Extortionate Usage?

EarlyGirly_2

We always had a prepayment meter and had advice to change last year to direct debit as we were more financially secure

An average year meant we spent about £1500 on the prepayment meter and we did expect it to be slightly more on the monthly payment due to fuel increases. Apparently in under a year we've racked up a bill of £3200!!!

This is our usage
Billing Date (Night) (Day) (Cost) (Total Units used)

Jul-06 166 704 100.22 870
Oct-06 259 1061 139.09 1320
Apr-07 1628 1068 206.87 2696
Jul-07 1050 441 158.19 1491
Oct-07 273 834 125.29 Actual 1107
Jan-08 282 490 72.94 Actual 772
Jul-08 1129 2135 263.09 Actual 3264
Aug-08 890 1137 238.04 Estimate 2027
Oct-08 3610 5243 1124.08 Actual 8853
Jan-09 1859 3458 692.45 Actual 5317
We never turned our storage heating on until Nov so it's not that and we've always used the storage heaters so it doesn't account for the increase. There are no new electrical appliances in the house in 4 years except a new tv and laptop! My cooker is gas and we have a gas back boiler for hot water!

Npower are not interested and are insisting it is correct which it obviously isn't! We're all out of the house during the day and all my washing is done at weekends so no usage during the week!

Where do I go to get advice? The increase (Jul 08) coincides with the change in meter from prepayment to ordinary. They also don't have me on an economy seven tariff, I do have a day/night but they are charging me one price for both, whereas on the old economy 7 bills I can see the two prices.

The call centre just isn't interested in helping and are insisting it is right!

Premier_2

EarlyGirly wrote: »

...Npower are not interested and are insisting it is correct which it obviously isn't! ...

Why do you think that it isn't correct?

You didn't say what the actual meter reading was when the new meter was installed, but it looks like nPower have said it was zero. Was that wrong?
You have actual meter readings for 3 months later and actual meter readings for this January.

Assuming their calculation is correct (I haven't checked, computers are rarely wrong) then I presume the charge is correct.

With regards the lack of E7 now, well if you had it before it would be reasonable to expect it now, especially as they have provided you with a dual rate meter. They may however say they told you which tariff you would be on when you applied for the new meter and so may not be prepared to entertain any complaint about it some 18 months later.

You could request nPower to switch you to their E7 tariff now if you think it would be better for you.

Madfish

We used to have a pre pay and switched to a credit a while ago, we also have an owl meter attached to monitor spending and KWH use which is pretty much 99% spot on, I make it a habit of checking what i'm being charged per unit and paying £30 here and there straight to the Electric Provider before the bill even arrives as it saves those shocking bills, if you think your meter is at fault you can always get another one put side by side but they usually charge you if its found to be OK, better to put the money to an owl meter instead and test yourself. We have no electric heating and just run the basics and usually use around 12-15 units a day why dont you keep a diary for a few days and see what your daily unit usage averaging out your July08 to Oct08 seems about 60 units per day but thats not precise and seems high, let us know the results....