EDF.....energy companies really don't help themselves do they! 6 March at 6:18PM edited 6 March at 6:26PM in Energy 11 replies 500 views

si_74

Just thought I'd share my thoughts on something....

So I am with EDF and generally speaking I find them ok to be honest...no worse than anyone else I've used as a supplier. But.....

Given what is happening with energy prices I have been making sure I am on top of my bills and getting nicely in credit. I've done this by using less, adjusting my own direct debit to where I know it needs to be and just being sensible but without sacrificing being warm, we are a family of four so I can't be doing with the complaining!

I have got a bit more of a credit than I planned but don't see this as a bad thing, I have an EV so I have been paying in the odd bit extra here and there to cover that and every time I have done that they have cut my direct debit, which wasn't really the plan. 

EDF only bill twice a year which I find really odd, why they can't do quarterly or monthly I have no idea, this must catch a lot of people out, I spoke to them about going onto variable direct debit, but was told that this would reset my account and decided changing something at the moment might just create other problems.

Anyway, it was my bill time at the weekend and right at the top of the bill I get told that I am getting a (relatively substantial) refund this week. This is fine if I am consistently paying too much but in the very next line I get told that my direct debit is being increased. 

I will take the refund, and I will move my direct debit to where I know it needs to be but surely to get money back at the same time as increasing my direct debit is nonsensical. There must be better ways to manage peoples payments and also their debit and credit balances than the energy suppliers use at the moment.

I should add that I am fixed until June 2024 so future increases, if they happen, aren’t a factor. 

mmmmikey

Hi - your thread shows just how impossible it has become to please everyone. You make what in my opinion are some perfectly reasonable points, but there's another group of folks who make the equally reasonable point that they don't want their supplier sitting on a big credit balance, they want it back

And the answer is, err.......

Spoonie_Turtle

EDF are moving to the Kraken billing platform so hopefully once that's done, they'll be able to offer normal fixed monthly DD as well as variable. 
(No guarantee they'll become as flexible as Octopus though, despite using the same billing system.)

si_74

mmmmikey said:

Hi - your thread shows just how impossible it has become to please everyone. You make what in my opinion are some perfectly reasonable points, but there's another group of folks who make the equally reasonable point that they don't want their supplier sitting on a big credit balance, they want it back

And the answer is, err.......

I see what you are saying and yes I’d rather not have a credit larger then I need. But the nonsensical part is refunding me whilst simultaneously being told that I’m not paying enough. 

Add to this them cutting my dd each time I’ve paid a bit extra to cover car charging and the logic seems to be even more absent. 

 

Why not give people with a credit some choices.

EssexHebridean

It seems to be EDF’s standard method of operating st the moment for some reason. Goodness knows why, and yep, seems entirely bonkers to me too! 

If you did want to go variable DD “whole amount monthly”in EDF-speak, then this would be a good time to do it mind you - you get the credit back ready to pay the transitional bill, and then anything left over starts forming your buffer for next winter’s higher billing period - although it sounds like you already know how much you would need to be setting aside each month in any event. 

diystarter7

Hi OP

We were defaulted to EDF when our previous supplier went belly up
We stayed with them after they granted us the remainder of the fix
and a few months on top. Then it went to a variable as prices were taking off - so
we stuck wit them

the 2 bills a year, not good
However, we do get a paper bill and we likey that and not sure if others do
Intialy we were in debit becuse the previous supplier had not kept us well informed, now we are in credit
and a few months ago or a bit longer they tried the same with us
We have rang them a few times and the staff are very helpful and incredibly, one promised to call us back the next day at a certain time and did

The downside, we had to complain to stop the time wastig letters and phone calls that made it look as though a smart meter was mandatory. Took a couple of calls and couple of emails but it worked.

I posted a link to Whichmamagine were Octopus was top rated for CS etc - and will move to them but need to check if they paper bill and i think their billinng is every three months

Thnaks

badger09

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

We were defaulted to EDF when our previous supplier went belly up
We stayed with them after they granted us the remainder of the fix
and a few months on top. Then it went to a variable as prices were taking off - so
we stuck wit them

the 2 bills a year, not good
However, we do get a paper bill and we likey that and not sure if others do
Intialy we were in debit becuse the previous supplier had not kept us well informed, now we are in credit
and a few months ago or a bit longer they tried the same with us
We have rang them a few times and the staff are very helpful and incredibly, one promised to call us back the next day at a certain time and did

The downside, we had to complain to stop the time wastig letters and phone calls that made it look as though a smart meter was mandatory. Took a couple of calls and couple of emails but it worked.

