Pullng my hair out because of npower!!

meggsy

cfj wrote: »

I am also a dual fuel direct debit customer of npower - have been since November 2005. Last year I checked for a cheaper tarrif and ended up changing to online dual fuel dd in August last year. I was then informed in December 2008 that I would only receive two statements a year. When I queried this with npower they said this was because i pay by direct debit - which I have been doing since Nov 2005 and up until now have always received quarterly billing. I am still in correspondence with npower as I have told them I do not like being dictated to about when I receive my statements, I was not gven any choice in the matter. In these days of high energy prices I think it is important to keep a check on how much gas/electricity you are using and how much it is costing. npower don't seem to see it that way, to my mind what they are actually tying to do is make use of customers paying by direct debit on a monthly basis so they are able to earn interest (albeit not much interest now) on customers' money and if you happen to be in credit you won't know this for six months when you receive your twice yearly statement. They tell me that nowadyas the majority of leading energy providers only send direct debit customers statements every 6 months - I am not certain this is the case. Has anyone else had this situation with npower, it would be useful to know as I feel that most people would prefer to have quarterly statements and if customers are unhappy about only having two statements a year, the more customers who complain there is more chance that we will be listened to!!

I have paperless billing and monthly DD and also received a letter about two statements a year instead of four. I don't like it either and emailed cs, this is the actual reply on 19th December ...

Good Afternoon

Unfortunatly on Direct Debit we can only bill accounts bi-annually.

Kind regards
npower customer service

KimYeovil

cfj wrote: »

[...]
I was then informed in December 2008 that I would only receive two statements a year. When I queried this with npower they said this was because i pay by direct debit - which I have been doing since Nov 2005 and up until now have always received quarterly billing. I am still in correspondence with npower as I have told them I do not like being dictated to about when I receive my statements, I was not gven any choice in the matter. In these days of high energy prices I think it is important to keep a check on how much gas/electricity you are using and how much it is costing.
[...]

Here's an idea: read your meters. Monthly bills, weekly bills, bills on demand. QED.

(If you are not able to work out your bill from your meter readings you will not be capable of working out the true bill from statements.)

cfj

Are you saying that if I read my meters on monthly, weekly, etc basis I can demand a bill?! In theory this sounds okay but in practice can you get anyone in customer services to do what you ask them!!!

KimYeovil

No, you do not need to request a bill from your supplier. You yourself can keep an eye on how much you are using and keep track (as approximately or as accurately as you like) of how how much it is costing.