Unfair Late Payment Charges

peter54

Npower are charging me £23.50 for late payment of my quaterly bill (yes, I know I should be on DD). I was away from home for 2 months.

How do they come up with this figure?
All I can think of is the cost of sending reminder (letters) and interest lost on the payment. Although I'm not sure if the latter could be claimed from a 'private' customer?

How much does it cost to print and send a few letters these days? £23.50 !?

Should I tell them I think these charges are unfair and disproportionate?

Joyful

These charges are passed by Ofgem so I would pay up and then get on DD.

chanz4

It will be an external charge, and almost sure your bills are more than 2 months

Buzby

If you were not advised of this charge, or it is not listed in their Price Tariff - complain and ask for it to be removed. If it IS there, and you are just comp0laining about the amount and that it cannot be justified - sorry, that's an irrelevance. They probably cannot, but as long as their charges are transparent, you are deemed to agree to the cost(s).

McKneff

#Did you know beforehand that you were going to be away 2 months, either way, you can pay bills by phone from all over the world.

Its not just a few letters, it is a set charge, in the terms and conditions, it covers more than just a few letters. Staff wages, computer systems, stationery, Tax bills, insurance, rent, rates, NI payments, and a thousand and one othr things that are business costs.
If its a first offence, give them a ring, be nice and they may refund it, but you really should set up a DD.

jalexa

peter54 wrote: »

Should I tell them I think these charges are unfair and disproportionate?

That argument is neither here nor there. What you need to do is find (or not find) reference to the charges in the NPower tariff terms & conditions and/or the tariff price list. A very quick perusal of the standard t&cs did not shed any light on the charge.

Which clause would be a good open (or trick:D) question to ask of an NPower billing adviser. You must pay the undisputed element of the bill but regarding the charges "no say no pay" after complaint.

As an aside, the Edf terms & conditions empowers a late charge at 8% per annum over standard bank rate.

Terrylw1

Section 9 of the standard terms for all tariffs.

http://www.npower.com/Home/electricity-and-gas/terms-and-conditions/index.htm#st

No value quoted (so they change it without telling anyone!) so it comes down to whether it is justifiable.

So in fighting it, it depends on the involvement. However, its the same with banks or anyone...it doesn't cost the value of the charge...its a way to make profit.

cutestkids

Just pay it and get a direct denit set up so that you don't get into this situation again.

Put it down to experiance

chanz4

It will be a pre- disconnection visit at a guess most suppliers charge this amount for visits.