nPower refuse to change monthly payment

bettyboo71

Bill arrived from nPower wanting to change payments from £44 to £58 per month.
Phoned to ask them to leave it and was told that this is how much they have calculated I need to pay to cover my usage (obviously based on an estimate of how much gas and electricity I will be using in the future) so they cannot change it.
She insisted that 'they cannot knowingly let me get into debt' but surely this is what happens with all their customers who pay quarterly in arrears?
Can they actually refuse to change my payment to an amount I am happy with?

Possibly time to consider switching.....

McKneff

Yes they can refuse to change it, maybe you are happy with it but obviously they aren't, i can see their reasoning.

They have a good base for 'estimating' they usually use the gas used in the previous year plus their price plus maybe a price rise.

Your choice whether you switch or not.

Plushchris

Would you come back on here in six months time complaining about getting a big bill through for outstanding debit on the account because your direct debits were not covering what you were using?

Because thats what would probably happen if you didnt let the direct debits go up.

There have been many posts on here with people saying "I've been happily paying £40 a month for the past 2 years and now I have a massive bill because the supplier didnt adjust my direct debits"

They are by no means angels, but sometimes they just cant win can they?

KimYeovil

People who pay quarterly are charged for the privilege. Feel free to switch to this more expensive method if you prefer.

Cardew

bettyboo71 wrote: »

She insisted that 'they cannot knowingly let me get into debt' but surely this is what happens with all their customers who pay quarterly in arrears?
Can they actually refuse to change my payment to an amount I am happy with?

.....

If you are on Direct Debit you get a good discount for paying by that method; those paying quarterly don't get that discount.

Many of us would like to pay, say, £1 a month and then pay it off at the end of the year!!!!

You entered into a Direct Debit agreement with Npower; it takes both parties to agree.

If you cannot reach agreement and are not happy - leave Npower!

maxmycardagain

accept the increase and every month ring for a balance, as soon as you are in credit you have just cause to request a lower DDM

as an alternative, pay off any balance, they cant ask for more then...

maxmycardagain

Cardew wrote: »

If you are on Direct Debit you get a good discount for paying by that method; those paying quarterly don't get that discount.

Many of us would like to pay, say, £1 a month and then pay it off at the end of the year!!!!

You entered into a Direct Debit agreement with Npower; it takes both parties to agree.

If you cannot reach agreement and are not happy - leave Npower!

except with a DDM they only have to TELL you its going up, not get your acceptance, its part of why a standing order is better than a DDM, no variations!

maxmycardagain

KimYeovil wrote: »

People who pay quarterly are charged for the privilege. Feel free to switch to this more expensive method if you prefer.

really? always?

If you’re not sure which of our payment plans is right for you, don’t worry, you’ll still receive a bill from us every three months and we’ll still do our best to save you money. If we receive full payment within the time shown on your bill, we’ll give you a 2.5% discount off your next bill.

http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/Help/ForYourHome/YourBills/WaysToPay.aspx#quarterly

bettyboo71

Sorry, perhaps I need to clarify this.
I do understand that if my monthly payments are too low I can end up with a large bill but the bill to the end of January is based on accurate readings and has a £54 credit on it. I always check if its an estimated bill and give them updated readings if the reading isnt very close to the actual use.
So, over the next 3 months they expect me to use the addditional £14 per month that they want to charge me plus another £17 (one third of the current credit balance) on top of the amount I am paying at the moment - which has already been a sufficient payment to leave me with a credit of more than one monthly payment at the end of one of the coldest winters in twenty years.
And the discount I get every year for paying by direct debit is because they have that money paid in advance of any bill being issued, earning interest in their account rather than mine.

Plushchris

maxmycardagain wrote: »

except with a DDM they only have to TELL you its going up, not get your acceptance, its part of why a standing order is better than a DDM, no variations!

Standing order is worse than a DD as you dont get the DD discounts so you may as well pay quarterly than by standing order, its no different.

Plushchris

maxmycardagain wrote: »

really? always?



http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/Help/ForYourHome/YourBills/WaysToPay.aspx#quarterly

Pretty much always yes. A prompt payment discount doesnt usually add up to the sort of discounts (or lower unit rates) you get when on a DD tariff.