EDF Bills and debit balance confusion

cupcake43
cupcake43 Posts: 20 Forumite
Second Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
Just hoping someone can offer some advice on something I'm trying to sort out with EDF and our bills. I want to make sure I'm understanding them correctly before I jump off the deep end.

Our current billing cycle is twice per year. The last bill was for the period 4th August 2022 - 30th Jan 2023

We were £88 in debit on 4th August but we had made 6 monthly payments of £166 totalling £996 as well as £266 in the government refunds. We had used £1022.02 for that period.

By my maths, we should have been in the below situation

Total owed by us including previous debit amount = £1,110.20
Paid by us 6 x monthly DD = £996

Leaves total owed by us as = £114.20 

EDF have put on their invoice that we were then £380.20 in debit because they have added the £266 in government refunds to our bill. So we've been given that money but EDF are asking us to pay it back.

Our DD has been increased from £166 to £198 as a result of the latest invoice.

We have also made a payment of £198 on 1st March leaving our account balance of £189 in debit.

I've queried this with EDF this morning and they have asked for meter readings for today to calculate a new up to date bill and the net result is we are now £504.38 in debit!

This doesn't make any sense at all. 

Comments

  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,662 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Have a  look at your Bank Statement  -  EDF transfers the £67 to bank  but it appears as a credt and a refund on th EDF statement.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • pochase
    pochase Posts: 3,449 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Also check you total amount. They deduct the EBSS before showing the total.

    Add the two sub totals for gas and electricity togethe rand you will see they ar emuch higher than the total.

    So they deduct the EBSS from the total you have to pay, plus they pay it back to you. 
  • MattMattMattUK
    MattMattMattUK Posts: 10,696 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    The government payments are net neutral on your EDF account, they are credited in and then out when they go are refunded to your bank account.

    The only factor that are relevant are opening balance, and usage, those two combined should give you your current position. 

    Are you able to let us know your opening and closing meter reads for the period in question, as well as your unit rate and standing charge. 
  • cupcake43
    cupcake43 Posts: 20 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper

    The figure on the bill make no sense at all. 

    Total elec used is £578.13
    Total gas used is £648.55

    How can the sub total be £960.68? Even my GCSE math tells me that's not right
  • PeterGr
    PeterGr Posts: 276 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts
    There are many other posts regarding the confusion caused by the layout of the EDF bill.  Your energy charges for the 6 month period are £1226.68 + 5% VAT of £61.34 which equals £1288.02.   EDF apply the credit of £266 to the charges, but the summary on the front page of the bill also show the refund made which cancels the credit.  Your bank account will show receipt of £266.  Energy rates have increased during the 6 months covered by this bill, so the DD forecast for the next 12 months will increase.
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 34,290 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 6 March 2023 at 12:27PM
    cupcake43 said:

    The figure on the bill make no sense at all. 

    Total elec used is £578.13
    Total gas used is £648.55

    How can the sub total be £960.68? Even my GCSE math tells me that's not right
    Because that has had the EBSS deducted from the consumption.  You will also see that the VAT of £61.34 is not 5% of £960.68 but £1226.68 as indicated.  Your actual energy consumption for the period is £1022.22 PLUS any EBSS credits received which will be the same as those 2 gas and elec amounts plus 5% VAT.  You are not the first one confused by EDF bills :)

  • cupcake43
    cupcake43 Posts: 20 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm even more confused now  :s

    So the bill is correct?

    This is the front page of the invoice in question 

    and 
  • PeterGr
    PeterGr Posts: 276 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts
    As already described your energy charges for this period are £1288.02.  Your DD payments have been £996, so your account which was in debit of £88.18 back in August is now in debit of £380.20.   You however have received £266 in your bank account.  ( and will receive another £134 ).  EDF have increased your direct debit payments to cover the energy costs in the next 12 months as well as clearing the debit.  What you do with the £400 discount you have received is up to you.
  • pochase
    pochase Posts: 3,449 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Yes, the bill is correct.

    The EBSS payment has reduced the cost for your energy use by £266, and you have received the £266 back into your account.

    Unfortunately your original direct debit was set to low, so you are now £380 in debt, and your DD needs to be increased.
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