EDF have changed billing from quarterly to monthly

[Jeff Layman]

For years I've paid my gas and electricity by reading the meters when requested and submitting them online. If I got an estimated bill, I simply submitted the accurate readings, and a new bill was sent based on those. That happened every quarter.

EDF have been messing around with timings for quite a few months, but I put that down to the volatile energy market prices. However, having paid a bill in early April, I've now been sent another one (estimated). Checking on EDF's MyAccount, I see that I'm now on monthly payments. I'll check with EDF to ask why they've changed the billing period.

Anybody else been changed from quarterly to monthly payments? Is this just another ploy to get me to change to a smart meter (which apparently EDF make little or no use of, relying on higher than necessary DDs to pay bills)?

[Andy Burns]

In your subject you say "billing", but above you say "payments", I submit readings to EDF and get billed every six-monthly, but pay monthly by D/D.

[N_Cook]

OVO on taking over SSE went from Q to Mly. On a related note Southern Water bills. Ever since splitting off water (rates) from council rates 1970s? the water bills had a billing date of the tax year 04 April, ie Lady Day Quarter day plus the 10 days change over Julian/Gregorian dates change. The latest one had moved the billing date to mid march, on the sly?

[Tim Lamb]

In message <u3523a$2pap3$ [e-mail], Jeff Layman [e-mail] writes

OVO took over SSE and I too am now on monthly billing. I guess payment in arrears was costing them interest and the savings on meter readers plus money in their bank rather than yours helps their bottom line.

>

[Jeff Layman]

After getting the bill I have about 10 days to pay it, so effectively the same thing!

It's just that the change from quarterly to monthly was entirely unannounced. I see from the other two replies that OVO have done the same thing. It's no great problem, and I can understand why they've done it, but a little advance notice would have been welcome.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes I'd be interested as I have quarterly on direct debit on a smart meter reading, and when you look on their app, the payment that was paid in March is showing up as a debit still in may, even though I've seen the debit taken in my bank statement. Then there seems to be a credit of 60 something pounds in the next quarter, but that seems not to be anything I can see what it is. I guess its probably one of the government payments, but the lack of info is appalling. They need to be a little more verbose in their app and indeed, why not make this info on the in home display. It can do other clever stuff and speak it out loud, one would have thought it was possible. Brian

[Peter Johnson]

+1

[Peter Johnson]

Last year I paid Severn Trent on 1 April and 11 November. They have yet to bill me for consumption since the second date.

[SteveW]

Might your contract have reached its end and you have been moved to the default (monthly) tariff?

[Jeff Layman]

No contract. It's the standard variable tariff.

I've been looking through Octopus tariffs to see if it's worth changing, but it seems to me there's now little difference between the energy suppliers

[Andy Burns]

There's only been a couple of quid per year between all the suppliers since last autumn ... with the probable exception of EV specific tariffs with discounted hours, but even then I suspect you have to do careful sums to make sure it'll work out for you,

[Tia]

Yes!! This happened to me this morning!! I paid my last (enormously high) bill in April and they have now sent me another estimated monthly bill for June 2nd June - 21st June which has to be paid by 15th June???? What on earth are they playing at??????? Waiting for them to answer me with my query - its disgraceful! Am fuming! PS not on a smart meter and won't be bullied into having one either!

[alan_m]

Tariff change coming up at the end of the month so they want to know what your consumption is for June?

[Max Demian]

Is this EDF? I've just received a letter from them asking for me to read my meter and tell them, which I did, though, oddly, I had to talk to a human to do so. And I asked her for my current balance, which she gave. About £200 for the quarter.

[Jeff Layman]

EDF seem totally confused at present. I got a bill on 5 May; on one page it stated "To receive an accurate bill next month and pay only for what you've used, please give us your meter reading(s) if it is safe and practical to do so, on or around 28 May 2023."

It seemed a bit early for another reading, but I submitted a reading on

28 May. I heard nothing so logged on today and found the reading was down as submitted on 31 May! It also said my account balance was £0.00. So despite asking for a reading they've done nothing with it. Just to add to the fun, it seems they're using a new accounting method, so I've had to amend my account with them by changing my account number, my logon password, and their Bacs payment details.

[Beverley]

Hi Jeff i am same received my quartly bill in April which i paid but then could not understand why got another estimated bill in May . Telephone told me change me to monthly billing not happy preffered bill every 3 months give me chance to save up.

[Jeff Layman]

I finally got my bill this morning, but it not only includes my reading for the 28th May (or 31st according to EDF), but also an estimated reading for 6th June! So why did EDF ask for a reading on the 28th?

[alan_m]

Is the estimate only from the date you supplied the information to the date of the bill. Some suppliers can produce a (paperless) bill an hour after you supply the information and some take a week to do the same and so may factor in this delay.

[Jeff Layman]

It's from 31 May to 6 June. In the past, EDF have been pretty quick (24

- 48 hours) to get back to me after I've submitting a reading. Perhaps it's all the changes to account numbers and their bank details which has delayed things. It'll be interesting to see when I'm asked for the next reading.

[Darcydoo]

Same as happened to me with EDF paying quarterly last bill 30th April now they want another for 2rd June, I’m not being bullied into having a smart meter either, and I don’t know what’s happened to customer service it’s disgusting I rang them only to be told at the end of the call to make-shore I give them a 5 star review what a joke.