I ended up with EDF as they were the existing supplier when I moved in to my rented flat 2 years ago. Thought I would stick with them as had no idea what the consumption would be, or the prices, so thought I might as well go with the flow, and they've been pretty good. Last September they sent a statement to increase our monthly DD for both gas and electricity (as all the companies were, what with the massive hike in proces generally), but a short phone call made them realise they were looking at seasonal consumption from the winter, not a whole year. And we were in credit!

They took this on board with no argument, offered to move me on to a cheaper tariff and I managed to keep my gas and leccy DDs the same in the face of big general % increase on prices.

They do have a habit of trying to increase DDs on budget scheme as they tried it again last month, but again, a short call to remind them of seasonal consumption did the trick and they kept the monthly payments the same as before. They might not be the cheapest company, but when I phone them I feel like I am talking to a sensible human being and not a robot, which in itself is worth a lot!

Hi, sorry for your problems with EDF. I strongly suggest going to visit your local Citizens advice. They should be able to make phone calls to British Gas and EDF on your behalf and advise you on your rights. Also you could get a free 30 minute consultation with a solicitor to ask advice too. But I would suggest Citizens advice as a first, they have helped me resolve problems in the past with work issues and legal issues. They offer free help too. You might have to make an appointment, but it will be worth the wait. Good luck.

Hello loonytooner,

I wa s trying to find a solution to this EDF problem when i came acorsyour post. I joined this forum to be able to talk to you and see if u could advise me. edf unlawfully took over my gas suply without my consent or awareness. I have been in touch with them once i got a bill from them and they have not been able to proove to me that i signed ny contract or gave them auhority to take over my gas supply. I am really worried and i do not know who to go and report them to. I have a 2year old and i am currently pregnant and al these stress from them is affecting my health.

please advise me about whatyou did to resolve your issue. british gas said they did nt know i did not authorise the transfer,i do not need edf to upply me gas and i need this resolved.please advis em ,,,anyone please help.

I have the same trouble as pfg56. Every year EDF send me a letter saying my direct debit for Gas must increase by about 100%. For the last 2 years they increased my payments to so much that I was nearly £100 in credit. So I then have to ring up again a few months later and ask for them to be decreased! This week I got a letter saying my direct debit payments will increase from £15 to £39 nearly 150%! I got all my bills out and worked out that my annual consumption is only £250 for the whole year; so paying £39 x 12 would end up in me paying £468, an overpayment of £218! Nice profit for them earning interest on my hard earned money!

I rang them about this and they proceeded to argue with me for a full 20 minutes insisting that if I did not pay £39 per month I would be seriously in debt! This is aboslutely crazy! They did allow me to set the direct debit price to what I wanted; but only after arguing with me telling me that I would be consuming £500 woth of Gas in the next 12 months representing a 100% increase; depsite me having all my bills in front of me and reading out my annual consumption of only £250!

What worries me is the elderly and infirm and those who are not able to sit down with a calculator and work out the figures or who just believe EDF are being seriously ripped off! My nanna is 102 and would not have a hope in hell of dealing with this situation! Even those people who are handy with a calculator would find it difficult to read an energy bill! There are so many figures on it it is mind boggling! Its a serious headache and I am so fed up of arguing every year with EDF. Despite this I think they are the cheapest so I persist with them at the cost of a migraine! I get a duel fuel rate with them. But the assistants are completely incapable of giving you an acurate cost in ££s of your consumption for the last 12 months! They always try to have you believe you used double what you actually used; even though the figures are there in black and white!

EDF are taking advantage of vulnerable people in society who might have a heart attack when they get a 100% increase in their direct debits and might start switching off their Gas needlessly just because EDF persist in telling people they consume 100% more Gas than they actually do! Energy companies should be regulated to stop them telling lies to their customers. It should be made an offence for them to actually quote inaccurate consumption!

EDF are constantly trying to increase my monthly direct debit by far more than is required, I wrote to them last year about this showing that if I had folowed their advice they would owe me £1000, just this week they suggested increasing my monthly amount from £30 to £45, I have e-mailed a spreadsheet to them proving that at the current prices I should not be paying more than £35

To their credit they do reduce when I query but I should not have to and i wonder how many people are being unnecessarily put into fuel poverty by this disreputable and immoral policy.

EDF have been very good to me, although they are not the cheapest they but they have provided me with the best customer service

he all,

  i have been with edf energy since feb this year and i have found them to be very expensive and not very helpful on the phone when i need to contact them, therefor i am here comparing prices to change to a better supplier

 

Hiya, i was with Scottish Power for leccy and Scottish Gas for gas both on key meters, i changed to Scottish Gas for both and my bills were horrendous, the customer service was worse.  I decided to have the meters removed and still i was receiving extremely high bills.   Im at work all day and only hit heating on for an hour when its cold and still had few hundred pound bills.

