Npower

TC54

Had a debt and payment plan, which they hiked to £84.00 fortnight, as on JSA only get £135 fortnightly, so no good. Debt down to £277. Next meter reading and bill not due until March. When last on this forum discussing same, Adam, from NPower said email info and I will see if I can help. His non-existent help resulted in a £10.50 admin charge from Npower collections while I waited. I spoke to Npower this week and they demanded a new meter reading, giving me a new bill before the next quarterly one due. Debt now £503!! Which they say can only be paid back over 12 months - they want £56.56 a fortnight, which leaves me with £39.22 to live on each week!!!! I asked to go onto fueldirect and they said I wasn't eligible because I am 'not vunerable'. Though when I checked Directgov it said I was due to being on JSA incomebased. Not sure what to do now, don't want a meter, which they say is the onloy option to repay over longer period. Any suggestions??:mad:

TC54

Additional info: Usage for dual fuel is £16.03 per week based on their annual calculations.

chanz4

If a pre-pay is available they are correct , the costs would be how much your usage is which is likely to be declined under the fd scheme. Not so sure their is need for the language though. Ask npower to remove the admin fee

macman

You already have a meter. What is your objection to a PPM? It's clearly the best option in the circumstances described, as it's most unlikely that they'll extend your credit to more than a 12m payback period.

chanz4

They should be able to stretch to 24 max

macman

I doubt it, given that the OP's current payments don't appear to now keep up with usage, let alone reduce the arrears.

chanz4

No they payments must cover the usage by law, the recovery can be stretched

TC54

Thanks all, for your thoughts, just to say I couldn't make my online payment this fortnight as they are 'updating' their systems and it locked out my account. By my reckoning, they are asking for at least £3 pw too much, even on 12 months repayment. I don't want a prepayment meter. Had one when kids were young, was a nightmare and don't want to go back to those days. Was managing the payment plan fine until they hiked it up to £84 per fortnight. How amazing that when you query it they insist its the proper amount, yet now, its £56 based on usage and repayment!!! So they were trying to squeeze another £30 out of me for what?? Causing the current crisis. Doubt if it will help, but am going to complain to ofgem about the way this has been handled.

rogerblack

TC54 wrote: »

Was managing the payment plan fine until they hiked it up to £84 per fortnight.

If you are using more than you are paying - the debt will go up!
The only way is either to manage to get more income, economise on other stuff, or to use much less electricity/gas.

What sort of heating do you have, and can you find bills that list actual kWh used for the last year?

chanz4

TC54 wrote: »

Thanks all, for your thoughts, just to say I couldn't make my online payment this fortnight as they are 'updating' their systems and it locked out my account. By my reckoning, they are asking for at least £3 pw too much, even on 12 months repayment. I don't want a prepayment meter. Had one when kids were young, was a nightmare and don't want to go back to those days. Was managing the payment plan fine until they hiked it up to £84 per fortnight. How amazing that when you query it they insist its the proper amount, yet now, its £56 based on usage and repayment!!! So they were trying to squeeze another £30 out of me for what?? Causing the current crisis. Doubt if it will help, but am going to complain to ofgem about the way this has been handled.

Keep giving actual reads and it will be acurate, ofgem wont do anything

TC54

rogerblack wrote: »

If you are using more than you are paying - the debt will go up!
The only way is either to manage to get more income, economise on other stuff, or to use much less electricity/gas.

What sort of heating do you have, and can you find bills that list actual kWh used for the last year?

Was paying more than using, got the energy saving people (local council) in, they have put gadget on my meter etc. Have combi boiler, gas central heating (hardly on - shivering now;)) electric shower. Energy people says apart from taking stuff off standby, nothing else they could suggest as I had most things covered. NPower estimate I use 2630 kWh elec and 6140 kWh gas. My new invoice is dated 20/2 as I spoke to them Monday and they were going to call back, they didn't and I called them again on 22/2. Whilst talking to them I had current account visible, just checked it and they have since that call at 4.45pm added a £23.40 agent visit charge - no-one has called, been in all day!!! Nice work if you can get it!!:mad: