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

Magentasue

I know what it's like when you've cut back every where possible and something like this happens. Can you make any cutbacks? If you can pay the extra for two or three months, you might be able to negotiate a reduction in line with your reduced spring/summer usage. Any chance of spare time work, overtime? Ebay?

copperjar

mandi - just checked, my meter has an ft on the front. Just read the article you linked - seems that it'd only be in my favour if I had a metric one???

copperjar

I'm already ebaying like crazy!! Think I might offer to pay off the debit amount currently on my account (money was going to be used for my credit card but that'll have to wait...its 0%) and then see if I can renegotiate the DD. Could that work?

mandi

copperjar wrote: »

mandi - just checked, my meter has an ft on the front. Just read the article you linked - seems that it'd only be in my favour if I had a metric one???

then you need to check you bill to see if its been converted? Look to see if you bill has a metric conversion factor on it somewhere,if it hasnt this could be the reason why

Magentasue

copperjar wrote: »

I'm already ebaying like crazy!! Think I might offer to pay off the debit amount currently on my account (money was going to be used for my credit card but that'll have to wait...its 0%) and then see if I can renegotiate the DD. Could that work?

Yes, but ...
It's quite possible your DD was set too low to encourage you to switch. I know you were in credit but the idea is that you have enough credit at the beginning of winter to cover the increased use. Plus prices increased. So, yes, clearing your account should mean a lower DD because some of the increase is to clear the debit balance, but maybe not as low as you'd like. It would certainly make it easier to switch if your present tariff isn't as good as it was made out to be.

sarahs999

Top tip: sign up here and plug your meter readings in each week. You then have an accurate and up to date view of what you're spending on gas and elec, and can monitor things like what it costs to leav hte heating on an hour less, or use hte washing machine one less wash etc:

http://www.i-measure.org/index.php

copperjar

Thanks everyone.

mandi - the conversion is there on my bill so it can't be that. I think my DD must generally be too low - think I'll ask if I can pay off my arrears and up it by £25 per month and see how I get on. Not sure they'll go for that but I just can't afford £110 per month. I live in a tiny house - just me - and although I've had the heating on quite a bit lately, I don't think my useage has been excessive.

Thanks Sarah - I'll take a look at that site.

mandi

Im sorry to hear that Copperjar Hope you can get this sorted

Magentasue

Long term, maybe you could look to see if you're entitled to any grants or help with insulation? When we were struggling, we were judged never poor enough to qualify for help or benefits even though we were worse off than people om benefits and renting. Don't know if it's any different now.

At the beginning of the winter we stripped the wallpaper and carpets in the bedrooms. One weekend in December we had a window out! Once that was done and we decorated, we had carpets and mega-thick underlay and lined curtains - our gas usage dropped dramatically the following week. Made me think twice about insulation and the savings.

copperjar

Must admit, my house is bloody freezing downstairs! Just have one raidiator for the whole of the downstairs so have had to put the fire on lately - yet upstairs its boiling! Will definitely have to cut back.

mandi - on my bill it says:
'M' Number 1801791409
Calorific Value 40.100
Correction Factor 1.022640

I'm guessing that means the conversion has been done??