n power

clairelouise11

I've been with npower for almost a year now and have been paying by fixed monthly direct debit, but today its gone out its usually £62 for both gas and electric, they have taken £107.
Are they able to do this? The money was already spent and now I can't pay my credit card. I think I have to pay to get out and change suppliers. Does any one have any advise?
thanks

jetty

Are you sure you didn't receive a letter saying they are changing your payment? I'd give them a call and ask why it happened. Depending on when it was taken out, you can cancel the DD (like if it was this morning) just go to your bank and request it, i've done this before and got my money back - but not sure if N-power will charge for non payment - best to call them first and find out!

dogshome

Hi clairelouise 11 - Having been with n'power for nearly a year, you are about due your 2nd bill on their 6 monthly billing system, so I guess they have done the figures and found you are using more power/gas than your D/D is paying for.

The £107 D/D will be based on what they think your actual useage is, plus, a contribution to reduce the debt

However was that 1st bill they issued last Spring, based on actual readings or was it Estimated?
If it was an estimate, look at your meter readings now and apply them to your tariff to see if your D/D payments are too low or too high - If it appears that your D/D's are paying for your use, get onto n'power.

You should indeed have been pre-notified of a D/D increase, but try hard not to get onto the bank to cancel it - You n'power tariff probably has a £100+ Cash-back feature after a year, but to earn it you must have made 12 consecutive monthly D/D payments - If you cancel one you will lose the cash-back.

UncleZen

You should always receive advanced notification of a change to a direct debit payment. This is part of the direct debit rules. If they didnt send you the notification they are in breach of the rules.
Follow this link for a summay of the rules: http://www.albany.co.uk/knowledge-centre/direct-debit-best-practice/

rogerblack

UncleZen wrote: »

If they didnt send you the notification they are in breach of the rules.

The post office misdelivers around .3% of mail.
http://www2.royalmailgroup.com/how-were-performing/latest-news
This is a tiny number.
But if eon send out a million notices that direct debit amounts are changing per year, this is still 3000 people who don't get them.

Bronnie

Are you on an online tariff?

I received notification of proposed increased direct debit added onto my last online bill. The email that accompanied the bill included this:

QUOTE Your npower bill is now available to view online.

Important: There’s additional information on this bill which you should take the time to read as it may affect the payment amount or due date. UNQUOTE

I think when one is on an online tariff with dd's set up, it tends to be easy to not bother scrutinising bills or reading emails properly, believing everything's set up and you don't have to think about it.

Not saying this is the case for you OP, but I can see how easily info can be missed if you're not on the ball with it!

spiro

Bronnie wrote: »

Your npower bill is now available to view online.

Important: There’s additional information on this bill which you should take the time to read as it may affect the payment amount or due date.

The email I get from Eon says something very similar. With online accounts people need to realise that important information likes changes to DD amounts/dates will be via email or online account and not snail mail.

clairelouise11

Bronnie wrote: »

Are you on an online tariff?

I received notification of proposed increased direct debit added onto my last online bill. The email that accompanied the bill included this:

QUOTE Your npower bill is now available to view online.

Important: There’s additional information on this bill which you should take the time to read as it may affect the payment amount or due date. UNQUOTE

I think when one is on an online tariff with dd's set up, it tends to be easy to not bother scrutinising bills or reading emails properly, believing everything's set up and you don't have to think about it.

Not saying this is the case for you OP, but I can see how easily info can be missed if you're not on the ball with it!

Actually I did have an email from them, but didnt bother looking at it!
I have spoken to npower now and apparenty my direct debit will be higher because of coming into the winter months. I dont know if i'd be better off switching? I am going to speak to them again today and see if there is a get out charge.

thanks all for your replies

MikeR71

Exact same thing has happened to me. I was paying £80 DD until now but this month they suddenly helped themselves to £190 of my money! I have since changed provider. Screw the thieving npower.

Bronnie

Claire, there are a couple of threads on the front page at the moment re this. Have a read of them. In some cases you are eligible for an npower discount, which you stand to forfeit if you mistime your leaving. Try to fully inform yourself about your situation, reading your bills and correspondence from them, before speaking to them if poss! Be careful!

macman

clairelouise11 wrote: »

Actually I did have an email from them, but didnt bother looking at it!
I have spoken to npower now and apparenty my direct debit will be higher because of coming into the winter months. I dont know if i'd be better off switching? I am going to speak to them again today and see if there is a get out charge.

thanks all for your replies

Not necessarily. Regardless of supplier, if your DD is set too low to support your ongoing usage, then the pattern will simply repeat itself with a new supplier. What matters is the consumption and the rate, not the DD level.