Report EDF to Ofgem for systematic breach of supply licence condition

Arch01

Hello.  Under SLC14, energy suppliers are allowed to block a customer's switch away to another supplier when they have issued the customer with a written demand for payment and payment remains overdue 28 days or more since the written payment demand was issued.  EDF are breaching SLC14 by objecting to a customer switching to another supplier when the customer has been paying by fixed direct debit every month, with payments being maintained perfectly up to date, but the balance on the account is in debit (typically after the winter months when the fixed direct debit amount has been lower than the cost of energy consumed, obviously in summer the fixed direct debit amount will exceed the cost of energy consumed and the account balance will return to parity).  There is evidence on web sites such as MoneySavingExpert that EDF have been breaching SLC14 in this way for many customers over several years.  I found an open market communication from OFGEM specifically addressing this practice and spellign out that it is in breach of SLC14.  So, as with many other customers, EDF breached SLC14 when they objected to my switch away to Outfox, so I complained to them and had a long and frustrating whatsapp / email long conversation with them explaining the issue and that that they were in breach of SLC14  but they continued to blank me, so I asked for a deadlock letter and escallated my complaint to the Energy Ombudsman detailing that resolution should include EDF reporting themselves to OFGEM for systematic breach of SLC14.  Whilst the ombusdman agreed that EDF had breached SL14 and granted me compensation for poor customer service, they refused to tell  EDF to report themselves to OFGEM (nb. the energy ombudsman is paid for by the energy suppliers, so it's not entirely indepdendent), they suggested instead that I should do so.  So I emailed OFGEM consumer affairs with the salient bullet points of the breach and I received an auto generated email response, but nothing else.  Maybe Martin Lewis could pick this up?

QrizB

I hope writing that helps you feel better about your poor experience with EDF.

Swipe

Why not make a one off payment to clear your debt and then try switching? How is that any different from receiving a final bill for the debt after you've switched?

molerat

Suppliers have been trying to recover debt with one hand, actually both hands, tied behind their backs by the regulator then the rest of us paying for that forcibly uncollectible debt through an additional amount added to the SC.  At least whilst still a customer they have a small chance of seeing some of that repaid. As above, why not make a payment of most of the outstanding balance then apply to move again.

QrizB

OP's previous post on the topic:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81425410/#Comment_81425410

At they time (April, before he went to the Ombudsman) the suggestion was to clear his account and then get on with the switch. Seems he chose otherwise.

Alnat1

If the account is not in credit by mid July after a mild winter and the warmest spring on record, then there's unlikely to be enough credit to cover next winter's bills. 

As above, pay it off and switch but expect higher DDs with a new provider, as you aren't paying enough each month to cover your annual costs.

Netexporter

And if you want to pay less for your electricty, get a smart meter fitted and find a TOU tariff that fits you lifestyle/consumption pattern.

t0rt0ise

How much is the debt?