N Power adding extra debt?

Danni

We're currently trying to move to British Gas (cheapest for us, also no standing charge for having prepayment meter). So far, N Power has blocked it 4 times, stating that there was debt. First time was correct, second time they'd not taken off the amount sent by cheque to them, so they owed us over £100 on gas, third time we had £47 left on the electric meter (and wouldn't let British Gas take that over) and this time not only have we paid the £47 by debit card, but they've taken 2 weeks to send a person out to take the debt off, or so we thought.

We received a new key this morning, and the letter said we were now going to have a debt of £26 to be taken off at £3 a week! When the guy turns up (he's due anytime before 6pm) he has to put £26 on the meter apparently, even though we have the funds to top up the key today if needs be. N Power currently owe us the £10 that we've paid off debt for the past 2 weeks, and have blocked both gas and electricity being moved again. Are they allowed to put customers back in debt when all they're trying to do is get out of it so they're allowed to move to a different company? It doesn't seem fair. Of course, if we were to pay off the £26 by debit card again, they'd just do the same again. Does this mean to get out of debt it's going to take another 8 and a bit weeks with them, even though we've paid everything up to now?

I want to scream it's so frustrating.

espresso

Why don't you insist that now that there is no out sanding debt, that the muppet meter is removed? Then switch to a cheaper supplier of your choice.

tripled

They are only allowed to object if the debt has been outstanding for more than 28 days, if they still object then complain to energywatch.

The other way around it is to call up, give them a meter reading and pay off the accounts in full, including this £26, but don't ask for the meter to be reset. Provided your accounts are clear nPower cannot then object to the transfer going through regardless of what is says on the meter and you can get BG to reset it for you once you've switched. Any overpayments you make over the next couple of weeks can then be refunded to you.

I don't understand why they have to give you £26 credit though, it's a mystery to me.

alips_2

we had awful problems leaving Npower and had to get ofgem involved strangely enough everything moved really fast after that.
Alison