EDF energy bill after 1 year of not being with them

brook2jack2

I’ve had exactly the same , was refunded twice in 2024 , after having left them and was in credit. Nothing from them until an email saying I did not owe anything and then this saying I owe them money. 

Will phone them to clarify tomorrow. 

Scot_39

budlish said:

I’ve had the exact same thing, letter and bill with the exact same dates on them as the OP. Wording the same too it says my bill is zero (checked the app too and that says there is no balance due). I left EDF for octopus in July 2024 having always been in credit with them. They did refund me twice which was clearly an error on their part but I haven’t heard anything from them in over a year. I appreciate it was an error but can they really back bill me for what it’s says is written off debt now?  My credit rating is good and I don’t want anything adverse appearing suddenly! 

I'd talk to a proper debt advisor.

On the face of it - the OPs letter says they are writing off the second payment a year after the first of the 2 refunds.  Does yours - despite the fact that in reality it was a final account credit balance refund.

But you cannot in general legally just keep money falsely credited to your account.

And you morally - if not legally - should have made your bank and EDF aware of that at the time.

That isnt just a civil matter - but potentially even a criminal one - should they or your bank if a reclaim via normal banking processes were to occur  - and they choose to raise it.

There is even a specific crime to cover it "retaining wrongful credit"  iirc.

The whole issuing a demand threat for £0 balance makes me wonder which part of that letter to believe.

brook2jack2

I’ve spoken to EDF this morning. 

I left them because of multiple billing errors , including mistakes with neighbours , and my final bill took 4 months to process , for which I got an additional £60 credit as it was so late . So yes I was double refunded but amidst all the delays and confusion and refunds  it did not register as a mistake with me as it was a relatively smallish amount. 

The call handler was , at first , very apologetic at the fact that 12 months after the mistake the only communications was an email saying I owed nothing , and a letter , dated the same day ,  threatening debt collectors . However multiple times during the conversation she mentioned referring to debt collectors . I felt over a barrel , so have negotiated a discount off the “debt” and will pay a small amount off each month for 12 months . I’ve also raised an official complaint over the communications , style, tone and referrals to debt collectors on the first letter after 12 months . 

She repeatedly referenced the direct debit guarantee , but this is 12 months after so is not applicable. 

To be frank this is typical of EDF and why I left in the first place . I feel bad their bullying and direct referral to debt collectors has had the desired effect and I have arranged for payment. 

Ildhund

Is there an accountant in the house? This tale is a strange one, and I've not personally come across anything similar in the past. It looks as if the customer energy account has been closed with zero balance, but the customer is then registered as a sundry debtor for the overpayment just like any other who owes the company money. This probably gives them greater flexibility to pursue the claim, no longer being hidebound by the industry's customer protection measures. It smacks a little bit of sharp practice to me, but an accountant could probably disabuse me ...