NPower - More than Doubling Direct Debit!

kazza6000

Hi

I just want to vent and find out if there is anything I can do, or if something similar has happened to you. Also some advice on what I should do long term. I'll try to be brief.

I changed to NPower Dec 07 - got my first bill Mar 08 and they made a major error with the gas (almost £400 for 10 weeks - with my husband and I working, this was ridiculous. There did appear an error with the meter reading!).

I spent from March to August trying to get the bill sorted (whilst heavily pregnant and then ovbviously the arrival of my new baby). I knew my monthly direct debit was slightly low (£70 for 3 bed mid terrace) but I was told to let the bill settle in, and then give exact readings (which I did!).

It would appear I never received the June bill, and I still haven't. I got a reprint of a bill in Aug correcting the gas (i think!). But since then, nothing.

I have just received my latest bill to find I am now almost £700 in debit!!!!!!! So, with the revised usage estimate and debt, my new monthly payment is £167!!!!!!!!!!!! More than double what I am currently paying!

I am so mad - they claim it's my responsibility to amend DD but how could I do that with no correct bill to work from??? But yet then contradict that statement by changing the DD based on my current bill!!!!

Has anyone else had this happen? Can I do anything? I am about to go on unpaid mat leave and am loosing my job later in the year - I cannot afford the jump in monthly payment.

So upset!

Magentasue

I understand that you're upset because the bill is a shock.

But ... you knew the DD was low, you knew that your statements had been based on inaccurate meter readings and we all know prices went through the roof last year. Why didn't you read your meters, work out how much you needed to pay and put the money aside or ask for the DD to be changed?

You can ask for more time to pay - bear in mind that what you pay is paying for what you use plus debt recovery, so it should go down once the debt is cleared. A last resort would be prepayment meters so make contact, negotiate and learn from experience - read your meters, keep your usage within limits you can afford and keep on top of things.

Don't panic - they'll have a minimum amount they want you to pay monthly but it may be lower than £167.

kazza6000

Thanks for your reply - it is indeed a shock to say the least!

I know this might sound incredibly thick but how do I read the meters and estimate my usage costs? I just don't get it! Never could read a utility bill!

Thanks!

Magentasue

I'll find you a link in a minute that has 'how to read your meter' instructions with pictures of different meters. You look at your statement, at the last actual readings (A). If for example your gas reading was 4008 and you meter now reads 4078, you've used 70units.

http://www.moneymatterstome.co.uk/Interactive-workshops/ReadingYourMeters.htm

If you have a metric meter (cubic metres), times that by 11 to get approx kwh (70 units = 770kwh) but if it's imperial (cubic feet) you need to multiply by 31 to get approx kwh (2170).

Worth making sure your supplier is calculating for the right type of meter - you can imagine what sort of difference it could make.

Electricity is easy - 70 units = 70kwh.

Now you know how many kwh you've used, find out how much each one costs (should be on statement). Somewhere around 12p for electricity and 4p for gas - less if you're lucky. You might like to ask your supplier if you could be put on a better tariff - you'd get a discount for an online one and you'd be able to see what's happening on your account.

Once you know how many kwh and how much per kwh, you can work out the bill before discounts and VAT - close enough to budget for.