Is it possible we're being charged by Npower?

petrafyde

Title should be OVER-charged, oops!

After almost two years of burying my head in the sand w/regards to companies like Npower, I am now trying to sort out my billls. I have a few questions and if anyone can spare a minute to help I'd be grateful.

They're taking £103 per month from us for Elec via direct debit - is this a normal costing per month for a family of five in a semi 3/4 bedroomed house?

Secondly, the real struggle. Our gas bills.

Several times they've upped the direct debit without informing us causing me to go over my overdraft resulting in cancellation by the bank (and then charges for me). The last payment they tried to take was £156 pm on DD. We use gas central heating, combination boiler and a gas hob (elec oven). We don't use the heating that much, and the person who installed our boiler set it to a lower than average temp so we would save money - but nothing seems to have any effect on the amount our bills cost! We're on the two tariff (day and night) plan, so any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

KimYeovil

If you have an electric oven and gas heating then you should (nine times out of ten) not be using an Economy 7 (day/night) tariff.

petrafyde

Hi,

Why would that be please?

Joyful

You will be charged a higher rate for normal for day time electric up to around midnight then less for a 6 hour period. This is usually best if you have electric storage radiators that use the electricity during the cheap period.

petrafyde

OK, I feel really stupid.. this is the tariff they advised us to take - we've had it for four years now!

brysiewysie

It does depend but if you use between 15-25% of your electricity at the night rate it's probably little difference which rate you have.

Do you have real readings for your meters on your bills? Npower should only be setting the DD based on usage (and debt if relevant).

I'd suggest researching posts on the forum about energy saving.

epsilondraconis

It may be worth you taking a look at this thread too.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=822299

WhistleBlower

Ok, Is that electric DD for your usage only or are you paying back a debt too?

£103 for a family of five is not bad, if a fraction high. (I once saw a family of four using over £200 a month :eek:)

Have you ever had estimated bills that they've corrected? Has your account ever been re-billed? If the answer to either of those is yes then ask if you can get your usage manually calculated. Occasionly rebilled accounts throw the calculations out of whack.

Are you being billed to estimates? If yes. give them a reading asap in case you've been over or under estimated, the first measn they might owe you money, the latter means you might eb running up a debt you didn't know you had.

For the economy7, check your bill, if you are using significantly more units on your low rate than the day rate then you might be better off switching to standard.

petrafyde

Hi and thanks for the advice.

I'll ring them tomorrow to clear the air so to speak and find that info out.

petrafyde

Hi

We've been in touch with Npower. We owe (atm billed next in December) £65 for Electricity, and wait for it... £900 for gas.

I have found something interesting though, couldn't get through today but when I do I'll post the results

petrafyde

Update, haven't been able to get through to them so haven't been able to post! As soon as I do I'll post it here