Npower gas and electricity - HELP!

gemmalouise06

HiI am all set to move into a rented property within the next few weeks. I am moving on my own, quite a way from home so would appreciate any advice.My gas and electricity is currently on a pay as you go system with Npower. I have been going to and from the house never spending any more than a few hours at a time there and have already spent a decent amount on both gas and electricity. This is literally from boiling the kettle, using the hoover and having the radio on! I was wondering if I would benefit from switching over to a pay monthly type account? I have heard from friends something about paying a set amount each month and being in credit for winter??? I have no idea what to do and even if Npower is the best company to go / stay with??Any advice would be greatly appreciated!Thanks!

dogshome

Hi gemmalouise06 - The chances are that the pre-pay meters in your flat were fitted because at some time in the past, a previous tenant ran up some debt with the supplier.

The price you pay per Kwh thro' a prepay meter is roughly the same as thro' a credit meter, but,
you lose access to the discounts available for Direct Debit payment and Online billing.
Swapping over to credit meters ain't going to be easy as the suppliers will want to run a credit check on you, and maybe also ask for a deposit up front.

It's important that if you have not yet done so, you contact n'power and register yourself as the
new account holder, give them the meter readings and get your own key card - If you are using a card handed to you by the letting agent or previous tenant you could be paying off debt run up by someone else.

undaunted

Npower are in my opinion (and indeed have also been criticised by the Regulator in the past as comparing poorly with best practices / other companies - see pages 16 & 19 http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/SUSTAINABILITY/SOCACTION/PUBLICATIONS/Documents1/Debt%20and%20disconnection%20best%20practice%20review.pdf ) a lousy company in terms of customer service generally and vicious to those in difficulty so personally I'd move regardless of them offering the best price or not if I were you.

Npower also charge you a standing fee for a pre payment meter. Ebico, for example, do not and as a not for profit company may be more sympathethic than some to any credit issues if appropriate.

Have a look at the various price comparison sites for tarrifs available to you. Good luck

Premier_2

I believe nPower charge a daily standing charge on their pre-payment meters.

That might explain the hefty charges despite very little consumption.
If you can get the meters changed by nPower (I think they charge £60 per meter, if they agree to replace them) then you could probably get a no standing charge tariff from them.

Also you would be wise to ensure the LL is not opposed to replacing the PPMs with credit meters, else you may find yourself paying another £120 to have them returned at the end of the rental period.

PNPSUKNET

undaunted wrote: »

Npower are in my opinion (and indeed have also been criticised by the Regulator in the past as comparing poorly with best practices / other companies - see pages 16 & 19 http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/SUSTAINABILITY/SOCACTION/PUBLICATIONS/Documents1/Debt%20and%20disconnection%20best%20practice%20review.pdf ) a lousy company in terms of customer service generally and vicious to those in difficulty so personally I'd move regardless of them offering the best price or not if I were you.

Npower also charge you a standing fee for a pre payment meter. Ebico, for example, do not and as a not for profit company may be more sympathethic than some to any credit issues if appropriate.

Have a look at the various price comparison sites for tarrifs available to you. Good luck

While I agree with the comment, isnt npower one of the most laid back inregards to cutting people off? BG cut IGT supplys off where they dont and install prepays like water.

undaunted

PNPSUKNET wrote: »

While I agree with the comment, isnt npower one of the most laid back inregards to cutting people off? BG cut IGT supplys off where they dont and install prepays like water.

I'm not sure what you are basing that belief upon but in this 2008 Ofgem report Page 16 (referring to 2005 & 2006) states British Gas had disconnected fewest customers (they had decided to temporarily stop disconnecting customers at that time) & Npower the most. There is also a chart showing them & other suppliers on page 16

Page 19 states "whilst Npower demonstrated some elements of good practice, as set out below, it has the most improvement to make to brings it's practices and disconnection rates, in line with those of other suppliers."

specialsparky

Well why you two have your argument about npower you are not really helping Gemmalouise.

Gelmmalouise, the Prepayment meter is there probably because it is a rented property and the LL does not want a bill on his doorstep when tenants leave.
Prepayment or pay as you go is ok if you remember a few simple rules. Top your meter up reguarley with the same amount each week and then maybe more in the winter. Electricity is expensive and boiling the kettle is one of the single most expensive things you can do in a house. Only boil one cup,dont fill the kettle up under the tap. Have you registered with npower because as someone said if you do not have you own personal meter card then you will be topping up the meter but paying someone else bill. Did you give npower a read when you took over the tenancy? If you have used a card left in the house tell npower they will credit you account and sort i out.
One other thing do a meter test, switch off every item in your property and then go and have alook at the meter, if its still moving then check again. If it continues to move and you really have checked every appliance is off (including your alarm and smoke detectors) then contact npower and tell them you have a problem. they will send an engineer out.
Finally, people have talked about standing charges, that a bit like renting a meter if you pay those you will pay less for your units if you dont then your units will cost more so prices on PP meters are very similar.
Good luyck and I hope this helps, if you have any questions you can send them to me directly

foxglove666

Definatly contact npower in regards to this as there may be a debt from the prevoius people. also gas prepay meters do have a high standing charge so top it up even if your not going to u it. Npower as for 1 years history with them and they can change the meter free of charge, otherwise a £60 charge per meter to go from PP to credit (credit to pp is free). they don't complete any credit checks when a meter exchange takes place so don't worry. Also you can get £100 discount for having a direct debt set up and pay for 12 payments with no breaks.

When you call thm adv when you moved in and reads if you have them and they should give a a number to take toa nearby shop to get some new cards.

Hope this helps