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£148.00pmonth 4 Gas & Elec (3bed semi??)

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vclark1
vclark1 Posts: 11 Forumite
I have been with Npower for 3 years now and i'm stuck. I joined with a apromise of £50.00 per month combined and it has been creeping up ever since. This time last year it was 108.00 per month for combined, the in August they reveiwed it and it went down to 98.00

Now I have just received a bill and they ae changing my payments to £148.00 PER MONTH. I live in a 3 bed semi no heating on in day for 4 days a week. we have 2 kids (if thats of any use) Surely this is completely over the top!!!

What the BLEEEEEP do I do with this!!! I have to pay 208.00 to reduce the figure to £128.00 but thats as low as they will go?

I'm gobsmaked - no young family should be expected to pay this amount for a nessecity. I have other people in 3 bed semis that only pay £80.00 per month for combined why is mine sooo high.

The meter readings are corrrect as I read them myself. Is there a meter problem?

Please can someone help me I can't afford this much i have a high mortgage. Actually come to think of it, 2 radiators are switched off at the manual off turney thing (thermostat) so 2 of them should be costing me nothing.

I'm so worried now I could cry.:(
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Comments

  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,125 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    £50 a month combined is very low, You have fallen for the old trick in the book low DD only to build up a large debt

    Most of us pay well over £50 a month for dual fuel, more like £70-£110

    I Pay £85 a month for fuel and just about right for us

    I guess you been under paying built a debt and now they are clawing it back.
  • KimYeovil
    KimYeovil Posts: 6,156 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you tried the comparison sites to see what other suppliers and tariffs are available? Are you on one of nPower's cheaper tariff?

    Have you (outside chance) checked the meters/bills for a metric/imperial confusion?

    If you think the meters are a problem you can pay to have them checked - should be about £50 and £80 each. This is unlikely to be the problem, though.

    Two radiators may be switched down but how many are left on? If money is tight you should only have one or two on, not one or two off.

    You seem to suggest you have heating on during the day three days per week - that's probably two days more than most. Most people are out during the weekend. Have you received all your annual direct debit discounts?
  • without posting your consumption here you must have been using it, after all we have had a bad winter and we all felt the pain of bigger bills

    Only thing I can suggest is shop around and use a comparison web site and post actually usage not how much you pay now

    Normally internet tariffs tend to be cheapest

    also make sure you are well insulated and draft proofed
  • I was with Npower for 2 years and same happened with me kept creeping up and up we ended up paying £94 a month for gas and electric with them after starting at £65 (we too live in a 3 bed semi with 2 children) Last year we switched to Eon after using Uswitch price comparison now only paying £60 a month combined plus get extra club card points. Id advice you to go on a comparison site £148 a month seems a lot!
  • Mrs_Thrify
    Mrs_Thrify Posts: 1,673 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hiya, £148 is a big bill, have you checked you are on the cheapest taraff? Worked on getting the house more insulated?
    It will not be easy at first but turn things off, even little things count towards the bill. For example I now turn the microwave off at the wall so the timmer light goes OUT. I do not need this light on when food is not in the oven.
    Being carefull with gas and electric is something you learn over time.
    Try buying a Owl home energy monitor, you will soon see ware the pennies go. Julie
    If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
    Spring begins on 21st March.
  • Paying £79 here and thats just for 2 of us, I don't think thats even enough,

    Do you know what the debt is on the account? This might explain a bit more then
  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,125 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    £148 might cover previous debt or a higher expected bill given the time of year
  • I wish thats all i was paying...Its costing me £240 a month for gas and electricity. 3 bed semi, double glazing, cavity wall insulation about 5 layers of loft insulation. !!!!
  • dogshome
    dogshome Posts: 3,878 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi vclark1 - Most of the suppliers are attempting to push up D/D payments this winter, and unfortunately you are with the most aggressive one, who also 'adjust' your Prime unit use to increase your winter bills

    The only solution is to do your homework on at least one year's bills to get accuarate figures of the quantity of Elec & Gas Kw you use a year, then use these on the comparision sites to find a cheaper tariff , work out your annual bill on that and divide by 12 to see what your monthly D/D payment should be
  • I've done some homework....

    I'm on Npower standard tariff for both gas and electricty. and my debt that I have accumulated was huge. My bill in August I was 283.23 in credit and now i owe them 208.26 on top of my regular dd set at the moment at £98.00.

    I have just seen the bill for the same period last year and it was the same almost with a couple of pounds. We obviously use more in winter.

    Thank you for your help. I have worked out that we use....17390kws per annum - GAS

    and

    4964kws per annum electricity.


    Just done a comparison - EDF cheapest saving a £343.00 per year. Only tied in for 1 year or £50.00 to exut

    Quite happy with that as then in 1 year I will have enough details to switch again if I need to.

    Thank you for your help, glad that others are paying roughly the sme and I will be keeping an eye on my wastage in the house.

    One final point is that i do have cavity wall insulation just had my loft insulated and also have double glazing. TURNING things off i the key i suppose. I was just in shck yesturday.


    Thank you
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