Scared and Confused

xhannnahx

Hi guys, I hope you can help.

The scenario is this: My partner and I have recently moved into a new rented property. The landlord paid the fuel bills until the day we moved in, then he provided npower with all of our info. We received a welcome letter from npower a little while later to explain that we're on their 'standard' tariff for gas and electricity.

From what I understand, this is their most expensive way of paying and I would obviously like to make it cheaper. Now, I don't know what I can do - is who our energy supply with up to our landlord? Can I make it cheaper but remain with npower? I'm cautious when it comes to long term fixes and things like that as we've only got the lease on the house for a year, would that make a difference?

I've never been responsible for bills or utilities, I've either been in places where it was included with the rent, or another housemate was in charge and I just paid up when asked! This means that when it comes to looking at comparison sites, I have no idea how to answer their questions as to what our useage is

Having read some of the situations people have found themselves in on the forum, I'm a bit afraid of switching supplier (if I can) because I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Could anyone point me in the right direction for where to start? I got myself all fixed up to change to another npower tarriff but realised as I was doing so that this apparently only counted for new customers. Am I new? or just new-ish? I'm so confused!:( Any advice would be brilliant if you can. Thanks

notbritishgas

xhannnahx wrote: »

Hi guys, I hope you can help.

The scenario is this: My partner and I have recently moved into a new rented property. The landlord paid the fuel bills until the day we moved in, then he provided npower with all of our info. We received a welcome letter from npower a little while later to explain that we're on their 'standard' tariff for gas and electricity.

From what I understand, this is their most expensive way of paying and I would obviously like to make it cheaper. Now, I don't know what I can do - is who our energy supply with up to our landlord? Can I make it cheaper but remain with npower? I'm cautious when it comes to long term fixes and things like that as we've only got the lease on the house for a year, would that make a difference?

I've never been responsible for bills or utilities, I've either been in places where it was included with the rent, or another housemate was in charge and I just paid up when asked! This means that when it comes to looking at comparison sites, I have no idea how to answer their questions as to what our useage is

Having read some of the situations people have found themselves in on the forum, I'm a bit afraid of switching supplier (if I can) because I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Could anyone point me in the right direction for where to start? I got myself all fixed up to change to another npower tarriff but realised as I was doing so that this apparently only counted for new customers. Am I new? or just new-ish? I'm so confused!:( Any advice would be brilliant if you can. Thanks

Well two things to say.

I hope that on the day you moved in you took the meter readings, if only to check that the landlord had given them in correctly and not got you to pay for some of his electricity:eek:. If not then take a reading now and note the date and keep it safe.

Now to the tariff, yes the standard tariff is almost certainly npowers most expensive. They will have a cheaper one for you to switch to, possibly with some sort of exit fee if you switch, so check that.
Give them a ring they should switch you over on the phone and you can check what opening meter readings they have for you at the same time.

If you are determined to switch supplier then put the national average usage (16500 gas and 3200 electric) into a comparison site and that will show who the cheapest supplier is but not tell you what your yearly cost will be as you do not know yet what you will use.

xhannnahx

Thanks NBG, I know our Landlord was honest with the meter readings - we were the ones who found them for him on the day we moved. It wasn't like he'd been living here before we got here, it was empty for a few months first. It may be naive, but I trust him (at the moment!)

I'll give npower a ring this evening and see what they have to say. I'll spend some of the afternoon arming myself with useful information so I know a bit more of what I'm talking about!

bob_bank_spanker

Hope this can be of help xhannahx,

First off, it is entirely up to you who supplies you with energy, if the landlord says you have to be supplied by npower, suggest that he pays the bills! That would be the only scenario in which he would get to choose.

Assuming an initial meter reading was given when your account was set up, find out from npower what your consumption has been since you moved in (you will need up to date meter readings for this). Using some simple maths you should be able to extrapolate your usage for a calendar year. Not a perfect method as gas usage fluctuates seasonally, but it should give you a handle on what you use.

Then go to a price comp website, and enter your annual consumption figures for your property. It will show you the very cheapest tariffs, which tend not to be fixed, and the fixed price options, which vary according to how long they are fixed. Most fixed tariffs can be transferred when you move property, although this is something you would have to check out in the small print.

You will almost certainly find something you like that is cheaper than standard tariff :T

macman

A year's lease does not make any difference. If you sign up to a minimum term beyond this, then moving house allows you to void your contract without penalty.