Dual fuel discount paid when? Npower

castle96

despite writing, emailing, ringing, I still cannot get an answer from Np.

changed to them last year, but Elec first, then Gas. Both direct debit from the start.

Elec. 5/5/11 supply started, first ddm payment 1/7/11
Gas. 19/7/11 supply started, first ddm payment 18/8/11

After a couple of months the 2 ddms were merged into one.

Will I get 2 separate discounts paid, or 1 x dual fuel payment.?
When ? 12 months after the first, or the dual dates. And, when will these dates be taken from, supply date, or the first (or 2nd), ddm payment dates.
Don't want to miss out on a £95/100 bung,. I can then switch (another minefield re standing charges, units spread out over the year, etc !).
Any advice (not on switching, but onthe discount), please.

The direct debit discount bit of their site says "12 mths after we started SUPPLYING.."

From Np site/Q's.. Dear npower, why do you bill people just before their first year anniversary to avoid paying out the annual discount for another 6 months? You correctly advertise that the discount applies to your first bill after 12 months which I do not dispute. However, you billed me for my first year after only 11 months! As you only bill every 6 months (again not disputing 6 monthly billing) this means npower get another 6 months before you issue the discount. And that is assuming you decide not to delay this bill any longer! It's obvious to all customers what you're doing. I really think you should make it clear to customers in your advertising (not some hidden clause) that they will not start to benefit from the discount for 18 months. If you're unable to do this then stop billing people just before their year anniversary so they can benefit from the benefit after 12 months. I dare you to display this question on your website!

Yorkie1

No idea but my scenario is almost exactly the same as yours. If I get an answer I'll let you know ...

meggsy

Have a look at the Brighter Energy Debate, the non-appearance of the discount every year was just one of the reasons I switched away from npower.

http://thebrighterenergydebate.npower.com/QuestionsForTag.aspx?tagid=1167

Or you could email the npower rep on this site

[EMAIL="forumresponse@npower.com"]forumresponse@npower.com[/EMAIL]

castle96

from Npower forumresponse..

we shall see...



Good Morning

Your anniversary date is 5th May and this will be shown on your first statement after your anniversary date, which is 06/07/12. You will receive your £100 discount on your next statement. This can be refunded to you if you have no debit on your account

Best Wishes
Alex

Yorkie1

Thanks castle96 and meggsy. Have emailed the forum rep and hope for a similar response.

jalexa

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Thanks castle96 and meggsy. Have emailed the forum rep and hope for a similar response.

I have a very slightly different interpretation. Technically what happens with "deferred discount":eek: depends on what the terms and conditions state, but my understanding of current NPower practice is that *if* the Consumer Focus accredited comparison for the tariff included the discount (i.e. made the quote cheaper) the discount is "earned" on the last day of the 12 month period. However the discount has already been "credited" according to the statement frequency so you may be disappointed if you expected £100 "in your hand":(

What this means is that customers who "earn" the discount see no change, but customers who switch before the discount is "earned" will have any already "credited" discount clawed-back in the final bill.

I believe the above was correct (for NPower but not necessarily First Utility) at some recent time though I am not 100% sure what is current NPower practice so I stand to be corrected.

zerog

I started with npower on 21 May, they said my first direct debit will be 1st July and thus I would be eligible for the discount after 12 direct debits, so 1st June 2013.

My online account is ready and it says the first bill will be available on 23 July though... does that mean the next bill will be 23rd Jan and then I would actually see the annual discount credited on the 23rd July 2013 (i.e. 14 months intead of 18?)

Also, does anyone know how often they ask you to take meter readings?

HappyMJ

zerog wrote: »

I started with npower on 21 May, they said my first direct debit will be 1st July and thus I would be eligible for the discount after 12 direct debits, so 1st June 2013.

My online account is ready and it says the first bill will be available on 23 July though... does that mean the next bill will be 23rd Jan and then I would actually see the annual discount credited on the 23rd July 2013 (i.e. 14 months intead of 18?)

Also, does anyone know how often they ask you to take meter readings?

You don't have to take them very often but the more often you do then the more often you will get an accurate bill. Even though they don't ask you can still provide them with one and ask for a bill.

MillicentBystander

npower HAVE to credit the discount on your account on the 364th day since your account went live or the switching sites are erroneously quoting their figures including the annual discount.

nPower

Hi Yorkie1,

I just wanted to come on here and say that I've received your email and this is being looked into for you now.

As soon as I have the answers, I'll pop you a reply.

Best wishes,

Adam

Yorkie1

Just to update the thread - I got a phone & email reply within 24 hours and was very pleased with it.

The anniversary date is the earlier of the two supply dates for the fuels (they were 2 days apart); specific DD dates were not relevant because I had paid by DD throughout the period.

Many thanks Adam, and your team.