Npower/collections direct - what shall I do?

n0460347

I'm new to these sort of sites, and this is my first post.

I have lived in my current flat for 11 months. As soon as I moved in I rung npower and they then became my electricity supplier. It's my first flat, and I didn't really know how much I was meant to be paying each month for electricity. Therefore when a bill came for about £60 after a month, I paid it. My friend then told me that was too much. I rung npower, explained the situation, and they refunded the money.

A few months down the line I didn't receive a bill, so I left it, and thought maybe I'd get a bill after 6 months. Still nothing. A few more months went by, and I thought I'd better contact them and tell them I owed them money, but hadn't received a bill. I was shocked when I got a bill saying that they weren't my supplier. I didn't really know what to so, so I waitied for a bill to come from the new supplier. I never received one.

I got a letter from collections direct on 13th (dated 6th) addressed to 'the occupier' saying they/I owed £270.63 and had 7 days to contact npower to pay the debt. If I didn't contact them my details will be passed onto Debt and Litigation Recovery Officers, who will contact me, possibly visit me and I'll be expected to pay for these..!?

So I rung npower and told them everything. He said that they were in fact my supplier, and it looks like I do owe them £270.63. He said that npower had been the supplier for the flat since 2001, but I'm not sure these flats have even been here that long!

I went onto the internet and did a bit of research on this 'collections direct'. It turns out that its part of npower! The letter makes the reader think that its a different company.

I'm moving out in less than 2 weeks. I'm quite willing to pay as long as there is a definate amount that hasn't just been estimated. I have no access to the electricity meter, so i know that any meter readers that have been round wouldn't be able to either.

Magentasue

Get landlord or letting agent to let you check meter and pay up quick before they lamp charges on top of the bill.

n0460347

I have tried for months and months to get a key for the door so I can get into my electricity box. Unfortunately without any luck. Yesterday, in desperation I wrote a note and stuck it on the door. Luckily someone else that lives here opened the door, so I got the number off the box so I know how many units I've used since living here (but they've since locked it back up).

A lot of people I have spoken to have said that unless they have definate facts regarding units used, they can't send people round. I know they don't as they can't possibly have got in to view the box.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm going to keep a low profile (blinds shut and no noise) until I move out... then they won't be able to get in unless I open the door (which I won't). They can only come in without my permission with the police I believe...(?)

Magentasue

When you move out, you'll need to give a meter reading. When a new tenant moves in, they give one. If they don't match, they'll investigate, but if they look right, they'll bill you, using the customer readings. If you don't send a reading, they'll bill you with an estimated reading and catch up with you later.

You need to contact npower before the seven days are up to avoid administration fees and charges being added to the debt.

Paul7349

Call Npower so they can put a hold on your account.

Make sure you give them your new address to send you letters

Do you have meter reads off when you moved in??? If not they may have them from the when the people who lived there before you moved out, they should be the same.

Take a meter read when you move out.

They then should be able to use the meter read when you moved in, from you or when the other people moved out to the meter read you take when you moved out.

They shoudl not have a problem doing this and if they do ask for a complaint number

n0460347

Thanks for your replies!

Magentasue wrote: »

You need to contact npower before the seven days are up to avoid administration fees and charges being added to the debt.

Sue, I didn't get the letter until 7 days later. It was dated the 6th, and I got it on the 13th!

Paul, I never thought about ringing and getting a complaints number... but will do.

I don't think it's right, or fair that without any warning that they send me a letter like this. If they had sent me a bill that was addressed to me, rather than this threatening letter addressed to 'the occupier', I wouldn't have a problem paying it. I know I am the occupier, but they know who their contract is with, and who they are chasing!

I forgot to mention in my earlier posts that when I rung them yesterday they said that the debt isn't in my name!!
So I guess that if any action is taken, then it's not acually me that they're after anyway! I presume it's the previous tenants.
I just don't particularly want to explain this to debt collectors! :S

Premier_2

n0460347 wrote: »

...I'm going to keep a low profile (blinds shut and no noise) until I move out...

Good idea. Bury your head in the sand. Always the best policy where debts are concerned ... eventually they go away, don't they? :rolleyes:

n0460347

Premier wrote: »

Good idea. Bury your head in the sand. Always the best policy where debts are concerned ... eventually they go away, don't they? :rolleyes:

Thanks for your help... but it aint my debt!!