Moving from npower to eon

jalexa

backfoot wrote: »

Yes it helps to illustrate and break down how the policy misleads customers.It should be caught up by the Ofgem Retail Market review and Chris Huhne's pledges yesterday for tariff simplification.

Ha ha ha. Another industry staffer who doesn't understand his own industry's terms and conditions and who thinks it is "fair" that £100 could be forfeited (on a technicality). Where does the industry get them?

The relevant clause reads... "If you do not meet the conditions that apply to your discount or other reward, you may not receive it. Also, your monthly payments in your first year or, if appropriate, any later period, may not be enough to pay for your usage. As a result, you may have a balance to pay"

Beware "deferred discount":eek: tariffs if you do not understand the circumstances the discount may be forfeited.

Commonly tariffs from NPower and Atlantic feature "deferred discount":eek:.

backfoot

Jalexa,

Thanks for your post,which I fully understand. By quoting part of my post it looks like you are having a go at me. I know your not but others may not follow.

jalexa

backfoot wrote: »

Jalexa,

Thanks for your post,which I fully understand. By quoting part of my post it looks like you are having a go at me. I know your not but others may not follow.

I did that so as not to steal your thunder. I hope others are not confused and look for the poster's "industry confession" in another thread.:D

meggsy

Maybe a massive shift away from the 'Big Six' and all their devious and confusing methods to the 'Little Six' would help

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2039671/CITY-FOCUS-Upstarts-Big-Energy-Huhne-plans-make-switching-accounts-easier.html

george1939

jalexa wrote: »

I don't think that is true for "deferred discounts":eek: on currently available NPower tariffs.

The discount is earned on the last day of the 12 months. (a "technical measure" to allow the discount to be included in Consumer Focus accredited comparisons). Possibly paying by Direct Debit is required, but I don't believe the number of payments is a factor in the discount (or "bonus") being "earned".

My electricity was set up 9th May My gas came later 15th May So on the 3rd of June my first direct debit they took out only included electricity I rang them on the 10th June and paid the missing gas amount [effectively giving them the full amount] because of this they said my £100 would come into force after the 10th June If I had not paid the missing gas amount I would have had to wait until the 3rd of July for the £100 to take effect All these answers came because of their answers to my complaints

jalexa

george1939 wrote: »

All these answers came because of their answers to my complaints

The current product information says this...

"***Your annual discount: If you pay by monthly Direct Debit continuously for 12 months we’ll give you a discount off your bill (£100 if you buy both electricity and gas, £50 if you buy just gas or £40 if you buy just electricity). Your discount will be credited to your account on or before the last day of the 12th month after becoming eligible ..."

I'm saying something different than disbelieving you. I'm saying that if any supplier (...especially NPower...) says somthing that does not convince me, I would not accept it until it was stated in writing as a final (or "deadlock") response to a Complaint, at which point if I remained unconvinced I would ask the Energy Ombudsman to consider the issue.

In this case the governing phrase is "after becoming eligible". I accept it is not obvious where that phrase is defined (except an undefined phrase does not automatically work to NPower's benefit). In researching this in the last few days I am sure I saw reference to "after becoming eligble" being the day the 2nd fuel transferred in a dual-fuel agreement, however I currently cannot find the reference.

Perhaps somebody else.

Anyway do you have what NPower said in writing and was it a final (or "deadlock") response to your Complaint?

george1939

jalexa wrote: »

The current product information says this...

"***Your annual discount: If you pay by monthly Direct Debit continuously for 12 months we’ll give you a discount off your bill (£100 if you buy both electricity and gas, £50 if you buy just gas or £40 if you buy just electricity). Your discount will be credited to your account on or before the last day of the 12th month after becoming eligible ..."

I'm saying something different than disbelieving you. I'm saying that if any supplier (...especially NPower...) says somthing that does not convince me, I would not accept it until it was stated in writing as a final (or "deadlock") response to a Complaint, at which point if I remained unconvinced I would ask the Energy Ombudsman to consider the issue.

In this case the governing phrase is "after becoming eligible". I accept it is not obvious where that phrase is defined (except an undefined phrase does not automatically work to NPower's benefit). In researching this in the last few days I am sure I saw reference to "after becoming eligble" being the day the 2nd fuel transferred in a dual-fuel agreement, however I currently cannot find the reference.

Perhaps somebody else.

Anyway do you have what NPower said in writing and was it a final (or "deadlock") response to your Complaint?

sorry about dates

My electricity was set up 9th May My gas came later 15th May So on the 3rd of July my first direct debit they took out only included electricity I rang them on the 10th July and paid the missing gas amount [effectively giving them the full amount] because of this they said my £100 would come into force after the 10th June If I had not paid the missing gas amount I would have had to wait until the 3rd of July for the £100 to take effect All these answers came because of their answers to my complaints

Sorry about dates [altered above] should have stated first amount for elec. should have read 3rdJuly They phoned me twice because they said I had made a complaint I had not only made an enquiry That is when they told me I would receive the £100 after the 10th June effectively 12 full direct debits for electric and gas due to making up gas amount by visa

Bronnie

I have been trying to work my way through this thread, with some difficulty I have to admit as to what my course of action should be.

I entered into my npower sign online 19 contract on 3rd October 2010. My first dd was 7th December 2010. I have received the notification of the tariff ending on 30th September 2011

The wording on my contract re the annual discount states

"Annual Discount. After you've been with npower and paid by monthly direct debit or quarterly variable DD without a break for 12 months you'll be entitled to a discount off your energy bill. Stay with us and continue to pay in this way and you'll get £100 annual discount if you buy both gas and electricity."

My interpretation would be that I have been with npower for 12 months by 3rd October 2011 and have been paying by monthly direct debit without a break. It does not appear to refer to 12 direct debit payments in the contract, but that during the course of the 12 months I would have paid by monthly dd from their start date, without a break.


Any advice/ recommendations as to the best plan of action most welcome, please.

(currently researching alternative tariffs npower sign online23 seems to be the cheapest, however if I remain with npower but change tariffs at the wrong time, might I lose the annual discount?).

jalexa

Bronnie wrote: »

I entered into my npower sign online 19 contract on 3rd October 2010...

Is that single fuel or dual-fuel? It's quite unusual for both fuels to transfer on same day. My *understanding* is that "been with" or "become eligible for" refers (in a dual-fuel agreement) to the date the 2nd fuel transfers. But that is only my opinion, but it is an opinion I would be delighted to take to a Complaint and then to the Energy Ombudsman. NPower would be stupid not to concede though I cannot say they are not stupid.

however if I remain with npower but change tariffs at the wrong time, might I lose the annual discount?).

I don't think that needs to be the case if you transfer by agreement at (or near) maturity of your existing tariff. That is your call but having just earned the discount is the best time to escape from a "deferred discount":eek: tariff.

Bronnie

Thanks for your very quick reply.

Having shuffled through my papers again , I now note that 3rd Oct was the electricity transfer date. Gas commenced 10th November 2010.

That would put me on npower standard tariff for for about 6 weeks.
My dual fuel bill since joining npower is £785, so the £100 annual bonus is quite significant, although balanced against usage on the higher tariff for those 6 weeks.

However on my recent bill, they have proposed an increase in monthly payments from £62pm to £158pm from 7th November 2011 They have increased the estimated number of electricity units considerably, which is not the case as my electricity usage is constant throughout the year. I haven't had time to analyse their estimated gas figures yet. So I am going to need to contact them regarding this soon anyway, as I am not prepared to let my outlay reach these levels!