I changes to Atlantic Gas and Electricity and pay by month direct debit initially i was £45 and £43 a month which was still a lot cheaper than BG they contacted me couple month ago to say i was paying too much and set my monthly payments at £12 and £24 even better (for a 2 bed semi-detached house).  They are great to deal with and if you pay by DD you get a months payment back every 13 months you are with them. 

You can manage your account online and if you receive an estimate bill you simply supply online or through freephone number the correct meter reading and a new bill is send out within couple of days.  The staff are really friendly when you call up and your not waiting hours either, but you can drop them an email if you prefer and the reply service is good.

They do key and token meters too but to be honest with there prices and there DD savings its hardly worth having the token meters and just pay by DD and reap the benefits. I can honestly say i have had no problems at all with this company i just sit back and enjoy the warmth of my house without any hassles....

 

 

 

 

loonytooner:EDF are a nightmare! They took over my supply TWICE in six months despite me not authourising it and, in the second instance, even speaking to anyone from the company. When I called to complain I was in the queue for 35 mins (at non peak hours-i checked!) and then spoke to one of the most dense individuals I have ever had the misfortune to converse with. No explanation as to why they did it and no assurances that it won't happen again. Spoke to a lovely guy at BG (who I am more than happy to stay with) and he said EDF are notorious for it and that BG have had to threaten legal action against the company for trying to take customers without consent. He also mentioned the DD problems alluded to here. So other company's are aware of EDF!

Well from the other posters, I draw to a conclusion that you are wrong! Maybe your experience with EDF is an exceptional one despite your claims that they are "notorious" for poor customer service.

My girlfriend is currently a dual fuel customer with British Gas, and they are awful! Their prices are expensive, and their customer service is poor.

We found that Scottish Power where much cheaper by about 1/2 for electricity, however, we are going to try Ebico, because I rang them up the other day on a free number (0800), whilst British Gases cost (0845), and I was answered to immediately, unlike British Gas (would wait on average 30 mins to speak to someone). 

EDF are a nightmare! They took over my supply TWICE in six months despite me not authourising it and, in the second instance, even speaking to anyone from the company. When I called to complain I was in the queue for 35 mins (at non peak hours-i checked!) and then spoke to one of the most dense individuals I have ever had the misfortune to converse with. No explanation as to why they did it and no assurances that it won't happen again. Spoke to a lovely guy at BG (who I am more than happy to stay with) and he said EDF are notorious for it and that BG have had to threaten legal action against the company for trying to take customers without consent. He also mentioned the DD problems alluded to here. So other company's are aware of EDF!

Have moved from Br Gas to EDF for both Elec & Gas in the last year or so. EDF easy to deal with, by tel. or online and give Nectar points for submitting your readings online. Cheaper than BG, but watch out for the way they start you off on a low monthly direct debit then increase it very substantially after about 6 months. Generally I would recommend them, especially compared to BG...

I found with gas that they did not put their prices up every couple of months. I think they are due to reduce prices shortly, seem to recall something from them. I haven't worried in the summer as we only use a small amount of gas. I will wait and see when the next bill arrives.

I have gone with Scottish power for the electricity. We were with British Gas (BIG MISTAKE) . However, Scottish Power were the cheapest when I looked. I am in an old SEEBOARD area. Prices seem to differ all over the country with electricitry.  

kev2006n:

I'm  getting my gas from Ebico. No one has ever heard of them. They are great. I pay nothing until the end of the quarter. They send me an estimated bill, I correct over the phone, new bill arrives and I happily pay. Now why can't everyone do it like this. In any event I don't mind if they aren't the cheapest. I am getting the service I want. British Gas need to learn some lessons.

Not taking electricity from them. However, I am thinking about it. I am not an expert. Kevin

So do you find that EBICO are cheap for gas, because your post suggests otherwise....."In any event I dont mind if they arent the cheapest".

 EBICO dont have standing charges...I think their Gas tariff as standard is about 2.55p Kwh, and their electricity rates are highly competitive approx 10p Kwh and on the Economy 7 rate Day approx 12p and night approx 4p.

 How do these rates compare with British Gas.....?

kev2006n:

I'm  getting my gas from Ebico. No one has ever heard of them. They are great. I pay nothing until the end of the quarter. They send me an estimated bill, I correct over the phone, new bill arrives and I happily pay. Now why can't everyone do it like this. In any event I don't mind if they aren't the cheapest. I am getting the service I want. British Gas need to learn some lessons.

Not taking electricity from them. However, I am thinking about it. I am not an expert. Kevin

I'm  getting my gas from Ebico. No one has ever heard of them. They are great. I pay nothing until the end of the quarter. They send me an estimated bill, I correct over the phone, new bill arrives and I happily pay. Now why can't everyone do it like this. In any event I don't mind if they aren't the cheapest. I am getting the service I want. British Gas need to learn some lessons.

Not taking electricity from them. However, I am thinking about it. I am not an expert. Kevin