Problems with NPower taking me to court

jeff18052011

Hi,
I run a small shop which only has the basic electricity appliances i.e kettle, lights, small fridge etc however I have been receiving bill from NPower which run into the thousands.

I have called their Customer service team many times and the response I receive is that they'll put a note on the system and the bills just keep rolling in.

The other week a debt collector arrived on NPower's behalf and simply smiled when I showed him the bills, apologised and left.
I received a call from NPower saying that if I do not renew my contract my bills will continue to increase.

I tried to switch energy supplier however then I received a letter from Npower saying they have blocked the transfer because I owe them £2,000!
The costs were apparently based on predicted meter readings, then they tried to switch them to the actual meter readings but the bills kept increasing.

I then got another letter saying they are taking me to court to get a Warrant to remove items from my premises.

I have tried paying what I think the bills should be i.e around £300 a month however I am worried about going to court as I don't know my rights or what the outcome will be.


Any help would be appreciated

Thanks,

James

magyar

Have you got the actual meter readings yourself?

Even something basic like meter reading when you signed with npower and meter reading today would be useful, although more detailed meter readings would be ideal.

dogshome

Hi jeff18052011 - From your post I gather you are on a 'Business Supply' contract with n'power. These contracts are a common source of grief to small businesses and the tariff rates can go thro' the roof if you don't give particular notices at particular times.


However bills for £thousands for a small retail shop seems excessive even for Business Contracts so:
1)Gather together all the bills you have had from n'power and check that the meter number on each of them matches that on your meter.
2)Check that the number dials/digits on your meter that record whole units, matches the number of figures on the bills
3) Check the bills for Estimated meter readings - What counts is the reading n'power started with and the reading now - with these two you and the tariff you can work out just what you do owe to n'power, or they owe to you?

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME talking to the Customer service Desk, WRITE a letter headed Complaint to n'power with your own calculations the of Debit/ Credit on the account - With this letter on file n'power should not go to court until they have satisfied your query, but if they do just supply the court with a copy of the letter

forestlands

jeff18052011 wrote: »

Hi,
I run a small shop which only has the basic electricity appliances i.e kettle, lights, small fridge etc however I have been receiving bill from NPower which run into the thousands.

I have called their Customer service team many times and the response I receive is that they'll put a note on the system and the bills just keep rolling in.

The other week a debt collector arrived on NPower's behalf and simply smiled when I showed him the bills, apologised and left.
I received a call from NPower saying that if I do not renew my contract my bills will continue to increase.

I tried to switch energy supplier however then I received a letter from Npower saying they have blocked the transfer because I owe them £2,000!
The costs were apparently based on predicted meter readings, then they tried to switch them to the actual meter readings but the bills kept increasing.

I then got another letter saying they are taking me to court to get a Warrant to remove items from my premises.

I have tried paying what I think the bills should be i.e around £300 a month however I am worried about going to court as I don't know my rights or what the outcome will be.


Any help would be appreciated

Thanks,

James

Hi Jef, that sounds horrendous :eek: sounds like their communication skills are naff! Have been doing a comparison for electric and npower keeps coming up cheapest - has been cheapest when I previously compared. I have a smallholding and my monthly payments, home and outbuildings, £35 a month. Have lighting in outbuildings, run incubator for haching eggs, heat lamps in winter for young animals, perodically, 4 deep freezers and 2 fridges, battery charger and lighting etc. for home. Think npower need to take better care of their customers accounts and look to their billing! Do hope npower sorts this out quickly for you! Going to court with the meter readings, bills etc. should work out well for you!. Npower will have to have all their info. spot on! Go to your previous supplier and get the final meter reading from them. I am stearing clear of npower! Keep us updated as would like to know how you get on.

Good luck!

nPower

Hi Jeff18052011,

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having at the moment. Do you know if your bills were based on actual meter readings? Sometimes a wrong meter reading can cause incorrect bills.

I'd like to take a look into this for you if that's ok? Please send your details to forumresponse@npower.com and I'll get back to you straight away. Hopefully we can sort this out for you as quickly as possible.

Thanks
Sally

undaunted

Don't just let them bully you into signing another contract go & get some legal advice.

I find it hard to believe that you cannot go elsewhere (we have blocked that) & must therefore use our supply at any price we care to charge you or alternatively do without is a legally sustainable position.

It's about time people stood upto these bullying companies