Pre-Payment Hell

Halfcat

NPower also have agreed to suspend the debt and will write of the debt (£1k) (£500 at a time) if she keeps up a good payment performance (what ever that means).
NPower get a lot of abuse on this and other sites, and I wouldnt use them myself for that reason, but this is a good programme and has really helped my friend who ran up the debt during their partners terminal ilness when they had no income (now on JSA only).

Top tip if you are on this program , only phone Npower during office hours 8-6pm M-f, the weekend staff do not have the training or knowledge to help where problems are complicated

Halfcat

THey have made lots of errors too, to be fair.
When they replaced the old regular meter (which was imperial) with a new metric pre-pay, they did not up their systems correctly, so they thought it was still imperial, so in effect she started to pay about 3 times the cost. That took about 4 calls to sort out, but they got there eventually.
Then I persuaded them to reduce her payments fomr £7 to £3 per week, which helped alot (JSA doenst stretch far).
Now I have got her onto First Step which is great, but they managed to mess this up, and so instead of freezing teh debt (pending writeoff in stages) they started taking 70% of every payment to repay the debt (yes, teh debt that was agreed to be frozen).

You need to keep a close eye on them.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Halfcat wrote: »

Look up eon caring energy.
Not familiar with their scheme, but options could be to reduce teh weekly repaymment (my friend got hers reduced fomr £7 per week to 3 per week). This was not Eon, but NPowers First Step programme. But Eon may allow you to do the same if you explain your circumstances change. You may need to prove this with proof of income etc.

Hi Halfcat

You're quite right; weekly debt collection rates on prepayment meters are not set in stone and can be adjusted depending on individual circumstances.

It's important people talk to us if they are struggling to cope with these payments. Certainly, Caring Energy is one avenue of contact. Our Vulnerable Customer team will also be able to help.

Once we are aware of the full circumstances, the re-payment rate can be set accordingly.

Malc

[Deleted User]

Just wondered if Eon do a different rate on the prepayment meters for people on benefits? I know some companys have different rates for DD customers who are classed as vunerable but as we have to keep the prepayment meters for 12 months this is not an available option to us??

silentshadow

noodle84, try EDF Energy as they do special rates for people on benefits.

EDF Energy Assist Social Tariff 0800-269 450

ss.

Premier_2

silentshadow wrote: »

noodle84, try EDF Energy as they do special rates for people on benefits.

EDF Energy Assist Social Tariff 0800-269 450

ss.

Here's the range of social tariffs provided by all the major 6 suppliers

http://cfe.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/cfe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5111&p_created=1210078248&p_sid=BO6Z9tgj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01ODQsNTg0JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

noodle84 wrote: »

Just wondered if Eon do a different rate on the prepayment meters for people on benefits? I know some companys have different rates for DD customers who are classed as vunerable but as we have to keep the prepayment meters for 12 months this is not an available option to us??

Sorry noodle but we don't currently offer special prepayment tariffs for people on benefits.

At the moment, we offer two prepayment products - standard and Age Concern. Prices are the same on both but the Age Concern product has extra benefits for customers over 60. These are listed on our website (see the link in my Personal Profile).

As silentshadow and Premier say, other suppliers may be able to help out here. As I said in my earlier post, I would have a look at the alternatives available.

I would also recommend you have a chat with our vulnerable customer team. Depending on the nature of the vulnerability at the property, they may be able to offer a better resolution regarding the actual meter. Not promising but worth a chat.

Hope this helps noodle. Again, give me a shout if I can help further as will be glad to do so.

Malc

mi_jardin

I second the Ebico option, we had an electricity pp/meter, and they were good, always helpful too which is a bonus.:money:
We were spending approx £50 a month with them, and dh works from home with 2 computers running 24/7.

Premier_2

mi_jardin wrote: »

I second the Ebico option, we had an electricity pp/meter, and they were good, always helpful too which is a bonus.:money:
We were spending approx £50 a month with them, and dh works from home with 2 computers running 24/7.

I have been a very keen supporter of Ebico ... until now.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2182897

Unfortunately, Ebico are only favourable in terms of cost for extremely low electricity users, even for pre-payment meter customers.
The recent debacle over a £12 credit only applies to their pre-payment metered gas customers, not electricity.

I suggest using the comparison sites in the resource bar above to seek out the cheapest supplier for your situation, it's unlikely to be Ebico for electricity.

viktory

mark2004uk wrote: »

We have pre-payment meters, we can't afford to put the Central Heating on, we are huddles round a halogen heater at the moment. Theres 2 in the house, we both goto work at 7 and home at 5 monday to friday, we unplug everything and we spend £70 elec and £60 on gas every month - this can't be right !!!!

People on Pre-Payment should get it cheaper as we pay before we get it, surely...:mad:

You pay £130 on pre payment and I pay £80 on DD. This is actually about right I am 'rewarded' for paying by DD by receiving a reduction and I also get a credit because I have duel fuel. I am also in credit to the tune of £220. Pre payment meters are a very expensive way of paying for your gas and electric.