Npower HUGE elec bill - advice?

Rikster

Hello all - first post here!

My partner lives in a house share - three adults, all working full time. They have just received an electricity bill from Npower for a whopping £2300!! :eek:

The last meter reading Npower had from them was in 2007. They have been paying around £700 per year already, all based on estimated usage.

Npower recently took an actual reading and say that the £2300 is the difference in what they owe for the last three years.

My partner has queried it and they've said its right.

But surely it can't be??!! They've already been paying £700 per year, their heating is gas-powered, and the three of them are out at work all day.

My partner heard about some legislation that says they can only legally charge back one year of estimated usage - but Npower say that does not apply in this case because the account is only registered in the name of "Occupier".

In addition, one of his housemates tried to provide them with an up-to-date meter reading 18 months ago, but they are now being told that it "did not take" on the system at the time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

cifpower

Why did they never provide an actual meter reading in the last 3 years?

jd87

It could easily be right. If they have paid £2100 over the last 3 years already, then add on the outstanding amount to give £4400 of usage over they 3 years. This works out to £122 per month. This is high, but it's not impossible when considering they probably aren't on a very cheap tariff (it sounds like they won't have bothered to switch around) and busy working people tend to be higher users than you would expect because they can't be bothered or don't have time to be energy efficient.

Rikster

cifpower wrote: »

Why did they never provide an actual meter reading in the last 3 years?

They're typical young men!!! One of them did provide one 18 months ago, Npower says their system "did not take" it though.

Rikster

Have advised my partner to check what rate they're being charged at - I'm assuming Npower are charging them for all this usage at their current rate, and not spread across the rates of the past 3 years.

spiro

The 12 month rules only applies when they dont bill you not when they bill you to estimates and the issues a 'catch up' bill.

The golden rule which many will tell you is: Get the bill, Check if the reading is an estimate, If it is check the reading on the bill against the reading on the meter, If the meter reading is higher call the supplier and they will reissue the bill.

As to the read being reject by NPower this is because the meter reader (DC) will validate the reading against previous readings and consumption and if it fails validation they will reject it. What they should have done when this happened and the reading was not shown on the bill they should have phoned and insisted it was valid.

dogshome

Hi Rikster - So it seems that these 3 lads in a Gas heated multishare house are burning the Elec to the tune of £1466 a year. WOW !

Though single males can be pretty cavalier about economising on Utility bills, which is then compounded by the adage that in areas of joint responsibility, no individual takes any responsibility, the consumption is equivalant to that of 3 households in each of which there are 2 teenagers - SOMETHING IS AMISS SOMEWHERE

The first thing to do is check that the meter number on the bills is the same as that on the actual meter It's just possible they are being billed for someone elses power

Check the type of meter they have as even with Gas heating it could be an ECO7 meter - Day & Night readings on the bill?

Check thier "Moving in" meter reading - If they haven't kept a note of it, ask n'power for it - against todays meter reading so they can calculate just how many Kwh they have used in total
Check the past bills - n'power will supply copies if asked - to see that the 'Start' meter reading on any bill is the same as the 'End' reading on the previous bill.

If the house has a Hot Water tank, check that the immersion heater has not been left on 24/7

If the above fails to identify a problem, check the accuracy of the meter by turning off everything in the house, then plug in a Fanheater, these are marked on the back with thier power consumption, either 1 or 2 Kwh, and run it for an hour - The meter should record just the consumption in Kwh that the heater is rated at

spiro

dogshome wrote: »

Hi Rikster - So it seems that these 3 lads in a Gas heated multishare house are burning the Elec to the tune of £1466 a year. WOW !

Could it be that the £700 pa already paid includes what they have paid for elec AND gas??

beolens

I'd double check their "actual" readings, we had a bill (just moved in and not staying with Npower) for 11 days worth of electric for £87 (erly october the readings were alledgedly taken), I didn't trust them checked the meter and two months after the "actual" reading I hadn't reached the level on one and was just over on the other (day night), so they completely made up the readings, I'm still waiting on a revised bill, but Be careful, they are out to swindle if you don't double check.

davidgmmafan

"but Be careful, they are out to swindle if you don't double check."

That's good advise generally. Assume any company is trying to screw you and at least you won't be surprised if they try to do so.

I'm not sure how much to blame the company is a customer never checks thier readings though. An incorrect meter reading is bad, but meter readers are human and therefore may make an error. All the more reason to check it yourself.

PNPSUKNET

why didnt the give their names, I bet this is a reason they wont back bill and did they have no access meter reads?