Billing probems - npower

Nicnet_2

(long post alert, sorry guys)

Ok to start it off, we were on one of those pre-pay meters for a few years, Our usual weekly payment was around £8 a week.

suddenly it went sky high, and went up over a period of a year to over £30 per WEEK. we were paying over £120 a month on electric, In may. No winter fuel charges on that one, this was early spring and the heating had been off for over a month already.

We live in a one bedroom flat with no central heating and one storage radiator in the lounge. Doors get closed in the winter and we only ever try heat the one room. I'm disabled and get cold very easily so sit with a blanket round me most of the time. We live on the North East Coast, 20 yards from the beach and in an old house. Its freeeezing but we darent add to those huge electric costs and put on any more storage radiators, we have one in the bedroom and another in the kitchen we have never used since they were put in last year.

We use a shower and dont have a bath in the house, we use a kettle to wash dishes as its not worth us keeping the water hot for two sinks. (bathroom and kitchen are adjacent so kettle is easier than boiling a tank of water all the time)

We complained about the costs and were told that the meter was right, but we disputed that and got a one off £60 rebate sent to us after complaining to ofgem. I demanded they change the meter to a standard economy 7 meter in November 07. This was done after a bit of a fight and them trying to charge me for it. Intension was to get the meter installed and then move elec companies for a better deal.

We were then told we were being put onto one of their contracts, (which one we STILL have not been told and no literature sent out despite repeated requests) I suspect its the fixed rate till 2011 one we were put on.

Since last year, we havent recieved a bill. I phoned them up numerous times and was told eventually that it was because our meter was still in their system as a pre-payment meter, that sorted out on the phone, new number given. Still no bill

Phoned them again and was told that they had it down as a economy 7 meter (yip thats right) but had been told BY US that it wasnt and it was a standard all hour charge meter. (nope we never once even discussed that). So they sent out a meter checker to come have a look and confirm it was a economy 7 meter. another job sorted. Where's my bill.

Got a bill eventually telling us we owed over £800 on the pre-payment meter they had taken out nearly a year ago. ermmm nope we didnt. do your maths. After threatening to take them to court over that one we were told the bill had been cancelled as a 'goodwill gesture' but still no current bill was available

They are now 'rebuilding' the account to reflect changes in the charges, and to sort out what charges we should have been on since Nov last year. Still no bill

This has been going on for a year come 1st Nov, we have been unable during this entire time to make payments on the account due to a 'c*** up with the meter status. They said they couldnt accept payments in case it went into the wrong bill. huh. account number has never changed.

We are now expecting a monster bill when it does eventually hit the carpet and have no way of paying it. (bank was cleared out by overdraft charges due to a bank mess up when they bounced a direct debit that was 1p over limit and was also over the agreed dd limit set by us on that account, still working with them on that one)

Ok the questions.

How is it remotely possible that a single bedroom flat with double glazing right through, sealed doors, all economy bulbs, no standy tv etc. No central heating, one storage radiator and no water boiling all day can possibly be generating over £120 a month usage on a pre-payment meter.

Is there some law somewhere (i'm sure ive heard it) that states that if a utility company has refused payments for a bill for over a year that the bill is no longer payable.

This company is forcing us to stay with them by not producing a bill for us to pay so we can move supplier. They are forcing us into debt which we will be unable to pay by not providing us with any way to pay anything off our bill. No mandate can be set up on the account, no payment card can be produced, and they dont accept standing orders.

Surely refusing payment on an account and forcibly making a customer stay this lenght of time by not producing a bill is illegal.

advice?