A Scots social carer has been left skint after EDF Energy withdrew more than £3,000 in one day after he disputed his electricity bill.
Adam McNaughton, from Cumnock, was left with just £5 to survive after the energy company charged him £3,282 last week. The 41-year-old was transferred to EDF in May 2021, when his provider Green Network Energy went bust. He claims an inspector didn't attend his home to obtain an accurate meter reading for a year.
Adam, who lives alone and works away a number of nights per week, says EDF estimated his electricity usage and placed him on a fixed rate tariff of £76 per month. He disputed his tariff estimate as he believed it was too low, and requested an inspector attend his home for a meter reading, but EDF failed to send an inspector until June 2022.
When a meter reading was taken one year later, EDF claimed his electricity usage had majorly increased from the estimated amount. Adam also alleges his two-year fixed rate direct debit was cancelled, and he would need to pay £300 a month.
He told the Record: "The bill is inaccurate and I immediately disputed it. I live alone and work away two nights a week. Some days I am not even home. It is impossible for me to use this much energy.
"The bill is astronomically ridiculous compared to my usage. I have photos of my electricity meter.
"My first meter reading was an estimate. I knew it was too low and I phoned repeatedly to ask for a smart meter and an engineer to come out and take an accurate reading.
"Someone eventually came out in June this year, but now they are saying my usage is sky high in comparison to the estimate."
Adam believes his usage has not increased and the estimate EDF Energy made in May 2021 was too low. But the energy company sent him a bill to recover £3,000 worth of usage and withdrew the money, immediately placing him into his overdraft.
Adam said he has been made "physically sick" by the bill and customer service he has received from EDF Energy.
He continued: "I am now £3,000 withdrawn in my bank and I have never been in an overdraft before. I have no money for food or to pay my bills or put fuel in my car.
"This situation is the accumulation of a year of frustration. I have been ill due to stress and anxiety and I'm on medication for both.
"When this enormous bill was sent to me, the complaint handler refused to contact me. When I spoken to the customer service team, it is obvious they are not there to help you. They do not care.
"I was physically sick when they took the £3,000 and have remained like this for the last few weeks."
The Daily Record have contacted EDF Energy for comment but the company have failed to respond to our request.
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