Npower - Urgent help required!

stresseddebt_2

Hi There,
I am having the worst start to the day - Friday 13th

Basically since January, I have been paying £120 direct debit for dual fuel with npower. Last month this bounced and as I waited for them to try and take it out again, I got a letter saying that they have switched me to quarterly bill. I went online and submitted my meter readings and waited for a response.
Last night I received an email to say that my bill was ready to view online, I checked this morning and its £1,053!!!
I rang them this morning to double check my meter readings and they have confirmed its right and that we're using £100 a month electricity :huh: they have told me the only option is to go back on direct debit and pay £240 for 6 months. I can't really afford this as my income is only £754.28! I dont know what to do, my dad suggested swapping companies and treating this as a debt but I have enough debt already - £13,503.14 worth!

Also Haliax have just put my mortgage up to £550 a month starting next month which again, I simply cannot afford.

Please be nice as I've already been in tears all morning - thanks guys xx

DUTR

stresseddebt wrote: »

Hi There,
I am having the worst start to the day - Friday 13th

Basically since January, I have been paying £120 direct debit for dual fuel with npower. Last month this bounced and as I waited for them to try and take it out again, I got a letter saying that they have switched me to quarterly bill. I went online and submitted my meter readings and waited for a response.
Last night I received an email to say that my bill was ready to view online, I checked this morning and its £1,053!!!
I rang them this morning to double check my meter readings and they have confirmed its right and that we're using £100 a month electricity :huh: they have told me the only option is to go back on direct debit and pay £240 for 6 months. I can't really afford this as my income is only £754.28! I dont know what to do, my dad suggested swapping companies and treating this as a debt but I have enough debt already - £13,503.14 worth!

Also Haliax have just put my mortgage up to £550 a month starting next month which again, I simply cannot afford.

Please be nice as I've already been in tears all morning - thanks guys xx

It's too late now, but submitting meter readings every month, helps keep track of what you are using one of my colleagues was whining about the electric bills they were recieving, but on further investigation, it became apparent the oil radiator they had on on the kitchen nearly all day long was the major cause. Anyways it would seem in your case the £120 although high was not high enough for your actual usage (assuming the meter readings are correct) .

macman

Why are you paying £100pm for electricity if you have gas heating and hot water? What are you actually using per month? You need to separate out the debt from the ongoing usage.
Forget the amount in £s, you need to get a handle on your actual kWh usage. Get your annual figures and post them.
You can't switch suppliers with a huge debt, anything over £200 and it will be blocked.
If you can't afford even your ongoing consumption, then a PPM s the best way forward.

jalexa

stresseddebt wrote: »

Basically since January, I have been paying £120 direct debit for dual fuel with npower.

they have confirmed its right and that we're using £100 a month electricity

Unlike macman I'm not prepared to accept at face value a telephone adviser's "they have confirmed its right". I say that because £120/month dual fuel is perhaps 20% above "average" consumption and "£100/month" electricity is several times average.

However, unless successfully challenged for accuracy, the meter is proof positive of consumption. To get more meaningful help here you need to post your meter readings today and the readings stated on the last two bills.

macman

jalexa wrote: »

Unlike macman I'm not prepared to accept at face value a telephone adviser's "they have confirmed its right". I say that because £120/month dual fuel is perhaps 20% above "average" consumption and "£100/month" electricity is several times above average.

However, unless successfully challenged for accuracy, the meter is proof positive of consumption. To get more meaningful help here you need to post your meter readings today and the readings stated on the last two bills.

Which is why, like you, I suggested that the OP post her actual kWh usage, so the actual usage per month can be assessed.
My suspicion is that that £100 includes a contribution to clearing the considerable debt that has accrued.
OP, when did you previously submit meter readings or have your meter read prior to last month's online submission? Did you only switch to NPower in January? What tariff are you on?

HappyMJ

stresseddebt wrote: »

Hi There,
I am having the worst start to the day - Friday 13th

Basically since January, I have been paying £120 direct debit for dual fuel with npower. Last month this bounced and as I waited for them to try and take it out again, I got a letter saying that they have switched me to quarterly bill. I went online and submitted my meter readings and waited for a response.
Last night I received an email to say that my bill was ready to view online, I checked this morning and its £1,053!!!
I rang them this morning to double check my meter readings and they have confirmed its right and that we're using £100 a month electricity :huh: they have told me the only option is to go back on direct debit and pay £240 for 6 months. I can't really afford this as my income is only £754.28! I dont know what to do, my dad suggested swapping companies and treating this as a debt but I have enough debt already - £13,503.14 worth!

Also Haliax have just put my mortgage up to £550 a month starting next month which again, I simply cannot afford.

Please be nice as I've already been in tears all morning - thanks guys xx

You really should try again on the Debt-Free-Wannabe board on this website. Ignore any nasty comments and this time post a full SOA so that people can help you decide what to do. You might be better off selling the property and renting with the rent paid by housing benefit rather than trying to find a mortgage payment from what is effectively a NIL income.

There is no need to stress about debt...the worst that can happen is you get CCJ's and maybe end up bankrupt...it isn't the end of the world. Many actually find it takes a huge load off them and they can get on with their lives.

If you can't pay the electric bill then don't worry. The electric company will not cut you off if you can't pay.. they'll come out and install a prepayment meter and you can pay back the debt at a reasonable rate every week.

undaunted

Personally I consider it immoral that someone in your position should not be able to access the cheapest possible supply but as things presently stand Npower would proably block any application to transfer supplier. That means the best you can do unless the practice is successfully challenged is to ensure you are on their best tarrif (likely to be via Direct debit)

Questions I would have are therefore

Have you had more than one debit bounce?

What tarrif are you on

Do you in fact have gas heating etc or is it electric?

Do you believe the consumption quoted realistic and / or if you are on sufficent terms with them comparable with neighbours in a similar property & situation? (ie similar heating, lifestyle etc)

Are you a sole occupier or is there other household income?

If a sole occupier is there any possibility of letting rooms for example in order to increase income & reduce debts?

I do not agree that PPM is automatically your best bet as if you run out of money on a particular day the power goes off. Is that a likely event in your circumstances?

Have you considered a visit to your local CAB, legal advice centre or contacted Consumer Credit Counselling service who will each offer you free and confidential advice on request?

Good luck