NPower

kayla3600 · 23 February 2012 at 3:40PM

Hi I just wondered if someone could help me.
I moved from British Gas to Npower last July.
Due to British gas being absolutely useless I didnt start paying Npower till November.
I received my 6 month bill at the weekend. My direct debit has gone from £33 to £72! I understand i owe them around £169, but this seems a bit much!
Sent them an email, stating that I thought this was slightly high.
I received a call today, the lady agreed that it did seem high, it was due to them wanting my account to be 0 come november. But said that they could split it across 12 months instead, and would I be happy to pay £59?. I stated if £72 is what they want them I'm happy to pay, but £59 is much better. Which she agreed.
After getting off the phone to them, I wondered whether this will have a negative effect on my credit report? As they share details with the agencies. Does any one know? Or have been in a similar situation?

undaunted · 23 February 2012 at 4:10PM

I'm not sure that Npower do credit check etc. Have you asked them?

I'm not really clear what your complaint is here however. Either you used the energy, £72 is correct to get it down by November and you can afford to pay it. Why not do so?

Or you can't afford to pay it. If you cant pay then what happens to your credit file is really neither here nor there is it?

kayla3600 · 23 February 2012 at 4:12PM

There was no complaint really, just a question.
If I dont have to pay the £72, then I have spare to pay off other things thats all.

undaunted · 23 February 2012 at 4:19PM

I think you've perhaps missed my point slightly Kayla. You do not have to pay £72 - they've already told you they will happily take £59.

You now have a choice - give the £72 or give them £59. If you can afford £72 but only give them £59 it merely means you are in debt to them for longer

If by giving them £72 it means you can't pay someone else however then perhaps that may affect your credit file too? IE Is your problem really that you are (like many people in the current climate) sailing close to the wind at the moment?

If that's the case writing yourself a personal budget statement may help (CAB, Local Community Legal Advice centre, Consumer Credit counselling service etc will all help you with this for free if you need them to). You should then aim to divide your available cash pro rata between any priority creditors & this should keep everyone as happy as is possible under your circumstances.

kayla3600 · 23 February 2012 at 4:25PM

I'm not struggling to pay, I just like to make more then the minimum repayments each month.
And if I can use that £13 to pay off a credit card quicker (therefore attracting less interest) then I would like to do so. As there is no interest on the debit amount with Npower, my question simply was, is spreading it over a year rather then six months going to effect my credit record.

kayla3600 · 23 February 2012 at 4:37PM

thanks undaunted. I have just called them back asking them if they could put it back up to £72. After thinking about what you said, I have decided to clear the debit balance over 6months rather then 12. Then hopefully from August it should all even out!