The wonderful NPower!

davidgmmafan

What I'm stumped by is the fac the OP gave readings and was advised to expect a bill. That implies that there is an account there, and the info simply hasn't been recieved by the customer. I know call centres get a bad rap but I don't know many people who would be so brazen as to search on the address then pretend there is an accont there and give a timescale for a bill on a non-existant account!

The OP's first post also says the account is in the husbands name, therefore there MUST BE an account. Very unusualy not to have a bill for that long if not on monthly direct debit.

Regarding deemed contracts I can sort of understand them. People can be unhappy saying they want to be with such and such a company. Maybe it would be better if the suppliers automatically disconnected whenever somebody moved out

Or maybe it would be better if changing suppliers was done at the push of a button. Personally I think that would lead to more confusion from dodgy sales people! But sppeding it up a little may not be a bad idea.

ste1985_2

davidgmmafan wrote: »

What I'm stumped by is the fac the OP gave readings and was advised to expect a bill. That implies that there is an account there, and the info simply hasn't been recieved by the customer. I know call centres get a bad rap but I don't know many people who would be so brazen as to search on the address then pretend there is an accont there and give a timescale for a bill on a non-existant account!

The OP's first post also says the account is in the husbands name, therefore there MUST BE an account. Very unusualy not to have a bill for that long if not on monthly direct debit.

Regarding deemed contracts I can sort of understand them. People can be unhappy saying they want to be with such and such a company. Maybe it would be better if the suppliers automatically disconnected whenever somebody moved out

Or maybe it would be better if changing suppliers was done at the push of a button. Personally I think that would lead to more confusion from dodgy sales people! But sppeding it up a little may not be a bad idea.

I totally agree with you!! I mean it would be so much eaiser if everything was at the touch of a button. I do agree too that if they started disconnecting propertys when vacant it would make one part of our job easier, but then when there told that it will take D+10 to reconnect the meter again, then people would get pee'd off!

I suppose you right in saying that maybe you could get out of a deemed contract, but if it was a case of being supplied by the current supplier of that home for 28 days UNTIL a new supplier takes over, OR going without supply because its disconnected UNTIL the other supplier takes over, i'm sure you would choose to just pay the current supplier for the sake of 1 month.

Maybe that's just my opinion but hey

Terrylw1

dollydolittle wrote: »

About the not talking to one person thing: When we moved in I asked for the accounts to be in both our names but when the paperwork came, they had managed to put the gas in my name and the electricity in my husband's (we have different surnames) We each called them and asked to have the other person's name put on so that they could discuss the account (this isn't the same as being a joint account holder which apparently requires the other person to then ring again so that they can go through all the contract details etc and means you are jointly liable for any debt.)

The lines are open until 8 p.m. so if your husband can find time to make the one relativley quickish call, that should mean that they will at least talk to you from now on.

Very best of luck

Thats because they have set up seperate accounts for your fuels. Ask them to merge your account. Otherwise, you are going to get treated as 2 seperate customers and it will be worse on how they treat your credits, discounts, etc...

Terrylw1

undaunted wrote: »

Actually Ofgem have stated to me that the deemed contract pre-dates them (I haven't bothered checking this though).

Regardless of what you think of the so called "deemed contract" however (I think it's open to legal challenge) Ofgem also stated that they would expect the supplier to make you aware of the contract terms and the alternatives asap.

Clearly they have not done so (or arranged a site visit as suggested above) if they have failed to even provide a bill in 5 months, the consumer is unaware of what tarrif they are on & the supply remains connected (Npowers current letter actually states they may need to disconnect the supply if they do not hear from you within 14 days in case the property is unoccupied)! :rotfl:

Difficult to deal with a company that can't even honour it's own word!

The Deemed contract rule in part of the Utilities Act.

They won't arrange a site visit. They have no policy of disconnecting vacant sites for residentials.

The letter might state that, but they don't. They used to years ago but it was removed because of the cost and total inconvenience to anyone moving in who then had to await another visit to put the meter fuse back in.

I would imagine that is an old standard letter, hence incorrect.

To the OP, whenn you called them (they need you to supply them with detail of who moves in, they don't know this and no Supplier would!) they should take your details and set you up. Did you provide an opening reading to start you from? If not, expect an estimate so it would delay you account starting up slightly but not by much.

They should have sent you details of your tariff when they did all this. It sounds to me like they have not completed your set up. Give them a call ask about this.

Terrylw1

ste1985 wrote: »

I totally agree with you!! I mean it would be so much eaiser if everything was at the touch of a button. I do agree too that if they started disconnecting propertys when vacant it would make one part of our job easier, but then when there told that it will take D+10 to reconnect the meter again, then people would get pee'd off!

I suppose you right in saying that maybe you could get out of a deemed contract, but if it was a case of being supplied by the current supplier of that home for 28 days UNTIL a new supplier takes over, OR going without supply because its disconnected UNTIL the other supplier takes over, i'm sure you would choose to just pay the current supplier for the sake of 1 month.

Maybe that's just my opinion but hey

If someone actions your tariff change for the date you move in, you will get out of the Deemed issue. However, Deemed is the industries standpoint, not Suppliers. Perhaps the industry should do more to protect people?

On the moving in and out part...thats where Smart metering will come in. Whilst this is all part of trialling now, those capabilities are there.

Call centre wise, like any, train them poor, they struggle. Same everywhere. Staff get caught up in senior managements lack of action...so customers suffer. As usual, those on the lowest pay grade get all the stress and little support. But thats what call centres are for...