Estimated readings

fruitdogs

Please help. I have just terminated my contract with NPower and been landed with a bill for £583.56.I have paid £44 since starting with them in 2007(gas)and have had meter readers to the house several times.My Dec 24th bill said I was 30p in credit.Chris at NPower tells me all the bills were estimated even though they have actual readings and I should have been paying £77 a month(they are only legally bound to do a meter reading every 2 yrs.)!He says there is nothing to look into and I must pay in 14 days.Any help gratefully received.Sorry to ramble,in shock!What is worse is I have just terminated my electric with them also and I'm awaiting the bill.

allan673

you will have to pay this bill, as youve used the gas im afraid. its your responsibility too to check meter reads etc to make sure your billed correctly and pay for what youve used.you should have phoned them up every quarter with the correct meter readings.
i.e to make sure your not paying too much or too little.

fruitdogs

I did actually call 3 times with the readings.They were going to up my DD to £52 if I wasn't leaving.I can't believe even with meter readings done by a meter reader that they still estimate the bill.Only legally obliged to read meters every 2yrs,not estimate when have the readings!Thanks for the reply anyway,will have to put it down to experience,learning curve etc.Luckily it's only my savings that take a hit,feel sorry for those who couldn't afford to pay.

Dave101t

npower are terrible but you used it so you have to pay it

allan673

i agree its strange that they didnt use actual readings to bill you, but unless you actually check the meter regularly and your bills this sort of thing can happen. basically youve got to make sure theyre doing theyre job right.

when i get a bill and its estimated i always phone them with the correct reading, and wait for the correct bill to arrive.
i prefer to pay quarterly now on receipt of bill as i had a similar problem with british gas, they were overcharging me and it was a nightmare getting the money they owed me back. i feel more in control now.

i got rid of british gas and n power and switched both fuels to ebico.