Outstanding Dispute with Npower-advice please

jennewstart

Hello, Can anyone please help me, I moved out of a standard 3 bedroomed house in August 2011, while there I was with Npower and paying direct debit. Over the last year I paid £1222.00 for both gas and electric in payments, but Npower sent me a final bill saying I owe £300.16 gas and £352.45 electric, making a debt of £652.61. (the amount owing plus the amount I have paid would mean Ive used £1874.61 in a yr = £156.21 per month through winter and summer!!)
I am in constant contact with the complaints dept who have now told me that I owe it and thats that basically..... How on earth can a family of 4 use that amount of elec and gas? (2 adults and 2 children)
Is this normal usage before I proceed? If not, how can I prove otherwise? thank you for your help

jalexa

jennewstart wrote: »

Is this normal usage before I proceed?

First of all "normal" usage is not relevant to an individual dispute.

(but FWIW 16,500kwhrs gas and 3,300kwhr electric is considered "average" and would cost approximately £100/month)

Unless alleged as "faulty" your meter readings are proof-positive of consumption. You cannot challenge the £££s unless and until you have scrutinised and found fault with the readings (or calculations) on previous bills at the property you have vacated.

If you post dates and readings people here can help or explain.

macman

Did you supply regular readings (at least quarterly) over that year to NPower? Did you query any bills received based on estimated readings? If no,t then it's almost certainly a final catch up bill due to your DD's not matching your actual consumption.
£156 is certainly very high, but it's perfectly possible you have used that much.
I see no point in complaining unless you have first checked their figures against your readings and found them to be wrong.

meggsy

Can you tell us which tariff you were on with npower, have they charged exit fees, and if you were due a discount did they credit your account ? I found they were happy to forget discounts until prompted :mad:

undaunted

Was a final reading taken when you left the property & if so does it match what they are saying it is on the final bill?

Other than it sounds like a lot on what basis do you think you have a complaint?

bengasman

Do you have a confirmed begin reading and a confirmed final reading? If not, you can't do much better than offering to pay a small amount per month by standing order, and pay the whole sum.

chanz4

If reads were not taken its a hard lessen, but as others have said average house doesnt come into it. I know someone who has a bungalow, oops forgot to mention the koi ponds for example. A family of 4 will use a lot, x4 baths 1/2a day x7, cooking lighting electric games etc it all adds up.