Npower

charlie792

Im with Swalec at present, but after them announcing they are putting their prices up by 9.4% I want to get out now - there are no cancellation fees with this.
Ive been searching the web and I found a NPower tariff and Im trying to work out if its worth switching as they have a £20 per fuel cancellation fee - Which I will probably end up paying as we are in rented accom. and could well end up not being able to take our supply with us if we inevitably move (lots of places in my area have it included in rent etc).

Now this is where I am confused. Npower have a two tier rate for the tariff, the first x amount for elec and gas is one rate and then anything additonal is a lower rate and I can't work it out.

We are not huge users of gas/electric - Im not really sure what constitutes high/low etc but Im sure Its not worth staying with Swalec as we have a standing charge which is beginning to equate to a ridiculous sum of money (I think the gas we used is £30 and the SC is £25!)

Any experiences with Npower, are they generally an OK company/Are they planning on putting up their prices?

backfoot

charlie792 wrote: »

Any experiences with Npower, are they generally an OK company/Are they planning on putting up their prices?

Yes experiences, all very bad. No they are not an OK company.Yes they will be putting up their prices,shortly.

This might give you a flavour.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2762108

Use a comparison website to see which is best for you on price.

charlie792

backfoot wrote: »

Yes experiences, all very bad. No they are not an OK company.Yes they will be putting up their prices,shortly.

This might give you a flavour.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2762108

Use a comparison website to see which is best for you on price.

I did a basic Uswitch comparison -Im not sure how accurate this is - I have not yet received any bills since being at the property. My figures are all estimated. Npower come out as second best - First Utility come out on top

Airmike23

Avoid both companies as savings quoted for both companies are inclusive of a (First Utility) 12% discount you wont get until 12 direct debit payments have been made, and you have to be the home owner, Npower £105 of the quoted savings again, refunded after 12 direct debit payments made.

dogshome

Hi charlie792 - As already posted, neither First Utility or n'power are the sort of people you would want to invite into your home

You mention taking any new supplier you find, with you when you move ?
Be aware that when you do move you will automatically inherit whoever is the current supplier to that new address, and as a new account they put you onto an expensive 'Standard' Tariff.
You can start the Switch process to another supplier immediately, but till it is complete you are stuck with the original supplier

With regards to Switch sites: I use several to get prices, but one of them is always 'switchwithwhich' who not only lists all the suppliers prices, but also shows the tariff details directly alongside the tariff details of your present supplier.

KimYeovil

Charlie, ignore the dogmatic nutters above who are pining for pollyanna-ville. You have to live with the reality we are in.

If you want to choose on price, choose on price. Where they are correct is that you do have to watch out for price rises and annual discounts - but the rises apply to all tariffs other than fixed ones. Look on the comparison sites, and look further down the table as well as at the top, and (as said) look out for annual or future discounts and early leaving penalties and factor them in to your decision - but do not reject suppliers that include them for no particular reason.

t0rt0ise

The cancellation fee is often not payable if you cancel because of a house move. I don't know if it ever is, maybe someone else will know.

charlie792

Airmike23 wrote: »

Avoid both companies as savings quoted for both companies are inclusive of a (First Utility) 12% discount you wont get until 12 direct debit payments have been made, and you have to be the home owner, Npower £105 of the quoted savings again, refunded after 12 direct debit payments made.

This is what I was thinking, I really need to sit down and work it out if its worth it. But Im certainly not happy to stay with Swalec, Ive had so many problems as it is and they can't even get my name right, let alone Im paying an arm and a leg in standing charges...

t0rt0ise wrote: »

The cancellation fee is often not payable if you cancel because of a house move. I don't know if it ever is, maybe someone else will know.

I phoned Npower and they said it is definitely still payable regardless...

undaunted

If I were you I'd avoid Npower like the plague, as you've already been warned above but the choice is yours.

Remember however, cheapest is not always best and you often get what you pay for / deserve! Whatever you decide, as suggested above, Npower are probably not going to be your new best friend even if you do think Swalec are bad now (you don't just have to take our word for it, there are plenty of surveys on customer satisfaction out there eg see Consumer Focus website & related links showing three respected bodies namimg Npower as consistently amongst the worst rated)

charlie792

undaunted wrote: »

If I were you I'd avoid Npower like the plague, as you've already been warned above but the choice is yours.

Remember however, cheapest is not always best and you often get what you pay for / deserve! Whatever you decide, as suggested above, Npower are probably not going to be your new best friend even if you do think Swalec are bad now (you don't just have to take our word for it, there are plenty of surveys on customer satisfaction out there eg see Consumer Focus website & related links showing three respected bodies namimg Npower as consistently amongst the worst rated)

Im working it out as present with a couple of different figures. I definitely need to try and get a cheaper gas supplier though because once Swalec's prices go up its going to be too much.

Been trying to work out the prices of the different tariffs, its a bit hard to judge as npower for example have two tiers for elec and gas, initially though they are coming out at £14 a month more expensive in total, and thats not even considering the cancellation fees...

Does anyone have any opinions on OVO - I cant seem to find any exact pricing on thier website but on a comparison site it has thier tariffs - based on that they seem like a good price, saving of £8.50 a month, appears to be a fixed rate for 12 months, but there again is a £60 cancellation fee...

macman

Are you using kWh annual consumption estimates and not monthly DD figures on the comp sites? The first is accurate, the latter is not.