npower.. taking more money off me than i have to live on..can anyone help

hully2000

edit once from here

bigbrummygirl

has any one got any more ideas on what i can do about this please as npower have checked my metre and say its working ok but and they finally read my metre and my latest bill is for £845.21 thats for electricity from the 15th of march until the 15th of june ..
i am a loss now.. energy watch have tried helping but nothings working.. now npower want £40.90 from my income support every week.. so i am now thinking seriously about going back to live with my mum..not ideal as shes in a two bed flat and theres me and my two teenagers but i dont know what else to do
any advice will be gratefull recieved

starlite_2

You can insist they switch you to a prepyment meter that will take back the debt at a rate you can afford. If you are on benefits it will likely be no more than £5 as there are regulations in place to prevent them taking more than you can afford.

espresso

starlite wrote:

You can insist they switch you to a prepyment meter that will take back the debt at a rate you can afford. If you are on benefits it will likely be no more than £5 as there are regulations in place to prevent them taking more than you can afford.

But surely that would just cost even more in the log run, due to the extra cost per unit and the standing charge on these meters.

starlite_2

True it will be slightly more, but once a debt has gotten to the stage where they are taking it from benefits surely it's th only option? better than starving/ losing your home!?

To the o.p have you spoken to c.a.b about your situation?

wigginsmum

I just can't believe you're using that much electricity ... it's not right. When did they check the meter? Are you sure they actually did instead of fobbing you off?

Mizz_Pink

bigbrummygirl wrote:

has any one got any more ideas on what i can do about this please as npower have checked my metre and say its working ok but and they finally read my metre and my latest bill is for £845.21 thats for electricity from the 15th of march until the 15th of june ..
i am a loss now.. energy watch have tried helping but nothings working.. now npower want £40.90 from my income support every week.. so i am now thinking seriously about going back to live with my mum..not ideal as shes in a two bed flat and theres me and my two teenagers but i dont know what else to do
any advice will be gratefull recieved

Thats a ridiculous amount, i'm fuming at having to pay £60 a month. You need to keep on top of this. The £800 + a month they want is probably for arrears.

Please go and see the CAB

bigbrummygirl

my metre is in the flat downstairs so a pre-payment metre is not an option
and i presume that it was checked as the guy was there a while and my electricity was turned off during the check.. (i took this as an indication something was being done to the metre)
but npower say its running within the guidelines

starlite_2

They are wrong..contact http://www.energywatch.org.uk/ for advice

starlite_2

They also have to move the meter for you free of charge as it is in a position where you do not have free and ready access to it.
We had ours moved indoors at in its old position it was inaccesible outside office hours..be warned though..it's quite a struggle to get them to do it, but they will evenntually!