EDF bill 6 months after final bill from moving out?

ryanm8655

I've just received a bill from EDF when I already paid my final bill about 5 months ago.

It seems to be for the early exit fee for both Gas and Electric (£50).

Am I right in thinking they had 6 weeks to issue a final bill (I had one in early January that I paid before the end of the month)? It looks as though they forgot to add it. I didn't even look at my final bill so didn't spot it, I was told what I owed based on meter readings and then I paid the bill. I checked my final bill on the account and it looks like it didn't include the early exit fees.

What are my next steps? Contact them and tell them it's too late? Or is it not worth the hassle/risk of them chasing the debt if I refuse to pay?

Technically I do owe them that but equally when I cancelled they gave me the impression my final bill included it (it was explicitly mentioned when I closed the account and I said that was fine), so it's pretty annoying to have a £50 bill appear 5/6 months later.

Thanks,
Ryan

TadleyBaggie

They have up to 6 years to claim a payment, not sure where you got 6 weeks from?

ryanm8655

TadleyBaggie said:

They have up to 6 years to claim a payment, not sure where you got 6 weeks from?

A friend told me they have 6 weeks to give you your final bill and can't make changes to the final bill beyond that. 

I've had the final bill and paid it. They've issued another 5 months later (perhaps was picked up on an audit). So it's not claiming payment, its the billing. 

I have found something saying they can't bill you for electricity you haven't been billed for beyond 12 months but struggling to find the 6 weeks (they did send a link but it seems to be broken).

I'm no longer an EDF customer and closed my account on 1st January.

EDIT: I have found this, which says they have 6 weeks after a switch to issue a final bill: Are you owed money on your energy bill? | Ofgem

It also says you're entitled to £40 compensation if they didn't...technically they did but it was wrong.

dunstonh

EDIT: I have found this, which says they have 6 weeks after a switch to issue a final bill: Are you owed money on your energy bill? | Ofgem

Its not a switch though.

Technically I do owe them that but equally when I cancelled they gave me the impression my final bill included it (it was explicitly mentioned when I closed the account and I said that was fine), so it's pretty annoying to have a £50 bill appear 5/6 months later.

Its also annoying for a business when a customer is trying to pull a fast one.

ryanm8655

dunstonh said:

EDIT: I have found this, which says they have 6 weeks after a switch to issue a final bill: Are you owed money on your energy bill? | Ofgem

Its not a switch though.

Technically I do owe them that but equally when I cancelled they gave me the impression my final bill included it (it was explicitly mentioned when I closed the account and I said that was fine), so it's pretty annoying to have a £50 bill appear 5/6 months later.

Its also annoying for a business when a customer is trying to pull a fast one.

If you read, it also says when you close an account.

I'm not trying to pull a fast one but it's pretty annoying paying what you were told was your final bill of several hundred pounds to then get another bill 5/6 months later.

It was obviously an error on their part so not sure how this is trying to pull a fast one? I'm sure EDF will be really annoyed though.

Would the 6 week rule apply or not is my question. Like any rational person I'd rather not pay £50 if I don't have to. It is the MoneySavingExpert forum after all...

debitcardmayhem

It’s not a bill per se, i.e. not for fuel, it’s a contract payment you contracted with them with the proviso that if you go you pay.

ryanm8655

debitcardmayhem said:

It’s not a bill per se, i.e. not for fuel, it’s a contract payment you contracted with them with the proviso that if you go you pay.

I did wonder this, though it is presented as a bill. It took me ages to work out what it is and still isn't clear it's the cancellation charge it's just the only thing that makes sense. I checked my "final" bill and noticed the charge wasn't on there, then there were all sorts of credits and debits on my account to get to the £50. 

So they have more than 6 weeks to present a bill for the early exit charge?

MWT

ryanm8655 said:

So they have more than 6 weeks to present a bill for the early exit charge?

They are allowed to correct an error in the invoice there is no 'six week' limit on that.

If you contractually owe the money they can collect...

ryanm8655

MWT said:

ryanm8655 said:

So they have more than 6 weeks to present a bill for the early exit charge?

They are allowed to correct an error in the invoice there is no 'six week' limit on that.

If you contractually owe the money they can collect...

Thanks - I won’t even bother disputing then :-)