npower - different tarrifs - Is it a con?

MusicMaker

I switched to npower sign on-line a few months ago because they were the cheapest supplier at the time with a seemingly good reputation. With the recent price increases I have just checked with EnergyHelpline to make sure I am still getting good value. I was surprised to see that I can save money by switching to ......wait for it ....... npower's sign online tarrif.

It is only now that I have realised there are several tarrifs referenced by the approximate date you started with them. This causes me some concern.

Being slightly suspicious, I wonder if npower are offering attractive tarrifs for new customers, for which they increase the charges later on and offer a new cheaper tarrif again as a means of attracting new customers.

When I switched to npower, I thought I would be getting the best price they could offer indefinitely.

kat21

not really sure where your coming from but when I do a search on some of the switch sites it usually gives me the utility company name several times this is because of the different deals they offer, such as paying direct debit, paying standing charges, paying without a standing charge, duel fuel,
so, one company can be displayed several times when you click on each one of the same company and look at the savings it should tell you in a pop up window what is being offered for you to achieve that saving.
If you signed up online. remember fuel prices are changing all the time and so are the offers encorp into them.
This is why the government set up fuel competition between companys
are you in a locked in agreement if so, thats your answer, your locked in
kat21
some companys will let you opt out for a fee

Macnab

just in the process of switching from edf to n power, when edf phoned to say that altho n power are cheaper at mo are putting prices up on 1st oct so am in a quandary as to whether I should carry on completing the switch

Macnab

have finished looking thro all tarrifs and have decided to go back to edf - will take 6 weeks and go on their fixed tarrif till 2010, if rates come down then I can change but if they go up am ok. their fixed rates are still cheaper than n powers normal rates for electricity, but 0.2 dearer for gas

MusicMaker

Kat21, thanks for your reply. Sorry if I didn't explain myself very well. Npower are one of those companies who are listed several times because they too offer several schemes or payment methods. They are listed 3 times for their Sign on-line, Standard and Juice Standard tarrifs.

I was only talking about the sign on-line tarrif when paying by monthly direct debit. I signed up for this in April. So, I would expect to be paying the same amount for my gas and electricity as someone else who signs up this week for the same tarrif. However, this doesn't appear to be the case.

It sounds daft, but according to EnergyHelpline, I can save money by switching to the same company and tarrif that I am already on. The Tarrif is split by dates depending on when you signed up for it. So, they can do what they like with the amount I pay for my gas and electric, but still offer new customers a very competitive rate which will push them up the tables. The tarrif still has the same name, but you pay a different amount depending on when you joined. Personally, I think this is misleading and deceptive.

What I will do is contact npower directly and then post their reply here.

In the mean time, if anyone has any comments I would be very pleased to here them.

Macnab, I'm sure that the switching services incorporate the most recent charges into their equations as soon as a price increase has been announced. I can confirm, because I've looked, that EnergyHelpline.com do use the prices that will be in force after the increase.

humfer

Not sure if its a con but its certainly confusing. Switched to npower a few months ago on sign online v4, but apparently theres also a few more version and I think there up to v6 now. Its also confusing as when npower announce in the press that they are raising prices it doesn't always affect all their tariffs. Having said that don't think they are any worse than any other and certainly better than my old supplier (Scottish Power)

MarkyMarkD

I think npower are very confusing, and I've just given them notice to quit as they are the most expensive supplier for me now (and I've just had my first year £57.50 rebate).

kat21

spoken to somebody today regarding your question on sign up dates and it appears not to be a con, especially if some time has elapsed. Apparently its how the energy companys buy the gas and how much they pay for it at that particular time. With the markets now being so competitive how much gas the gas supplier buys determins the price for a few months, if they can buy the next lot of gas cheaper than the last lot of gas then thats where the price difference is
kat21

whaler

Hi, Thought I`d relay my experience with npower,
Almost 12 months ago after using a price comparison site, I signed up with npower sign online v4, (it being the best deal).
Now when I use a comparison site it says I could save nearly £300 per annum if I were to sign up to `npower` sign online v7 !!!
I called npower to ask if I was on a `fixed tarrif `
`no they replied`.......so , how come I`ve had all the price increases but now that wholesale energy prices are tumbling I`ve had no decrease !
I put it to npower that they are making money under false pretences , every time there`s a drop in wholesale prices they just seem to come out with a new `sign online version` therefore avoiding passing on any savings to their existing customers ! I`m a sign online customer! why is my power more expensive ? they couldn`t give me good reason !
and told me if I wanted to join `sign online 7 I`d have to leave npower then rejoin !!!
What a load of S**T !
To say I am livid is an understatement !
I feel totally conned and will definately be leaving npower as soon as my 12 months is up and I`ve had my discount,

MarkyMarkD

I'm sure they do it intentionally to mislead.

Particularly because anyone who uses the comparison sites to see whether they should switch, will think they are getting the best deal because npower remain near the top of the tables.

bristolleedsfan

MusicMaker wrote: »

I was only talking about the sign on-line tarrif when paying by monthly direct debit. I signed up for this in April. So, I would expect to be paying the same amount for my gas and electricity as someone else who signs up this week for the same tarrif. However, this doesn't appear to be the case.

It sounds daft, but according to EnergyHelpline, I can save money by switching to the same company and tarrif that I am already on. The Tarrif is split by dates depending on when you signed up for it. So, they can do what they like with the amount I pay for my gas and electric, but still offer new customers a very competitive rate which will push them up the tables. The tarrif still has the same name, but you pay a different amount depending on when you joined. Personally, I think this is misleading and deceptive.

In the mean time, if anyone has any comments I would be very pleased to here them.

.

i totally agree with u, u expect energy companies to offer diff tariffs for diff payment methods + capped/fixed etc but u dont expect them to offer different tariffs for the same payment method ie manage online/pay monthly its designed to confuse people , ive already taken the issue up with scottish power and they gave me a goodwill 20.00 credit :j

im switching to british gas click energy 2 cos they are close to the cheapest and have done away with all there diff tariffs for same payment method and getting 30.00 cashback for switching through money supermarket :j