N Power on my doorstep other night!

blackqueen

Hi all,

I thought I'd come here for some advice/info as I know how knowledgeable you all are!

Anyway, a chap from N Power came to my door the other night to try and get me to change my gas and elec supplier from Scottish Power (who I currently have) to N Power. I told him outright that I do NOT sign up to such deals on the doorstep. I'm too cautious for that - lol!

He didn't push it (good for him I say!) but went on to say that with all other gas and elec suppliers you pay a standing charge but you won't with N Power and that you will get a £100 discount for paying by DD instead of the usual £20 you get from other suppliers...

I just "hmmmmed" at me (just call me sceptical!).

I just wondered what other people think to this. Is this true? Sounds highly unlikely to me...

I said I used this site and how great it was but that I had heard N Power's customer service wasn't too hot. He said that Mark (!) Lewis from this site was always raving about N Power... :rotfl: I hadn't noticed, but there we go!

Also, he told me that if I was going to check online for a comparison that he was telling me confidentially :rolleyes: that N Power were reducing their prices next Wednesday.

I know from this site not to check right now as with the recent BG announcement then they will all follow suit. I trust Martin and this site. I would hardly trust someone trying to sell me something on my doorstep. Must think I'm as green as I'm cabbage looking - LOL!

On a slightly off note with regard to DD payments and them being increased. Scottish Power have written to me saying they are putting my DD up from £52 to £63 a month (that's combined)! However, I only had my payment reduced from £58 a month to £52 back in August and I was over £350 in credit! I had a refund cheque from them in August too!

So, it does seem that they automatically increase your DDs. I shall be contacting them to dispute my DD increase along with current meter readings. They're chancing their arms and would rather have YOUR money earning interest in their accounts. Great for them, not for us. So everyone, dispute with them if your DDs seem be unrealistic in comparison to your usage. Look on your old bills and call them armed with readings. Just my thoughts on that one...

Thanx everyone. Looking forward to any info people have on the N Power thing. I hate being caught on the doorstep, standing there letting the heat out and putting up my bills even more was all I could think as I tried to get rid of him - LOL!

KimYeovil

The nPower dual fuel direct debit discount is, indeed, £105 per annum. But you only receive this once a year at the end of twelve months. So it is, effectively, a termination penalty that accumulates by £8.75 each month.

The money from other suppliers is variable - but some will take the discount off your monthly bill. Eg, E-on has a generous discount of 17.5% (but whether this balances out there less generous unit price is a case for your calculator and useage to decide.)

Premier_2

blackqueen wrote: »

...He didn't push it (good for him I say!) but went on to say that with all other gas and elec suppliers you pay a standing charge but you won't with N Power...

I'm in a good mood, lets give him the benefit of the doubt and suggest he's been mis-informed. Most suppliers offer a no standing charge tariff. I certainly don't pay any standing charge with my supplier, and they don't even offer me that option. I'm not sure if BG have any standing charges either now.

blackqueen wrote: »

...and that you will get a £100 discount for paying by DD instead of the usual £20 you get from other suppliers...

That may be true (I don't know), but what's the point in getting an extra £80 discount per year if they are charging you £160 more in consumption charges (again, I don't know if that will be the case)?

If you don't think you are on a good deal at present, do a check with a couple of the comparison sites listed above in the resource bar (but be careful as BG have just announced a price decrease which may lead you to a wrong conclusion at first sight!)

daveyjp

I find it far easier not to answer the door. We had a "clipboard" guy round at 8.30pm on Friday - I wasn't expecting a visitor so the door wasn't opened.

anniecave

The no standing charge bit is the commonest trick in the book...

Scottish Power do a range of tariffs, and some of them do include standing charge. I am with Scottish Power and when I signed up I remember there was a choice.

I'd wait until all the suppliers have reduced their prices, then do a check of what's out there...

If you decide to stick with Scottish Power I'd also work out your annual useage at current tariff before tackling them about their DDs. In my experience Scottish Power are better than others at working out the correct value for direct debits.

blackqueen

Thanx everyone for your input.

I know with the tariff I am on with Scottish there is no standing charge. Funny how misleading these things can be when they word it just right and you're caught on the doorstep.

daveyjp, that's just like me. I don't normally answer the door but I've done so twice in the past couple of days and been caught first by N Power man and then today by a lady from Everest - to whom I pointed out my fully doubleglazed house, replacement fascias etc etc. Note to self - STOP opening door so readily!!!

I will definitely do a tariff comparison when Martin gives us the green light.

As for Scottish Power, they've been way off with me as far as DDs are concerned and I supply them with meter readings - as my £350+ refund last August is testament to. And power consumption hasn't changed significantly since then! Hmm, unless... that darned cat! She's got a fur coat but has she been switching the heating up?!!! :rotfl:

Thanx again everyone, you're great! :T

Plushchris

blackqueen wrote: »

He didn't push it (good for him I say!) but went on to say that with all other gas and elec suppliers you pay a standing charge but you won't with N Power and that you will get a £100 discount for paying by DD instead of the usual £20 you get from other suppliers...

I dont know quite where to start with your post so I've just picked out the above statement.

Whats he has told you is true to a point, there isnt a standing charge on the tariff he will switch you to (the standard tariff) but this tariff isnt their cheapest, that would be the sign online 14 tariff which does have a standing charge.:rolleyes:

Also, the £105 "discount" isnt really a discount at all, its your money that you are getting back at the end of the year. Effectively you pay that out as kim pointed out then get it refunded at the end of the 12 months.

Sometimes I wonder if it is just Npower sales bull or if these guys genuinely dont know what they are talking about, either way I wouldnt even entertain somebody on my doorstep.

KimYeovil

Plushchris wrote: »

Also, the £105 "discount" isnt really a discount at all, its your money that you are getting back at the end of the year. Effectively you pay that out as kim pointed out then get it refunded at the end of the 12 months.

Well, it is a 'discount' in the same way that others are 'discounts'. That is, it is not paid on top of the tariff prices - it is a discount off those prices. But it is an all or nothing affair that only pays out after a complete twelve month period.

garybuk

The discounts are usually applied at Tier 2 rates which are generally half the price of Tier 1 so in some circumstances it CAN be cheaper to pay the Standing Charge.

KimYeovil

garybuk wrote: »

The discounts are usually applied at Tier 2 rates which are generally half the price of Tier 1 so in some circumstances it CAN be cheaper to pay the Standing Charge.

I know of no other company than British Gas who only apply discounts to Tier 2 consumption. That's not 'usually'.

WhistleBlower

If you got his name/id number, report him. NPower have a department for agent complaints, call customer services and talk to them.

The direct debit discount is correct, provided you remain on DD for 1 year and have dual fuel.

No standing charge is wrong, prices are specially adjusted (just like almost every other company i belive) to cover the standing charge. (which i don't like) PP prices have been reduced a little to "offset" the cost of standing charge, in theory.

As for us redcing prices....news to me :rolleyes: