£215 per month direct debit?!!

jalexa

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.

This is not a defence of NPower but a explanation of comparison websites. A Consumer Focus accredited comparison website, very occasional inadvertent errors excepted, only provides accurate headline costs for the annual consumption entered, for a full 12 month supply year.

You have discovered a particular NPower "gotcha", though as victor2 points out it is somewhere there in the small print. I fear you have not yet discovered the other NPower "gotcha", "deferred discount":eek: which will cost you a further £100 if you successfully leave before a full 12 months of supply is reached:(.

I strongly suspect you compared on monthly direct debit. To get accurate annual headline costs from a comparison website you need to compare using actual annual consumption. To get really meaningful help here you need to post your annual consumption. You need to check the projected annual consumption NPower is using for the payment calculation. It is *possible* an unreasonable figure is being used, thereby inflating the monthly payment (and improving cashflow).

It is in your interests to remain with NPower for a full 12 months. Unlikely as it seems, the full accurately billed 12 month cost will *probably* not be dissimilar to what you were previously paying, market price changes excepted.

nPower

Hi debbie_debt,

That is a big jump. Have you spoke to anyone at npower yet?

If I can help with anything at all, please drop me an email to [EMAIL="forumresponse@npower.com"]forumresponse@npower.com[/EMAIL]

Best wishes,

Adam

robowl666

I have had the same issue. I switched from BG to N Power as they " were cheaper". I got home fri to an £105 month DD. from £50 - that's £55 increase!
So winter has just been and my meter read but the "estimated" I would use more in the summer therefore you will pay £105 month. Second to this, I was told I was on a fixed price DD (evidently not) they also changed my account number so they could review my payments.
When I called them I asked why I would use more electricity in the summer? Manged to get DD down to £80 - I am
Paying more with N Power on some special deal than I was with BG on normal tariff! They have totally taken the !!!! out of me. There is 2 adults in a 2 up 2down and I turn off all my plugs etc, very rarely use dryer. I do have solely electric home but it's a new Eco house! Also both of us are out for 12 hours each day working.
I've been scammed- wish I'd stayed with BG

jalexa

robowl666 wrote: »

I got home fri to an £105 month DD. from £50 - that's £55 increase!
So winter has just been and my meter read but the "estimated" I would use more in the summer therefore you will pay £105 month.

What was your account balance after the latest reading or estimate had been applied?

robowl666

I was in debit by £200 and the estimate was £409 for the upcoming 6 months. I only used £406 in the winter 6 months. Previously a review wouldn't have been done until the summer had been and then a calculation. Expecting I will use more is really irritating. I should be paying around £68 but to ask for £105 on the estimate of using more in the summer is maddening. Second to this I have a fully insulated Eco house so I should be seeing some benefits but unfortunately this is the most I have paid. I didn't expect continue paying £50 monthly but £105 is ridiculas

jalexa

robowl666 wrote: »

I should be paying around £68 but to ask for £105 on the estimate of using more in the summer is maddening.

You are absolutely right to be concerned if there is any lack of transparency in the calculation. The supplier's assumption of consumption (for the current year), and in your case the consumption for the 6 months remaining of the review year, is the single most important component of the calculation. Without that number it is impossible to accept the calculation as correct.

Next there the reasonableness of the assumption. What is the basis of the assumption? Ask NPower to put up or shut up on that on pain of Complaint and attempt to drive a wedge through any flaws in the assumption.

robowl666

I think I may contact them again later. I still think £80 is steep. I'm just shocked they think they have any right to just assume and then assume I'm going to have the heating etc on when the suns shining. Also upon looking, the debit doesn't add up - it should be around £107 but they have added and extra £100 including my 20% discount. I feel a huge complaint coming on!

jalexa

robowl666 wrote: »

I'm just shocked they think they have any right to just assume and then assume I'm going to have the heating etc on when the suns shining!

I don't believe they are assuming that. However the provenance of the figure they are assuming is the question to ask. For a customer of less than 12 months supply, a possible figure is the 12 months previous actual consumption passed to NPower by your previous supplier. It may however be a guesstimate based on typical consumption for the house type. Your challenge is to find out and consider the reasonableness of the assumption (though I do not think your personal low Eco house consumption will be an easy point to make). A big part of "reasonableness" will be how they arrived at the number.

Regardless, the calculation needs to show a zero balance at 12 months. Have you had a detailed explanation of the calculation as you are entitled to by supply regulations?

Terrylw1

jalexa wrote: »

I don't believe they are assuming that. However the provenance of the figure they are assuming is the question to ask. For a customer of less than 12 months supply, a possible figure is the 12 months previous actual consumption passed to NPower by your previous supplier. It may however be a guesstimate based on typical consumption for the house type. Your challenge is to find out and consider the reasonableness of the assumption (though I do not think your personal low Eco house consumption will be an easy point to make). A big part of "reasonableness" will be how they arrived at the number.

Regardless, the calculation needs to show a zero balance at 12 months. Have you had a detailed explanation of the calculation as you are entitled to by supply regulations?

Just to clarify, the 12 months passed from old supplier to new supplier is the data from their agent which is based on meter readings submitted to them or taken in a visit.

jalexa

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Just to clarify, the 12 months passed from old supplier to new supplier is the data from their agent which is based on meter readings submitted to them ir taken in a visit.

Is that what you have previously called EAC?