, top and tailed them (that was his job anyway) and then microwaved them....he then microwaved the crumble mix on top, but he did stop at one because he could see he'd done something wrong. So now he has 5 small oven baked crumbles and the 1 error he ate and said it tasted OK! So he is up for trying. We have a small slow cooker on the list for the winter.

I set up a recurring zoom meeting before I left last time and he could get in. Then when we tried a few days ago some sort of a security message came up and he wouldn't go any further! It's early days and he's game to try. If we could get him.working it, it would be great.  Both grandkids live away but love him dearly, so would always dip in and video call him. 

He also (at first) said he didn't really care about anything any more. I found it hard to hear. But I am understanding more as I see how quiet the house is and how his days filled with company are so different.  Yet still with constant reminders. 

Sorry for diverting this thread - thanks tho!  Winter fuel is a big worry!

funny.money

Don't be sorry! You sound a lovely family and very caring to your old dad 😊

Mr_K

One way to stop energy companies calling you is to not give them your phone number. Its not not needed to supply gas/electricity. If some online form insists give them 01234567890. There are other less intrusive methods they can communicate with you if needed. 

I opted to give EON 0777777777, when they wouldn't stop sending me texts about smart meters. Even though I'd opted out of smart meters, and communication like this. I don't get any more texts now they've got my new number