npower warrant of entry, questions. ***UPDATE***

raven83

Hi, hope everyone is having a nice easter! Got a couple of questions i would like some answers too. Bascially i owe NPower about 900 in gas which i have struggled to pay over the years etc, i happily agreed to having a PPM put in last year and that they would take the debt off that every week. Anyway 1st appointment was book and couple days beforehand i had to rearrange due to things going on a dds school, so i rebooked, 2nd appointment came and i had to reagrange due to dd not being well and i had to take her to the doctors that day, so the 3rf was booked and this time i made a point of staying in all day, i mad sure my batteries in my bell was working and i stayed at the front of my house to keep an eye on when thwy turn up, but that day they didnt come. When i rang npower they said that due to 3 missed appointments they couldnt make anymore and that they would apply for a warrant from the court, i was really annoyed as i had been in that day and when i had arragned the appointments before i was never told of the 3 strike rule, i said i was more than happy to have the meter, i have one for my electric and have never had no problems.


So anyway i got the letter through on saturday to tell me that the hearing was booked for the end of the month and that i could attend etc, it also said that no notice would be given of the day they was going to be coming to fit in the meter which i think is a bit of a joke, i rang up npower and the woman on the phone said that i could ring after the hearing and they would tell me of the day but they wouldnt write to me and inform me. So want i want to know is,


If i attend the hearing (never set foot in a court before) what can i expect, and if i explain to the judge that i had to cancel the 2 appointments because of my child commintments but was in and waiting for the 3rd appointment which no one showed up for, is there a chance the warrant wont be granted, has anyone had a warrant been turned down before?


Also if i do go to the hearing what can i expect, i feel apprehensive that if i go to court i wont come out:o i know thats irrational but i suffer with MH problems so does make me think irrational things sometimes.


And if it does all go ahead what can i expect on the day of the warrant being carried out, will i havr loads of people turn up at my house to change the meters? Just need some answers really, i am thinking of going to the hearing and explaining but wondering if there is any point?


Thanks in advance.

DUTR

Probably no point, look at it from the other side, you cancelled two appointments, so it could look like you are evading, obviously if you are not then let them get on with replacing the meter, I suspect a PPM will assist you to budget for future billing.

DVardysShadow

As they are going for a warrant based on 3 attempted visits but they did not call on the 3rd appointment, it is worth challenging.
Point out that

• you did rearrange 2 appointments because of childcare issues rather than simply allowing nPower's representative to turn up to an unanswered door
• one appointment was missed because nPower did not turn up

State that

• you want the meter installed to resolve the outstanding debt
• you are happy to grant access by agreement
• you consider that a warrant to gain entry by force on an unspecified is unnecessary given that you want to let them in peacefully

Ask the court for an adjournment for 28 days or a warrant which names the day on which they may attend.

And ask for costs

raven83

DVardysShadow wrote: »

As they are going for a warrant based on 3 attempted visits but they did not call on the 3rd appointment, it is worth challenging.
Point out that

• you did rearrange 2 appointments because of childcare issues rather than simply allowing nPower's representative to turn up to an unanswered door
• one appointment was missed because nPower did not turn up

State that

• you want the meter installed to resolve the outstanding debt
• you are happy to grant access by agreement
• you consider that a warrant to gain entry by force on an unspecified is unnecessary given that you want to let them in peacefully

Ask the court for an adjournment for 28 days or a warrant which names the day on which they may attend.

And ask for costs

So its worth going then? If i expalin all that is there a chance they may not grant the warrant and if a warrant is granted what will happen?

DVardysShadow

raven83 wrote: »

So its worth going then? If i expalin all that is there a chance they may not grant the warrant and if a warrant is granted what will happen?

Only a chance. But a good chance, I would say. Basically, warrants are for people who will not comply. If you turn up, looking your best, make your case, the magistrates will listen. And I think they will see that you are trying to comply - which should make them very uncomfortable to actually grant a warrant on this occasion.

Another thing you can do is WRITE not phone nPower and offer 3 different half day appointment slots before the hearing and ask them to choose any of them and confirm. Keep a copy of this letter. I doubt that nPower will respond - but you can take it along to the court as further evidence that you are trying to give nPower access.

raven83

So how long do these hearings take, i've never had to go to court before? Also if they do not grant the warrant will i still incur the costs?

DVardysShadow

raven83 wrote: »

So how long do these hearings take, i've never had to go to court before? Also if they do not grant the warrant will i still incur the costs?

I have never been to a warrant hearing. If you don't turn up it will take less than a minute. If you do turn up, it may take 10 or 15. If a warrant is not granted, nPower should bear their own costs and yours too.

raven83

So will npower arrange another time that they can come to fit the meter in? Just sounds a bit scary as its in court, sorry for all the questions just want to know what to expect

Terrylw1

You may also be interested to know that npower owe you £22 for their engineer not turning up and npower not notifying you of it at least 1 working day prior to the date.

Plus because they haven't given you this payment within 10 days, they have to pay you an additional £22.

That's Ofgems Guaranteed Standards Of Service (GSOS).

When you rearranged the previous ones, did you give them notice i.e. it wasn't the same day? If so, they didnt get charged anything as they would cancel their instruction to the Meter Operator (if they didn't, that's their hard luck for being inefficient!)

They could easily book a third since the others never happened and the circumstances are sufficient.

Be very wary of a warrant, you will get charge for them doing this hence putting you further in debt. You will also be viewing negatively as opposed to a customer who is willing to have a PPM.

DVardysShadow

raven83 wrote: »

So will npower arrange another time that they can come to fit the meter in? Just sounds a bit scary as its in court, sorry for all the questions just want to know what to expect

No idea whether nPower will arrange another time. To me, they look to be going down the path of a warrant a little too easily. A letter might make them rethink. If you write as I suggest, the solicitor who takes it to court will almost certainly get a copy - solicitors do no like to be embarrassed in court. So the solicitor may well advise that nPower should take up your offer and themselves decide not to go for a warrant, rather than get turned down.

When it comes to the court, you are equal in standing to nPower, plus you will get credit for turning up and stating your case. A brief letter to nPower, stating your case clearly will also show nPower's solicitor that you are able to hold your own. I imagine that they will discuss with you at the court before the hearing. The only thing to watch for is if they say that they will not proceed is to double check with the usher that the hearing has been pulled, before you leave the court. That is about the only likely dirty trick.

raven83

Terrylw1 wrote: »

You may also be interested to know that npower owe you £22 for their engineer not turning up and npower not notifying you of it at least 1 working day prior to the date.

Plus because they haven't given you this payment within 10 days, they have to pay you an additional £22.

That's Ofgems Guaranteed Standards Of Service (GSOS).

When you rearranged the previous ones, did you give them notice i.e. it wasn't the same day? If so, they didnt get charged anything as they would cancel their instruction to the Meter Operator (if they didn't, that's their hard luck for being inefficient!)

They could easily book a third since the others never happened and the circumstances are sufficient.

Be very wary of a warrant, you will get charge for them doing this hence putting you further in debt. You will also be viewing negatively as opposed to a customer who is willing to have a PPM.

Yes i always gave them notice and told them it was because i had childcare commitments etc, at no point did the man say that the third would be the final appointment, but no one turned up! So what do you think i should do? Do you think turning up will go in my favour and a warrant not be granted. I would feel happier going and even if they do get a warrant at least i would know when it would be carried out instead of having to ring npower to tell me, i really don't fancy someone turning up when i am not in!