Npower 'own' a meter and are preventing change of supplier?

jarthurs

I was just chatting to a friend and celebrating the fact I've finally managed to ditch EDF after numerous false finishes.

She stated they haven't been able to change away from Npower as every time they do they get a letter from their new supplier saying they cannot change because Npower own the meter.

I haven't established which meter Npower claim to own but it all sounds like a rather fishy 'tie-in' situation.

Anyone shed any light on this?

Regards,
Jason.

Consumerist

This can sometimes happen if you are on some obscure tariff which only one supplier offers. You can usually pay the "owner" about £50 to change the meter(s) then you can switch to another supplier. Check with nPower for their charges.

Edit
You might want to check this similar thread.

undaunted

Do they owe Npower any money?

If so they will be blocking the transfer on grounds of debt. They don't own the meter but it is registered to them as supplier.

Whether or not that is fair or legal is debatable (other legislation seems to suggest not) but it is there in the electricty legislation. It's just waiting for someone to challenge the practice!

macman

Normally only if the debt is above £200.

Yorkie1

Are they on one of those new / trial smart meters?

utility_csa

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Are they on one of those new / trial smart meters?

Wont make a difference.

Your meter does not tie you to a supplier.

Im assuming that have a weird tariff like E10 or something along those lines, not supported my many other suppliers.

Try and find out who the meter says "property of xxx" on the front.

rogerblack

In addition.
If they are in fact on E10, and the property is properly set up to use it - switching may cost lots of money!
E10 spreads the cheap rate electricity through the day - it can be a very efficient means of heating.
Not as good as gas, of course.

gentlebloke

macman wrote: »

Normally only if the debt is above £200.

Wrong again....

They'll normally block for any debt. The £200 threshold applies to PPMs.

Consumerist

gentlebloke wrote: »

Wrong again....They'll normally block for any debt. The £200 threshold applies to PPMs.

From the suppliers Standard Licence Conditions :-

14.6 The licensee shall ensure that Outstanding Charges of amounts equal to or less than £200 are capable of being assigned by the licensee to a new Gas Supplier in accordance with the Protocol.

spiro

Consumerist wrote: »

From the suppliers Standard Licence Conditions :-

Thats fine but you then need to read the defintion of Protocol:

means the arrangements in force under the Supply Point
Administration Agreement by which Charges for the Supply
of Gas owed to a Gas Supplier by a Domestic Customer to
whom gas is supplied through a Prepayment Meter may be

assigned to any other Gas Supplier

As gentlebloke says the threshold only applies to PPMs. Same is true for electricity.