Energy Support Scheme - Am I being duped?

EssexHebridean

Could somebody with an EDF bill who understands how this works screenshot the relevant section of their bill into the thread so the OP can see what they are looking for perhaps? It might help make things clearer! 

MagDee

I guess what I'm struggling with is understanding how it mathematically works that we can add a credit balance and a debit balance together together to get a larger number, surely they off-set each other?

Total fuel cost £1293 + VAT - £333 = new amount owed?


Why are we adding £333 credit to that amount owed, and not deducting it? 

So the bill should be reduced, not increased, surely? 

MagDee

By the way, I appreciate everyone chiming in to help, I really do.

I'm not seeing something that everyone else is - or maybe I haven't shared enough to explain properly.

TheMilkmansDad

i think you need to look at your total fuel cost.

As explained your £1,293 figure includes a reduction of the £333 so is actually £1,626. this then matches your VAT figure - 5% is not on the £1,293 its on the £1,626.

Poorly formatted on the bill granted as it's not clear by the look of it!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

so your bank account is £333 better of, that's free money, pay that back into your energy account to correct things,

Then your bank account is at same position it would've been with normal DD payments.

There were some threads earlier at start of the EBSS where folks were paying refund back in to energy account to build up a healthy balance for future rises .

PeterGr

Try this link which is one of many posts with the same issue.   https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79899272#Comment_79899272

The maths which explains your bill has already been posted.  ie. £1,626.29 + 5% VAT of £81.31 = £1,707.60 < this is the actual total energy charges for the period.

MagDee

TheMilkmansDad said:

i think you need to look at your total fuel cost.

As explained your £1,293 figure includes a reduction of the £333 so is actually £1,626. this then matches your VAT figure - 5% is not on the £1,293 its on the £1,626.

Poorly formatted on the bill granted as it's not clear by the look of it!

Lightbulb moment!

Couldn't see the woods for the trees.

Thank you everyone for the explanations and understanding.

The small print, the different pages of figures and illustrations make it reaaaaally confusing but I actually worked it out from this, so thank you MilkmansDad!

Nelliegrace

The British Gas bill never says we have paid £140 and the Government has added £67 making the payment £207, and they have sent us the £67 as they are must.
Instead it say we have paid just £73. 
It looks bad. 

geordiejon

tbh the government should have stepped in when some companies gave the payment back to the bill owner instead of just taking it from the bill every month. 9 out of 10 wouldn't have returned the money to the company causing all sorts of problems.

pochase

Only in situations where somebody is using more energy that is covered by the direct debit a problem will occure.

Example:
Monthly DD £200 = £1200 for 6 month
EBSS returned to customer £400
paid by customer £800

Energy use £1200
Discount on the energy use £400
Energy to be paid by customer £800

So there is no debt and the customer can use the £400 for whatever they want.

So with a sufficient level of DD there will be no problem, only if the DD is not enough to cover the usuage you have a problem.