Energy Support Scheme - Am I being duped? 9 March at 12:46PM in Energy 31 replies 1K views

MagDee

Hi all,

I'm trying to get my head around the latest bill I've received from EDF.

It's from August 2022 to February 2023.

I was a little in debit with them at that period after the transfer over from Green Network Energy. I set up a repayment plan, it was all going well and the usage was being covered by my monthly Direct Debits.

However, due the support scheme that the government start (£400 over 6 months etc etc.) I've been receiving the £67 per month into my bank account. 

EDF are, however, also adding this to my bill under "refunds". So according to the bill and the customer support team at EDF, I owe them £333 (5 months of the payments in that bill period). They have added this as a debit amount to my bill.

So where I expected to be in credit with EDF with this support, I now find I'm actually £575+ in debit. 

I've argued with EDF about it for hours on the phone, and I've asked for it to be raised as a formal complaint.

I thought the energy support scheme was meant to help; All I see is the energy company charging me £67 per month to my bill for the privilege of them sending me £67 to my bank account.

Am I missing something here!?

Mobtr

Go to page 2 of your bill where it shows your actual usage, add it all together + the VAT. Add any debit carried forward and then take off your payments & this will give you the correct balance. Ignore the energy usage shown on page 1 as this included a the EBSS credits. 

Alternatively read the hundreds of other posts which ask the exact question you have about EDF bills. 

You have not been charged £67 per month    

pochase

This is been explained at least 3 to 4 times every week.

EDF is receiving the £67 from the government, they return your £67 payment into your bank account, and they reduce your total energy cost by the £67.

Sub total gas plus sub total electricity plus 5% VAT MINUS £67 (or in your case £333 for 5 month) = new total. So the total shown is lower than the sub totals because the £333 have been decuted from your energy use.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

as already said, this is a regular query, have a look HERE might help you understand the process.

MagDee

I've already followed exactly what you've explained, and I cannot come up with any other view on it.

Let me screenshot the bill.

If we start at -£246.91 and we add the credit I've paid, this equals £1,131.34

Take off the charges (detailed in page 2) of £1374.60 and we are left with a debit balance of -£243.26

With the support of the scheme, I've received £333 - Which is supposed to help pay towards my energy. EDF chose to pay it as money rather than credit my account.

However, my bill below clearly puts the £333 as debit, resulting in a new balance of £576.26.

Now if I'm supposed to use the £67 they paid me to pay towards the £67pm (£333 total), we are just back to cancelling each other out, and I'm actually not better off.

I put myself down as a fairly intelligent person, I work with numbers and figures as part of my job. 

Am I not able to see the wood for the trees on this one?

TheMilkmansDad

total charges on pg 2 would be £1374.60 + £333(?). Page one just shows the total as already explained above.

MagDee

TheMilkmansDad said:

total charges on pg 2 would be £1374.60 + £333(?). Page one just shows the total as already explained above.

I had some other information on Page 2, so for me the total charges is page 4, but also in the summary above.

It doesn't add the £333 to the total charges.

The £1,374.60 is the combined Gas + Electricity + VAT.

The more I read it, and the more I follow other people's instructions to more I'm sure there is a mistake on how this is being applied.

Also, why would it add the £333 to my total charges if it was a credit - it would surely be calculated as total charges - energy scheme payments - any credit payments made; Right?

turnitround

Mine is done differently where they take they 66/67 off my bill directly. However in your case they have paid it into your bank account and then are adding it to your bill so you give it them back when you pay your bill. But you have had the money.

Swipe

Looks like the OP is correct. £333 should be added to the credit but it's not.

TheMilkmansDad

MagDee said:

TheMilkmansDad said:

total charges on pg 2 would be £1374.60 + £333(?). Page one just shows the total as already explained above.

I had some other information on Page 2, so for me the total charges is page 4, but also in the summary above.

It doesn't add the £333 to the total charges.

The £1,374.60 is the combined Gas + Electricity + VAT.

The more I read it, and the more I follow other people's instructions to more I'm sure there is a mistake on how this is being applied.

Also, why would it add the £333 to my total charges if it was a credit - it would surely be calculated as total charges - energy scheme payments - any credit payments made; Right?

£1,626.29 + 5% VAT of £81.31 = £1,707.60 < this is the actual total charges for the period.

£1,707.60 - £1,374.60 (total charges shown on bill) = £333 refunded to your bank account

MagDee

turnitround said:

Mine is done differently where they take they 66/67 off my bill directly. However in your case they have paid it into your bank account and then are adding it to your bill so you give it them back when you pay your bill. But you have had the money.

See, this is where I don't think it's being applied correctly.

It's meant to be support which is not needed to be paid back, yet it's being added to my overall bill which I then need to repay.

That doesn't calculate in any way I look at it.