Confused by new Direct Debit amount

davidgmmafan

Is this an annual reassessment or a six monthyl reassessment? If its six monthly they'll be working to achieve a zero balance be the next statement in six months time. Yes I agree it is retarted cos if your discount is due this will leave you £100 in credit.

It is also !!!!!! that, on my most recent bill which IS a six monthly reassessment, it also has the annnual figures on. I reckon this will confuse many people.

davidgmmafan

The only thing that makes sense about the discount is you could argue someone could, in theory, cancel the direct debit at any time and thus not get the discount. But if its someone whos been with them years then they can be pretty sure that won't happen and should include it IMO.

superstylin

I haven't got a clue which reassessment it is to be honest, it doesn't say but it does give annual figures. Either way I've used those figures to run a comparison which shows I could be over a hundred pounds better off and a bonus of cashback so I've set the wheels in motion for a switch.

Funnily enough I sent an email asking about my D.D and have had no reply as of yet, but I also sent one regarding any cancellation fee as I was thinking of leaving and I've had an email and a phone call detailing another of Npower's tarrifs that would leave me £80 better off. No thanks!

davidgmmafan

The annual forecast thing they had to send out by a certain deadline so its on recent bills, if one isn't due they'd have to send it out seperately I believe. Clearly more cost effective to do it on the bills.

The reassessments are as clear as mud and there's no heading to say what sort it is. The only way to tell is a bit into the bill, page 3 I think from memory, it shows the total then next payment (if one is due shorlty) then divides the remaining balance and consumption by 11 or 5. I'm sure it wouldn't harm them to put mid-term reassessment or annual reassessment and maybe, GOD FORBID, explain what they are.

If you aren't on the online tariff then there almost certainly will be a saving, that's true of almost all energy suppliers.

superstylin

Cheers Dave

It must an annual statement then as it has my next payments divided by 12. I was already on one of their online saver tariffs but apparently there are other Npower tariffs that would save me over £80. ScottishPower however could save me over a hundred with £70 cashback and a £15 switching cashback too so I've gone with one of their online saver tariffs.

I do like that they have to print your annual usage figures, it makes it much easier to compare and switch. Go ofgem! (or whoever the ruling body is!)

davidgmmafan

Curious isn't it who Ofgem did something fairly useful once they had the sword of Damocles hanging over them. I believe the FSA also levied its largest ever fine recently, same circumstances. What a REMARKABLE co-incidence. If you are moving check when your annual discount is due, might as well have it if its not long.

If you were on SOL14 or before it no longer exits, you are effectively on standard now. I suspect this isn't the case as the saving would usually be more than £80.

superstylin

I think I am on SOL14 actually, apparently if I moved to SOL19 then I'd save £88.47.

It seems I've just had my annual discount, £105 was taken from my balance on this bill so at least I don't have to suffer their customer services department in trying to get it back.

davidgmmafan

Good time to switch then, try to view the cashback as a bonus although I believe most utility companies are pretty good at paying it.