Npower advised me not to cap?

MissCellaneous

Hi,

I'm currently on Npower's Sign Online 10 tariff (I only just switched via Energyhelpline the other month). I checked the comparison sites the day before yesterday to see what the various capped tariffs (on a monthly DD) would do to my bills - they came out at £210+ (the absolute least) more expensive per year than my current tariff. Is that too much more?

So I thought I'd try Npower themselves yesterday, and the guy on the phone said to me that their own fixed price deals had 'sold out' / ended the day before (and there was a pre-recorded message saying the same), but he gave me the retentions number, suggesting that they could still do me a fixed deal. He then went on to ask me what my current tariff was, and once I told him, he advised me that I wouldn't be doing myself any favours by capping - he swore blind that when the prices go up, my current tariff would still be cheaper than any fixed deals that Npower had to offer.

I haven't rang retentions yet or put a switch through. Have the guys at Npower been told to say such things to customers? Have I been told porkies or was the guy really trying to help out? What do you think?

Your opinion would be appreciated!

Tracey

mary43

Tracey - I'm with Npower sign online 10 tarriff and was advised the same as you when I rang last week. I was told I could cap if I wanted to the choice was mine but he actually gave me figures -what it would cost me etc. they're in my household accounts folder at the minute and its out of reach but it certainly looked as if I would be better off staying put.
He always gave me dates to phone in meter readings (I asked for this) to avoid estimated bills in future. He couldn't have been more helpful and I have to say all the staff I've ever spoken to have been really nice to me.
It's all very confusing I find with so many different companied and tariffs and knowing which would be the best one.
Seemed to be something to do with my postcode as well from what the chap said .

MissCellaneous

Thank you - it's good to know that you're in exactly the same position and have been told the same thing. How did those figures look even with that threat of the 60% rise looming? Hmm, it is all very confusing, and god knows utility companies are the most stressful things to deal with at the best of times!

Tracey

kjsmith7

Hmmm.... it's likely that when they put their standard tariffs up that they will put their other tariffs up in line... they'll still be cheaper than the standard tariffs but hey... not necessarily cheaper than a cap with another supplier?

MissCellaneous

I thought that - but the guy on the phone said that it was 'highly unlikely' that my current tariff would end up more expensive than npower's own fixed (not capped) tariff.

I guess that even if that ended up being the case, it could still end up more expensive than a cap with another supplier, as you say. I'm still umm-ing and ahh-ing here, but I have been looking at E-on's PP 17.