being charged 60 pounds for a flat I only sleep in where the boiler has been turned off

zanderman1985

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on this. I've set up a direct debit with EDF and the boiler has been turned off and they are still charging me 60 quid a month. I have a sneeking suspicion the numbers are being made up as one direct debit they decided to take out 65 quid one month instead of the 59 pounds they'd been charging before that.

My main reason for posting is... can they charge this much for a boiler that isnt turned on and an empty flat?

many thanks
Alex

kazwookie

Who turned the boiler off?

What does your bill ACTUALLY say?

zanderman1985

There's a switch on the side of my boiler to turn it off and it was turned off by one of the people from the housing association that I'm letting it from

My bills are online and havent looked at them but I found this part where I think the problem is...

We worked out you'll spend £626.00 on energy from now until your next bill on or around 10 Jun 2023. We divided £626.00 minus the £59.00, by 9 the number of subsequent monthly payments until your next bill. 

it also says that my  'Annual consumption (based on estimates) 878 kWh' and gas 'Annual consumption (based on estimates) 2,239 kWh'


I dont understand where they are getting there estimates from but this part seems especially suspect

Tariff: Standard (Variable) - Direct Debit 11 Jun 22 - 13 Aug 22 1219 ESTIMATED 1233 ESTIMATED 14 = ------- ------- 158 kWh 6.986p £11.04 1 x = Standing charge (64 days @ 25.92p per day) £16.59 Total gas charges for this period £27.63 Your gas meter measures usage in units, but like all suppliers, we have to do a bit of maths to turn it into kWh.
Here's how it works: 1 GAS UNITS USED X CALORIFIC VALUE (39.7) X VOLUME CORRECTION (1.02264) ÷ 3.6 Subtotal £115.39 Cancelled VAT (5% on £12.52) was £0.63 credit VAT @ 5% of £62.60 £3.13 Total charges for this period £117.89


I'm being charged for gas when the boiler isnt even turned on

victor2

zanderman1985 said:

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on this. I've set up a direct debit with EDF and the boiler has been turned off and they are still charging me 60 quid a month. I have a sneeking suspicion the numbers are being made up as one direct debit they decided to take out 65 quid one month instead of the 59 pounds they'd been charging before that.

My main reason for posting is... can they charge this much for a boiler that isnt turned on and an empty flat?

many thanks
Alex

How long have they been supplying you?

How long has the boiler been turned off?

Are you giving them regular meter readings or are they estimating?

What has the annual usage been for the previous 12 months?

You'll still have the standing charge, but that won't account for £60/month.

You can contact them and ask to reduce your DD amount, or just ask them to change it to variable DD, where you only pay what is due. Presumably you have a different electricity supplier?

zanderman1985

the total charges for this period seem very optimistic... for them 117.89 quid!!! thank god I havent moved in yet or i'd be homeless again (why I got the flat in the first place)

zanderman1985

Personally, I'm leaning towards dd indemnity because thats money that should never have been removed from my account

zanderman1985

victor2 said:

You can contact them and ask to reduce your DD amount, or just ask them to change it to variable DD, where you only pay what is due. Presumably you have a different electricity supplier?

I contacted them the first time the money came out my account and told them i wasnt staying in the flat and that the boiler had been turned off and they said that was the standing charge

[Deleted User]

So, you haven't given them any meter readings at all which forces them to bill you on estimates.  Then you're complaining that the estimates are too high (but they're actually really low compared to 'normal' estimates).

Why are you saying "this part seems especially suspect"?  Just because you don't understand the maths?  I assure you, that part you have quoted is completely normal.

It's nothing to do with "DD indemnity", they are taking what they expect you will use, based on what they know about you and the property.

Give them an actual meter reading, then they will recalculate the estimates and you will discover that you are in credit.

zanderman1985

"Why are you saying "this part seems especially suspect"?  Just because you don't understand the maths?  I assure you, that part you have quoted is completely normal."

because I'm 183.31 in credit, there's a smart meter in the house and the readings havent changed, and they have been told that the boiler has been switched off and that I'm currently only sleeping in the flat

"So, you haven't given them any meter readings at all which forces them to bill you on estimates.  Then you're complaining that the estimates are too high (but they're actually really low compared to 'normal' estimates)."

given them what? the same meter readings that havent changed? the boiler is turned OFF and NOTHING has been switched on or used for 4 months

Robin9

Alex - can you give us the same meter readings you gave the supplier when you movrd in and todays readings please ?

turnitround

But if you have a smart meter then they should have accurate readings.