£215 per month direct debit?!!

debbie_debt

Hi,

I'm looking for a bit of advice.

I've been with npower since October 2011, so we've pretty much only been with them through the winter months. We swapped to the cheapest deal through a comparison site at that time, and their rates haven't changed since.

Since October, we've been paying £77/month for gas and electricity combined (for 2 adults/1child in a 2 bed terrace), which is £8 a month cheaper than our previous supplier, edf. With edf, we never went into debt and the £85 a month covered things quite nicely.

However, we've just had our first statement from npower, stating that we're nearly £700 in debt, despite paying the £77/month without fail ever month. Therefore, our new monthly payment is now £215 a month!!!!:mad:

We can't afford this month to month, but equally we don't have the £700 needed to pay off the debt and switch.

What can we do? Any advice gratefully received!

Debbie

victor2

Hard to see how you've run up a bill that size, given what you've been paying.
Was the bill produced from actual readings and not estimates?
First thing to establish is how much gas and electricity you've actually used since last October. Also make sure that your gas bill is for the same type of meter (imperial or metric) that you've actually got.
Can you find out from your old EDF bills what your annual usage was in kWh for each utility?

Elixiress

Do a meter read and check it matches what is on the bill. It is possible that they could be basing it on estimated reads rather than actual reads.

If you have in fact used that amount, you can call them up and ask to reduce the DD so it covers what you are using plus a bit more. It just means it will take longer to pay off the outstanding debt.

penrhyn

A quick check on you gas account may help.
First have a look at the gas meter is it imperial 100s CuFt, or Metric M3?

If its a metric meter check that you have not been billed for an imperial meter, if you have the bill will be 3 times too much.

Other than that ensure that you starting meter readings and current meter readings are actual not estimated.

PS Sorry Victors post has already covered this.

sithmaster

you also need to make sure all they payments you have made have been applied to your account.
check the meter(s) serial number match

northernsoul

Hi
Just to give you a comparison. I live in a 100year old (read cold and not very well insulated house) 2 bed terrace with a bedroom attic, 3 adults, and i pay £120 a month with EDF. I look at new homes with their tiny radiators (compared to mine) with envy. IMHO I think £77 a month for both gas and electricity is probably underpaying (assuming yours is an old not very insulated house like mine). i understand your concern over the extra payments though, i was just asked for an extra one off payment of £170 on top of my £120 a month. Wish i could improve my insulation but with an old house it is very expensive, ie external insulation

cos_2

Hi Debbie,

I've just switched to npower and am obviously a bit concerned about your problem. Can I ask, is this the first bill/statement you've received from them since October last year? I was with EDF and got statements every month. I can't imagine how I'll keep track if npower don't issue monthly statements.

HappyMJ

cos wrote: »

Hi Debbie,

I've just switched to npower and am obviously a bit concerned about your problem. Can I ask, is this the first bill/statement you've received from them since October last year? I was with EDF and got statements every month. I can't imagine how I'll keep track if npower don't issue monthly statements.

The more often you send meter readings then the more often you get a bill so the more accurate they will be. Npower will send bills 6 months apart if you don't provide meter readings more regularly.

Cardew

Although it won't account for a £700 debit balance, it is pertinent that Npower have 'seasonal weighting' (sculpting) for gas. This means you pay far more at Tier 1 rates in winter.

debbie_debt

Npower charge more for gas in winter?? How on earth do they get away with not making that perfectly clear in their schedule of charges? That's a disgrace.

This is the first statement I've had from them since joining, which to be honest maybe I should've chased sooner, but it's one of those things that slipped my mind.

All of the £77 payments have reached my account, and the bills are based on my actual readings. Consdiering how a comparison site told me they would be cheaper than my last supplier, I simply don't understand how this has happened.

I'm going to have to ring and negotiate a reduced repayment. But I'm wary about agreeing to pay it off over a year or so because won't that lock me into staying with them till the debt's paid off??

Thanks for all the replies!

victor2

debbie_debt wrote: »

Npower charge more for gas in winter?? How on earth do they get away with not making that perfectly clear in their schedule of charges? That's a disgrace.

You have to dig through their rates details, but may find something like this:


Obviously depends on your tariff, but it means someone who switchess off or hardly uses their boiler in the summer, still covers the full quota of tier 1 priced gas.