How do you set-up Fuel Direct?

Bloodheart

Ongoing issues with NPower - I had a debt relief order set-up, but when a new bill came in I was right back to square one; can't afford to pay, and can't have a prepayment meter.

I want to go on Fuel Direct - payments directly from my benefits.

I was originally told by the benefits people I had to get persmission from NPower to go on fuel direct - this took FOREVER as they just wouldn't give me a simple yes or no answer.

I finally got an answer from NPower, so the benefits people told me to take a copy of my bill into the job centre to fax to head office to set-up fuel direct - job centre had no idea what I was on about.

Called benefits people, they told me they'd call me back - they didn't. So I called them again, and the guy on the phone told me he'd email head office to set it up and they'd get back to me - nothing.

I called benefits people again today and was told that they don't set it up, it has to be NPower who set it up - this doesn't sound right to me, but emailed NPower anyway asking about it.


What I want to know is this - Who has to set-up fuel direct?


This has taken months to sort out, NPower have sent me to collections and soon will threaten to cut-off my electricity.

PNPSUKNET

if you call your supplier they will fax a qoute to your benefits agency. Why cant you have a pre-pay meter?

Bloodheart

I can't have a pre-payment meter because of how it's set-up, or something (I wasn't here when the engineer came out to try to fit one) - I live in a second floor flat, the electricity meter is downstairs, I can't even get in to take readings.

Annoying as it would solve some problems, and I already have a prepayment meter for gas that's been there since before I moved in.

PNPSUKNET

I would ask if they can fit a key acceptor.

nPower

Hi Bloodheart

Fuel Direct it set up by your energy supplier, not your benefits office.

Fuel Direct helps customers on benefits to pay their arrears over a longer period of time than standard payment plans would normally allow. It's considered as a payment option where there are no suitable alternative methods left and is a last option.

You can see if you're eligible by calling 08451 201 453 or just email forumresponse@npower.com and someone will be happy to help.


Kind regards
Sally

undaunted

Sally, just as her colleagues have presumably previously failed to do, neglects to tell you that there are also various tarrifs which you may be eligible for if you are on benefits & by the sound of your post financially struggling in general.

You may or may not wish to complain to the Energy Ombudsman and / or Ofgem about their failure to advise you of these but you can find them on Npowers website in the meantime.

You may also wish to refer the benefits office to the direct gov. website & make your complaints there too.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/DebtsAndArrears/DG_10025592

Good luck

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rickb79

I'd be very careful with the fuel direct scheme why you ask.

i went to court for a electricity debt and the company called Power2Contact set up a fuel direct payments with EDF energy for me, i emailed EDF Energy about a week ago asking them if they have received any of the payments through the fuel direct scheme that was set up and they said they havent received any, yet the money has been going out of my income support from tomorrow the payments taken out will be £103.80.

Needless to say i'm keeping the email that says edf havent had any payments through the fuel direct scheme and going ot the job centre to cancel the payments if EDF arent getting them..


I'd try and keep emailing them to set up another payment scheme and when they reply by email you have proof of whats been said.

mattcanary

If you can prove to EDF (through your bank statements) that money has come out of your bank account for EDF, then it is up to EDf to trace these payments on their systems.

In addition, Fuel Direct payments are only forwarded on to the supplier every so often (I believe it is every 13 weeks but this time-period may be wrong). Maybe EDF haven;t been sent the payments yet by the DWP (benefits people).