Edf direct debit

Monster_mash

Hi all, looking for a sense check.

had problems earlier in the year with edf changing my direct debit, no letter, email, text, carrier pigeon etc, just a pop up on my online account with no prompt any other way to check it.  I called edf, their complaints people said it shouldn’t have happened, compensated and said it won’t happen again.

dear reader it has, my direct debit is going to be 3 times higher over winter and surprise surprise it was only on my online account.  Had I not logged in by complete coincidence then I would be unaware until the £150pm increase was deducted.

am I being completely naive or are edf being unreasonable? It’s a total care tariff if that makes a difference 

[Deleted User]

Did you not expect some sort of increase, given the news over the last nine months or so?

victor2

EDF should not have changed the amount without notifying you beforehand. All you can do is put in an official complaint, as you did previously, and expect another apology and goodwill gesture. I'd stress the fact that it is the second time, and clearly state that you want reassurance that it really won't happen again.
Presumably you didn't incur any additional charges from your bank because of the increased amount, but I'd still expect a considerably larger gesture for a "second offence"!

Robin9

@Monster_mash 

On the opening page of my physical bill is

Dear Mr Robin9
Your Monthly Payments are Staying the same


Further down there is a box :

Because your monthly payments are staying the same there is nothing you need to do


Have you something similar?   You will not get an email, letter, text or phone call.

MattMattMattUK

Monster_mash said:

Hi all, looking for a sense check.

had problems earlier in the year with edf changing my direct debit, no letter, email, text, carrier pigeon etc, just a pop up on my online account with no prompt any other way to check it.  I called edf, their complaints people said it shouldn’t have happened, compensated and said it won’t happen again.

I am guessing that this was "a gesture of goodwill" rather than compensation? 

Monster_mash said:

dear reader it has, my direct debit is going to be 3 times higher over winter and surprise surprise it was only on my online account.  Had I not logged in by complete coincidence then I would be unaware until the £150pm increase was deducted. 

The fact that your Direct Debit is probably not unreasonable, especially as you say even with the increase the amount was £150 which means that the previous amount was likely far too low. What is you annual energy usage in kWh? EDF notify via your user account, you should get an email from the site but those could end up in junk, you would be wise to check your energy account at least monthly anyway.

Monster_mash said:

am I being completely naive or are edf being unreasonable? It’s a total care tariff if that makes a difference 

Unfortunately I think that this one is on you as you seem to have not understood that the notification come through your EDF account. It also seems odd you did not expect your monthly Direct Debit to increase based on the price rises.

molerat

Robin9 said:

You will not get an email, letter, text or phone call.

You should get an e-mail for a DD change

Account number xxxxxxxxxx

 

Dear xxxxxxxxxxx

   

We can confirm that the amount of your monthly Direct Debit has changed to £xx.xx. This is based on your most recent review and the information you provided during the sign-up process. However, because your Direct Debit has now been decreased, you must consider the possibility that you may end up paying too little for your energy over the year.

As well as "An update to your direct debit" letter in your account activity.

Monster_mash

[Deleted User] said:

Did you not expect some sort of increase, given the news over the last nine months or so?

I’m on a 2 year fix which I joined about 6 months ago

Monster_mash

Site won’t let me quote.  To those asking if I have had an email, text etc….none of those things.  I have had numerous emails from edf but only ever rubbish, never anything about direct debit changes.  My conversation 6 months ago was supposed to cure this.

for those saying it’s my fault- the direct debit was set up by edf and the amount set by them.  They had my useage for 2 years prior, they have multi million pound systems and “trained” staff to work out this stuff, it’s their responsibility to tell me what to pay in good time so I can pay it.

I even explained to them I have been a pay on reciept of bill customer for over a decade and never had gas and electric direct debits before.

annual useage is 2600kwh for electric and 3000kwh for gas

[Deleted User]

Monster_mash said:

[Deleted User] said:

Did you not expect some sort of increase, given the news over the last nine months or so?

I’m on a 2 year fix which I joined about 6 months ago

On which your usage has been precisely accurate and the weather predicted for this winter was an exact match to what hasn’t happened yet?

victor2

Monster_mash said:

[Deleted User] said:

Did you not expect some sort of increase, given the news over the last nine months or so?

I’m on a 2 year fix which I joined about 6 months ago

Work out if the rate EDF are proposing is reasonable. Did you have a credit or debit balance at your last bill? That and the £400 government grant needs taking into account.

One annoying issue with EDF is that they only bill once every 6 months, so until they produce a statement from a reading, your account will probably show a large credit.

You know your annual usage, so it's pretty easy to work out your annual cost on the fixed tariff from that (don't forget the standing charge). If you don't have a recent statement, work out your current actual balance if readings were submitted today, add your annual cost and divide by 12. That will be a realistic monthly cost. Deduct £67 from the monthly cost and that should be a reasonable amount to pay for the next 6 months, before reverting back to your calculated amount.

If you need help with the calculations, there's many people on here will assist if you post your rates.

Monster_mash

[Deleted User] said:

Monster_mash said:

[Deleted User] said:

Did you not expect some sort of increase, given the news over the last nine months or so?

I’m on a 2 year fix which I joined about 6 months ago

On which your usage has been precisely accurate and the weather predicted for this winter was an exact match to what hasn’t happened yet?

Electric useage especially over summer should be reasonably consistent with the previous year as we don’t have electric heating- if anything slightly lower as we don’t fully wfh anymore.