Cancel EDF the easy way

Overview

EDF (full legal name: 233 732 345) operates energy supply in the United Kingdom under the brand EDF. It supplies electricity and gas to residential and business customers and offers fixed, variable and trial tariffs including time-of-use options.

Scale and structure

EDF was founded in 1946, is headquartered in Paris, France, and reported annual revenue of €113.3bn. The current CEO is Luc Rémont and the company employs approximately 197,363 people worldwide.

What EDF sells to consumers

EDF offers tariff types including fixed-term tariffs (example: Simply Fixed 2Yr Mar28v3), tracker tariffs (example: Simply Tracker Mar27) and dynamic trial tariffs (FreePhase trial). Tariffs include standing charge adjustments and potential exit fees for fixed-term contracts.

Consumer cancellation rights summarized later in this guide.

Web (online account)

1. Log in to your EDF account using your credentials.
2. Go to account settings or the move/ending supply section and choose to cancel or move out.
3. Enter final meter readings and the date you want supply to end.
4. Request a written confirmation or download the cancellation acknowledgement as proof.
5. If you are within the 14-day cooling-off period, mention this explicitly to receive a refund where applicable.

Phone

1. Call EDF customer service (number not publicly disclosed in research).
2. State your account number, the reason for cancellation and provide final meter readings.
3. Ask for the cancellation reference and the timescale for final bill issuance.
4. Request an email or letter confirmation and note the agent name and date of call.
5. If you are cancelling within the 14-day cooling-off period, advise the agent and request confirmation of any charges for energy used from the supply start date.

Post (registered letter)

1. Write a signed letter stating your account number, requested cancellation date and final meter readings.
2. Send the letter by registered post to: EDF, 90 Whitfield Street, W1T 4EZ London, United Kingdom.
3. Keep the postal tracking receipt and await written acknowledgement; allow 15 working days after acknowledgement for supply changes where applicable.

Email / Webform

1. Complete EDF's contact webform or send an email including your full name, account number, postcode and final meter readings.
2. Clearly state whether you are exercising your 14-day cooling-off right or cancelling outside the cooling-off period.
3. Save the outgoing message and any inbound acknowledgement as proof.

For cooling-off details and statutory guidance see Citizens Advice guidance on cancelling a service.

Moving house

Rule - You can end supply at your current address by giving EDF your move-out date and final meter readings. Proof required - proof of new address or tenancy termination is not always required by EDF but you must provide final meter readings and the move-out date.

Price increase

Rule - If EDF increases the price mid-contract in a way that is permitted by your contract terms, you may have a specific right to exit without penalty if the contract's terms allow it. Proof required - a copy of EDF's price change notice and your tariff terms. Applicable law - Consumer Rights Act 2015 for unfair terms.

Death of the account holder

Rule - Supply can be ended or transferred following the account holder's death. Proof required - death certificate and proof you are the executor or account holder relative. EDF will provide exact requirements on request.

Legitimate grounds accepted by EDF

Rule - Acceptable grounds commonly include moving out and death of the account holder. Proof required - final meter readings, move-out date or death certificate. If a dispute occurs, escalate; see escalation section below.

End of commitment

Rule - When a fixed-term commitment ends (for example 2 years on Simply Fixed 2Yr Mar28v3), you may leave without paying exit fees once the term ends. Proof required - EDF will confirm contract end date. Check your final bill date and tariff terms.

Cooling-off period (14 days)

Rule - For contracts agreed online, by phone or by mail-order you have a 14-day cooling-off period starting the day after signing. During this period you can cancel and obtain a full refund of sums paid, unless you requested supply to start immediately. If supply started during the cooling-off period and you cancel, you are liable for energy used from the start date. Proof required - cancellation notice and any meter reading showing energy used. Applicable law - Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

Before you cancel: negotiate

Retention offers reported in EDF materials include standing charge discounts and trial offers. Examples from EDF research: a standing charge discount of £50 per year on some tracker tariffs and a FreePhase trial discount of £6.25 monthly per fuel on standing charges for eligible trial participants. EDF also offers fixed-term tariffs such as Simply Fixed 2Yr Mar28v3 where exit fees of £75 per fuel apply. If you want to stay, call EDF customer service and ask for a retention offer; request the agent name, the exact discount in £ per year and a written confirmation.

What cancelling will save you - example calculation

Example comparison and math based on EDF published figures:

• Current tariff: Simply Fixed 2Yr Mar28v3 annual cost = £1641 per year.
• EDF alternative: Simply Tracker offers a standing charge discount of £50 per year (per research). New annual cost if you switched equals £1641 - £50 = £1591 per year. Calculation: £1641 - £50 = £1591.
• Exit fees if leaving Simply Fixed: £75 per fuel. If you are on dual fuel and pay exit fees for both fuels: £75 x 2 = £150. Calculation: £75 x 2 = £150.
• First year net saving after exit fees = £1591 - £1641 - £150 = -£200, meaning you would pay £200 more in the first year if you pay exit fees immediately. Calculation: (£1641 - £50) - £1641 - £150 = -£200.

Conclusion - using EDF's own published numbers shows switching from the listed fixed tariff to a tracker that discounts £50 per year can show a small ongoing saving of £50 per year, but exit fees of £75 per fuel can outweigh that saving in year one. Always ask EDF for any retention offer in writing before cancelling.

Key laws and regulator

Applicable law - Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 set the 14-day cooling-off period for contracts concluded online or off-premises. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects against unfair contract terms and requires services to be performed with reasonable care and skill. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potentially unfair.

Cooling-off detailed

If you signed online, by phone or by mail-order you have 14 days starting the day after signing in which to cancel and obtain a refund. If you asked EDF to start supply during that period and then cancel, you are liable for energy used from the start date. For statutory guidance see Citizens Advice - cancelling a service.

How to escalate

Step 1 - Complain to EDF in writing and keep all evidence. Step 2 - If unresolved, contact Citizens Advice for guidance and the Energy Ombudsman to escalate a formal dispute. For card payments, consider chargeback or Section 75 where applicable. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers unfair contract terms; the Ombudsman handles energy supplier disputes.

Check your final bill

After cancellation you should receive a final bill that includes final meter readings, any standing charge adjustments and clear detail of any exit fees. Keep the final bill for at least 12 months.

Meter readings and supply

Provide final meter readings on the cancellation date. If you do not provide readings EDF may estimate usage which can affect your final bill. If supply continued during a cooling-off cancellation, you are liable for energy used from the supply start date.

Accessing account data and reactivation

Request copies of recent bills and meter history from EDF if needed. If you later choose to return to EDF, check whether the previous tariff is still available and confirm any new contract start date and fees.

Use this checklist to manage a cancellation with EDF.

• Find your EDF account number and tariff name.
• Decide your cancellation method (web, phone, post) and prepare final meter readings.
• If cancelling within 14 days, state you are exercising the cooling-off right and save the cancellation message.
• If on a fixed-term tariff, check whether exit fees apply (example: £75 per fuel on some fixed tariffs).
• Send a registered letter if you need a dated proof of notice to: EDF, 90 Whitfield Street, W1T 4EZ London, United Kingdom.
• Keep all confirmations, call reference numbers and final bills for disputes.
• If you do not receive confirmation within 15 working days of your cancellation being acknowledged, escalate to the Energy Ombudsman and contact Citizens Advice.