NPower help

IsoChick

Have just logged on to my online npower account to see our latest bill (paperless billing)

Was totally shocked to see that they have changed our monthly amount from £70 to £227. Checked bank account, and yup, it's been taken out.

At the end of last year, we had a large outstanding bill, as we've always paid monthly for gas and electric together, so in the spirit of sorting things out, I paid the outstanding amount of £776.86

For 2 months, we've paid £70 a month. I know that this won't cover what we use in the winter months, but that's ok, as in the spring/summer months, the heating etc is off, and only the hot water is on for 3 or 4 hours a day.

However, from looking at the last 2 bills, it looks as if our electricity bill is £500 in credit, but our gas bill is £800 in debit... hence that our account balance is £350.46 in debit... how do they get a £227 monthly payment from this?

I will hold my hands up and say that I hate utility companies and can never get my head round them; but I still can't see how they can say that since we've got a debit with them of £350, they are going to make our monthly payment 2/3 of that.

TBH, I'd swap utility companies for a cheaper deal, but I have no idea whether what I'm getting is cheaper or not

taxdodger

Loads of cheap deals here
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1B2GGFB_enGB210GB210&ei=S3W-SZuBMIiKjAeU1_ihCA&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=gas+and+electricity+prices&spell=1

Magentasue

IsoChick wrote: »

However, from looking at the last 2 bills, it looks as if our electricity bill is £500 in credit, but our gas bill is £800 in debit... hence that our account balance is £350.46 in debit... how do they get a £227 monthly payment from this?

I will hold my hands up and say that I hate utility companies and can never get my head round them; but I still can't see how they can say that since we've got a debit with them of £350, they are going to make our monthly payment 2/3 of that.

You should have a zero balance this month or next and then build up a credit balance that will see you through the winter. Your DD has been increased to achieve this. The idea is that you don't have a debit balance, not that you have one that you pay off slowly in the summer. That way, you'll be in debt again next winter too.

Critchyboy

I've just neogiated with nPower that my DD stays the same, despite being in a debit balance at the end of six months as I pay it off, and always have done, promptly when my bill is displayed on line.

I would much rather earn interest in my account than give it to them... Besides, I only owed £50 for the six months Aug-Jan on gas and £125 on elec (all based on actual readings) although they wanted me to pay £131.00 per month..!!

I explained what I thought about that and they agreed to keep my normal monthly payments. As with all things, it depends who you get on the end of your phone, doesn't it?!

Magentasue

Critchyboy wrote: »

I've just neogiated with nPower that my DD stays the same, despite being in a debit balance at the end of six months as I pay it off, and always have done, promptly when my bill is displayed on line.As with all things, it depends who you get on the end of your phone, doesn't it?!

Yes, it does, but I don't think OP wants to clear his/her debit balance immediately.

dogshome

It appears that yet again the Utilities are slamming up Direct Debit payments across the board to compensate for Debit balances as the winter season ends - but Direct Debit levels are based on a whole years consumption and how much you owe and when, depends on when you started D/Debit payments to your supplier. If you started in October you will have a big debt by April that will be eroded over the summer months, ideally to zero by the next October. The Utilities may not like this, but the truth is for every Autumn start customer building debt over winter, they will have a Spring start customer building up a Credit balance from day one.
Resist these demands for paying off what is 'phantom' debt by knowing your account Start Date, Annual Consumption and Cost, and quoting it back to the supplier when they demand D/Debit increases - I joined N'power in the Autumn of '07 and have successfully fought off three unjustified demands for increased D/Debit
payments since.

IsoChick

Critchyboy wrote: »

I've just neogiated with nPower that my DD stays the same, despite being in a debit balance at the end of six months as I pay it off, and always have done, promptly when my bill is displayed on line.

I would much rather earn interest in my account than give it to them... Besides, I only owed £50 for the six months Aug-Jan on gas and £125 on elec (all based on actual readings) although they wanted me to pay £131.00 per month..!!

I explained what I thought about that and they agreed to keep my normal monthly payments. As with all things, it depends who you get on the end of your phone, doesn't it?!

We've been with npower for 5 years (2 different properties) and that is what we've always done. Same DD amount all the time, never had any problems with it. We've always had a debit balance, and npower never had any problems with it, until now!