I posted a link to Whichmamagine were Octopus was top rated for CS etc - and will move to them but need to check if they paper bill and i think their billinng is every three months

Thnaks

For those of us with smart meters, Octopus bill every month

I know you don’t have smart meters though, in which case, Octopus send an email every month reminding you to submit meter readings. Failing that, Octopus generate a bill/statement every time you submit a meter reading. 

diystarter7

badger09 said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

We were defaulted to EDF when our previous supplier went belly up
We stayed with them after they granted us the remainder of the fix
and a few months on top. Then it went to a variable as prices were taking off - so
we stuck wit them

the 2 bills a year, not good
However, we do get a paper bill and we likey that and not sure if others do
Intialy we were in debit becuse the previous supplier had not kept us well informed, now we are in credit
and a few months ago or a bit longer they tried the same with us
We have rang them a few times and the staff are very helpful and incredibly, one promised to call us back the next day at a certain time and did

The downside, we had to complain to stop the time wastig letters and phone calls that made it look as though a smart meter was mandatory. Took a couple of calls and couple of emails but it worked.

I posted a link to Whichmamagine were Octopus was top rated for CS etc - and will move to them but need to check if they paper bill and i think their billinng is every three months

Thnaks

For those of us with smart meters, Octopus bill every month

I know you don’t have smart meters though, in which case, Octopus send an email every month reminding you to submit meter readings. Failing that, Octopus generate a bill/statement every time you submit a meter reading. 

Hi

Thanks for that. Much easier to follow than the offical info.
I'm assuming by what you have said they do't do paper billing?
Not to worry if you can't update as you have already helped a lot.

Thanks

KittenChops

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

We were defaulted to EDF when our previous supplier went belly up
We stayed with them after they granted us the remainder of the fix
and a few months on top. Then it went to a variable as prices were taking off - so
we stuck wit them

the 2 bills a year, not good
However, we do get a paper bill and we likey that and not sure if others do
Intialy we were in debit becuse the previous supplier had not kept us well informed, now we are in credit
and a few months ago or a bit longer they tried the same with us
We have rang them a few times and the staff are very helpful and incredibly, one promised to call us back the next day at a certain time and did

The downside, we had to complain to stop the time wastig letters and phone calls that made it look as though a smart meter was mandatory. Took a couple of calls and couple of emails but it worked.

I posted a link to Whichmamagine were Octopus was top rated for CS etc - and will move to them but need to check if they paper bill and i think their billinng is every three months

Thnaks

Octopus send the bill by email & its available in the online account to download.  No idea if they also offer paper bills via snail mail.

Re the bit I've bolded above - regular meter readings (as you won't have smart meters) would most likely have prevented that.

brewerdave

KittenChops said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

We were defaulted to EDF when our previous supplier went belly up
We stayed with them after they granted us the remainder of the fix
and a few months on top. Then it went to a variable as prices were taking off - so
we stuck wit them

the 2 bills a year, not good
However, we do get a paper bill and we likey that and not sure if others do
Intialy we were in debit becuse the previous supplier had not kept us well informed, now we are in credit
and a few months ago or a bit longer they tried the same with us
We have rang them a few times and the staff are very helpful and incredibly, one promised to call us back the next day at a certain time and did

The downside, we had to complain to stop the time wastig letters and phone calls that made it look as though a smart meter was mandatory. Took a couple of calls and couple of emails but it worked.

I posted a link to Whichmamagine were Octopus was top rated for CS etc - and will move to them but need to check if they paper bill and i think their billinng is every three months

Thnaks

Re the bit I've bolded above - regular meter readings (as you won't have smart meters) would most likely have prevented that.

Even with smart meters some suppliers seem to have a rigid DD review system eg BG and EDF - so that its perfectly possible to be a lot in credit or debit by the time 6 months have passed

KittenChops

brewerdave said:

KittenChops said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

We were defaulted to EDF when our previous supplier went belly up
We stayed with them after they granted us the remainder of the fix
and a few months on top. Then it went to a variable as prices were taking off - so
we stuck wit them

the 2 bills a year, not good
However, we do get a paper bill and we likey that and not sure if others do
Intialy we were in debit becuse the previous supplier had not kept us well informed, now we are in credit
and a few months ago or a bit longer they tried the same with us
We have rang them a few times and the staff are very helpful and incredibly, one promised to call us back the next day at a certain time and did

The downside, we had to complain to stop the time wastig letters and phone calls that made it look as though a smart meter was mandatory. Took a couple of calls and couple of emails but it worked.

I posted a link to Whichmamagine were Octopus was top rated for CS etc - and will move to them but need to check if they paper bill and i think their billinng is every three months

Thnaks

Re the bit I've bolded above - regular meter readings (as you won't have smart meters) would most likely have prevented that.

Even with smart meters some suppliers seem to have a rigid DD review system eg BG and EDF - so that its perfectly possible to be a lot in credit or debit by the time 6 months have passed

Of course - but I didn't interpret 'diystarter7's comment to be referring to the DD amount - apologies for taking thread off topic / away from OP