Are you on Monthly Whole Bill DD with EDF?

pseudodox

Having recently switched to EDF I am about to be billed for my first month with them and would welcome some input from someone who knows the system as I cannot get the answer I need from the FAQ onsite etc. and whilst switching to them has been OK I do find the lines to Customer Service are very crackly and make it hard to have a conversation.

They have set my DD date as 1st December (Thursday) and it says on my account I should submit a reading by 28th November (Monday).  Is this the only notification I get or will they email/message me as a reminder if I happen not to log on to my account anytime?  It seems the 28th is cutting it fine to produce a bill and request the DD 3 days later, but I am new to a monthly billing cycle.

Also do they allow you to submit readings at any time?  I could do this with previous supplier and it would immediately calculate my cost to date, although not produce a bill until the due date.  This is not a major issue as I  keep a spreadsheet of my weekly meter readings so can do the calculations for myself.

Robin9

I submit readings regularly  The one they use is about two weeks before the bill date

pseudodox

Thank you.  I will submit them today just to make sure they don't take the default DD amount as that would be about 4 times what I have actually used thanks to the recent mild weather.

Astria

pseudodox said:

Thank you.  I will submit them today just to make sure they don't take the default DD amount as that would be about 4 times what I have actually used thanks to the recent mild weather.

I would always allow at least 7 days before the bill due date.

Saying that, I recently submitted a reading and it was rejected as it seemed a little low and they took the default payment anyway and then estimated it instead!

pseudodox

EDF have only been supplying me for a week, so the readings will be low - I will take photos of the meters in case I need to argue my case!

Update:
Ah well!  Just logged into my account and it will not let me enter readings - just says to wait until they ask for them.

The_Green_Hornet

I've been with EDF since I moved to them following the downfall of ZOG and I only ever give them a meter reading on change of tariff or at the end of each month.

I only recently switched over to Direct Debit Whole Amount (Monthly) in September and so far a bill has been generated a day or two after I have submitted the month end meter reading. As I still have a credit balance the bill amount is deducted from that and no direct debit is taken.

I find that EDF tend to send out a lot of contradictory messages about meter readings (text, email, online account, app) which I tend to ignore and just stick with a month end submission.

pseudodox

I am anticipating an initial glitch where they might just take the default amount so I will make sure that is covered.  But then I should get the £67 into my bank & expect everything will eventually fall into place with subsequent whole months.  Meanwhile previously supplier will find I only owe them £7 after they raided my bank account last week then sent me £66 which I thought they would hang on to until final bills were issued.  Methinks there are a lot of left hands out there not connecting with right hands.  But it is keeping accounts personnel in jobs!

mmmmikey

Hi - unfortunately the messages on the website / in the app for EDF are rubbish and this gets confusing very quickly. If you have a smart meter that is sending readings you don't need to send readings at all and it's best not too as if you do their system can't cope. You'll find that if you just sit on your hands and ignore the messages it will all come right, but if you submit a reading when they're not expecting it you may end up paying a standard amount. The messages are most confusing when you first start because until you've had a complete cycle you don't know what to expect. Bottom line is don't submit a reading unless you get an email asking for it, ignore the messages on the website and in the app. I'm speaking from experience as I've recently been through the same rigmarole. If you have submitted a reading, the worst thing that will happen is they'll collect the standard DD but it's very easy to get it back if you're on whole amount monthly - just use the online chat and ask them for it. Hope this helps, Mike.

pseudodox

mmmmikey said:

Hi - unfortunately the messages on the website / in the app for EDF are rubbish and this gets confusing very quickly. If you have a smart meter that is sending readings you don't need to send readings at all and it's best not too as if you do their system can't cope. You'll find that if you just sit on your hands and ignore the messages it will all come right, but if you submit a reading when they're not expecting it you may end up paying a standard amount. The messages are most confusing when you first start because until you've had a complete cycle you don't know what to expect. Bottom line is don't submit a reading unless you get an email asking for it, ignore the messages on the website and in the app. I'm speaking from experience as I've recently been through the same rigmarole. If you have submitted a reading, the worst thing that will happen is they'll collect the standard DD but it's very easy to get it back if you're on whole amount monthly - just use the online chat and ask them for it. Hope this helps,

That is really helpful (and of course everyone else has been equally so) as recent newbie experience is perfect.   I don't have smart meters (yet) so will be relying on my usual organised self to take readings, which I have never found to be any problem as meters are located where they easily seen by me several times a day.  I will keep an eye out in case they send an email/SMS later this week, otherwise will sit on my hands (which keeps them warm!)

ariarnia

i hope you have the answers you need to get sorted above.

but just in case you do ever need to phone them about something and are having trouble hearing on the line then they do offer text phone services (they are required to by ofgem i think). 

there for the hard of hearing people but anyone can use them. it basically converts speech to text (so you can talk as normal and 'live' and you read the response) on a special phone but also you can download the app for a tablet or smart phone or laptop. 

more info here:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/accessibility/text-relay-guide

and the edf number is here: 

https://www.edfenergy.com/terms-conditions/accessibility-statement#footnote-calls

pseudodox

ariarnia said:

i hope you have the answers you need to get sorted above.

but just in case you do ever need to phone them about something and are having trouble hearing on the line then they do offer text phone services (they are required to by ofgem i think). 

there for the hard of hearing people but anyone can use them. it basically converts speech to text (so you can talk as normal and 'live' and you read the response) on a special phone but also you can download the app for a tablet or smart phone or laptop. 

more info here:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/accessibility/text-relay-guide

and the edf number is here: 

https://www.edfenergy.com/terms-conditions/accessibility-statement#footnote-calls

More useful information.  What would we do without these forums.  Thanks.