very unhappy with npower

xbrenx

Last August, I switched from UW to npower for both electricity and gas. It appeared cheaper.. monthly amounts were just about the same as we'd been paying plus the promise of £100 cashback at the end.

Oh dear. They've just doubled our monthly payments saying that our current balance is too high. Despite being able to pay the same amount all year round with UW (£59 dual) we suddenly have to find £102 per month to make sure our account is at zero at the year end. That's if I am reading it right.

I know someone who will be re-thinking this in August.

No question, just a rant really. *mumble mumble*

macman

Was this a doorstep or phone cold caller? You've been hit with the classic sting. Your consumption has been higher than your DD's so you've built up debt. Result-a big catch up bill.
Never trust a supplier who says they can reduce your DD's, which are irrelevant. What matters are the unit rates. Use a comp site to check the best deals, and then switch via a cashback site.

undaunted

Do you have evidence of unit rates being lower with UW at that time (& are they so now?)

If the fact is they were about the same at the time & both suppliers have raised prices since you have little grounds for complaint surely.

If on the other hand you were stung with incorrect information being given you may be able to complain. No one is going to believe that you just knowingly switched to a twice as expensive supplier surely.

brewerdave

What you have deffo been caught by, is that NPower are looking for a zero balance by the Spring 2012 - so they want you to pay off your debt AND have a substantial credit balance by the end of this Summer - you may find that they will reduce the DD again early next year if you are going to have too big a credit balance in Spring (if we have a mild Winter for instance)
However, none of this will apply if you leave NPafter you get your £100 credit!!!