EDF sent me a £2,700 bill in my first home after foster care | Consumer affairs
I I have lived in my first house since I went out with a host family. I moved into the apartment in 2020 and completed my credit counter with £ 50 per month, as indicated by my housing association. I understood that this covered my consumption of gas and electricity.
In 2023, I received a request for more than £ 2,700 from EDF, declaring that I had not paid my electricity bill. He has since made me on a payment plan of £ 108 per month. I have now been says it He should not have billed me for more than a year of arrears.
I feel that He takes advantage of the fact that I don’t know how the system works.
Lre, London
It is difficult to imagine how it must be that young people in care are thrown into the adult world as soon as they arrive at maturity without the support that most of us holds for granted.
I have established that your accommodation association is located on a common heating network, which means that heating and hot water costs are divided between residents and included in service costs. Low -income people can gradually pay on an early reimbursement counter, which you have done.
Unbeknownst to you, a second meter, supplied by EDF, has recorded your electricity consumption. It is locked up and accessible only to the Housing Association and, as you did not know, you did not inform EDF that you had moved.
The setbacks rules mean that suppliers cannot invoice for more than 12 months of the offer if they have not sent any invoices before.
EDF tells me that he sent invoices to the owner / occupant because she did not have your name. This means that the loss rule does not apply and that you are responsible for the electricity that you have used since 2020.
EDF offers subsidies and offers to help customers at low income and he told me that he would examine what support he could offer you.
The counter was replaced by an intelligent meter in 2023 and he now discovered late that your actual consumption has since shown its previous estimates.
This has therefore reduced your debt by £ 105 and has moved a better price that reduces your monthly payments. You cannot access the smart meter, but you can follow your consumption on the EDF application.
Your housing association, Wandle, tells me that he did not know that you were vulnerable and that his support team will now be in contact with you. He also indicates that he will now produce an energy information sheet for new residents in order to prevent recurrence of your situation.
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