NPower are upping my DD by 100%!! Help!

copperjar

I changed energy provider at the end of last year. Used to be with Scottish Power - paid £55 per month in total for both gas and electricity and never had any problems. Was told that I could get much cheaper (by the salesman :mad: ) if I switched - would stay at £55 per month but that would account for the increase in general energy prices. Got a rebate from Scottish |Power of £120 - so the £55 was obviously more than covering the gas/electric I used.

Just got home to a letter from NPower saying they've reviewed my monthly pament and from next month will be increasing it to £110. I just can't afford this - no idea why its suddenly gone up so much. Is there anything I can do? Am I tied in with them for a year?

Any advice? Please help!

Fire_Fox

Check your usage in kwh per day on last winter's bill and this one, check the price per kwh on the NPower bill and on Scottish Power's website, check that your bill is based upon an actual (A) or customer (C) reading and not an estimated (E) reading.

If your usage is constant and your reading is estimated then you have been mis-sold the new tariff. But do learn from this - a doorstep salesman will tell you whatever you want to hear. You can get a substantial kickback (£20-30) by switching on a cashback website - as well as a cheaper price.

Post back with your usage in KWH if you are still unsure.

Magentasue

You're probably not tied in - unless you price fixed with a penalty for cancelling early.

Why do you not know why it's increased? Do you mean you haven't checked or that you have but don't know why they've done this? How much credit do you have on your account. You'll need a fair bit still to get a zero balance before summer. I suspect very little.

Of course you were in credit last year - you'd built that credit up to see you through the winter. That's why SP could leave the DD lower. Since then prices have gone up and you've got the £120 that should have been subsidising your increased winter use.

Bear in mind it'll take weeks to switch and you'll need to settle your Npower bill. So switching may be good but won't solve your problem today. Do you know how many kwh of gas and electricity you use each quarter?

copperjar

Its all based on estimated readings. They say I'm in credit on the electricity side, but £55 in debit on the other. But are upping it by £55 per month and will review in 6 months time.

Fire_Fox

So your next step is to read your meters. If you haven't used as much as they say you will be able to renegotiate the DD rise to one appropriate for your actual usage! But also check your price per KWH as NPower are not known for being cheap.

Magentasue

copperjar wrote: »

Its all based on estimated readings. They say I'm in credit on the electricity side, but £55 in debit on the other. But are upping it by £55 per month and will review in 6 months time.

Then you need to read your meters and compare the readings to those on your statement. Have you used more or less than estimated. If you've used less, you could argue for a reduction in the DD.

Fire_Fox

Let's play Snap!

copperjar

Okay, so I've spoken to NPower and am getting another call back on Monday. I think I've made a huge gaff here. Its all based on estimates - I think even the original start date reading - so now I've given them my proper readings, it seems I owe even more than the increase they want to put on me!! I talked to one of the managers (got a bit upset with him because I'm on a huge money saving spree at the moment and this is really going to put my efforts back) who agreed that he would waiver the £50 fee if I decide to cancel my policy and go with someone else. The problem is my gas bill - the electric is in credit and I seem to be paying the correct amount based on my meter reading, but I'll owe to the gas side.

I think the best thing I can do is check the rates based on the price per KWH and see whether it'd be better for me to switch.

Magentasue

I hope you work something out. At least you won't get caught out again. If you do switch, you'll have to settle your account so it might be easier to stay where you are. Once you have accurate kwh usage for a year, you can cost out your annual bill and know how much you have to pay. Aim to build up credit over the summer and use it up over the winter - that's what any supplier will expect you to do. Don't be fooled by salemen, credit balances in the autumn or estimated readings - read the meters and know where you are. Geeky but better you know more than they do rather than t'other way round.

mandi

Copper jar what sort of meter do you have ? It could be that you have an imperial meter, instead of a metric one .. an imperial one has ft on the front, the metric ones have M .. could be that you have the imperial one , and you bill hasnt been converted.. see this article.. No need to watch the video


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/01/are_you_paying_too_much_for_ga.html

Apparemtly this is a common problem , when changing suppliers

copperjar

Thanks Magentasue. I'm so upset - don't know how I can afford the extra £55 per month.