EDF changing direct debit

superAFG

Hi all,

Yesterday i got my second edf bill, and today they sent me an email stating they are changing my direct debit from £120 a month to £198 a month! They are saying because my consumption is higher than what they expected. I have a fixed tariff plan with them. My first bill was showing £46 consumption and my second bill showing £56 consumption. How can they say my consumption is higher than expected if both of my bills showed lower consumption?

Any help would be appreciated 

tim_p

Do those bills show estimated or actual readings? Is your meter smart?

Ayr_Rage

Do you have gas and electricity?

The standing charges alone are around 95p/day for dual fuel.

matelodave

Is the bill just for leccy or gas or is a dual fuel bill. If its for dual fuel does it include reading from both your gas and leccy meters

As above, have you got smart metersif so have you checked that your bill actually reflects the meter readings or are they estimates. If you dont have smart meters have you sent in readings and checked that the bills are correctly using the meter reading. Is the bill for a month or a quarter.

Secondly, did you give EDF your annual energy consumption in kwh when you joined them and have you checked that they are using your opening readings, or did you leave it to them to make a random guess (they call it an estimate)

Generally they'll guess what your annual consumption is and then divide it by 12 to get a monthly figure. However its far better if you have your own info and do your own sums. Dont forget that your direct debit isn't the bill its just a payment towards your bills.

Bear in mind that you'll probably use 2-3 times as much energy in the winter months between November and the end of March than you have done in August and September so its quite likely that you could be using around £120 or more a month in the winter but unless you keep track of it and tell them they just keep making random guesses.

born_again

Any outstanding debt on the account? As well as the above replies?

Given 2 bills which do not even add up to £120...

Scot_39

If just a supplier change - what was your annual consumption last year at the old supplier - and what is the cost of that at say October rates.   Then divide by 12 and see if closer to £120 or £200

Most of many peoples bills = winter heating - summer / autumn bills without are not a good indicator of annual costs.

It's also possible a reaction to EDF revising it's prices for upcoming year - in line with recent gas price moves in particular

See

https://www.edfenergy.com/gas-and-electricity/price-cap-predictions

Dated Oct 28 - unfortunately didn't keep their previous release figures.

Brie

You can ask them for a breakdown of how they came up with the DD amount.  My guess is that somewhere in their waffle they will say it's increased to a level to "keep you financially safe".  Which means that they want you to overpay and be in credit more often than not - even in the winter. 

Give them the correct use annual figures, calculated using the current tariff and see what that comes out to as a monthly payment.  My guess is it will be less than what they think is appropriate.  

FlorayG

They absolutely always over-estimate. Last year about this time my supplier wanted to put mine up to £250 for winter (from £100) and I just called them and said NO
If you call them they will leave it as it currently is and then contact you again if you seem to be going into debit

superAFG

tim_p said:

Do those bills show estimated or actual readings? Is your meter smart?

I do have a smartmeter, which shows the accurate usage for the day, week etc.

superAFG

Ayr_Rage said:

Do you have gas and electricity?

The standing charges alone are around 95p/day for dual fuel.

I got both gas and electricity.

superAFG

FlorayG said:

They absolutely always over-estimate. Last year about this time my supplier wanted to put mine up to £250 for winter (from £100) and I just called them and said NO
If you call them they will leave it as it currently is and then contact you again if you seem to be going into debit

Thanks, i will try that today see what happens.