OMG Monthly DD doubled

Nicky321

I have been with Npower on Go Fix 8 since November 2011 for both Gas and Electricity and my payments where £21/month Gas and £69/month electric. These payments where showing up on my account as 2 separate payments up until Sept 2012 when they started appearing as 1 credit of £90/month. My bill was supposedly due around 10th November 2012 but my meters where read on 15th October and they have issued me with a bill saying I am now £220 in debit. They have informed me that my monthly payments will be increased to £176 from 1st November 2012. If the bill had only been issued on 10th November I would have expected to see another credit of £90 (DD payment 1st November) and also my dual fuel annual discount of £100, which would have taken the amount I was in debit by down to roughly £30 - £50 pound. The payment of £176 is due monthly from 1st November 2012 - 1st May 2013 inclusive. There is no way I can afford to pay £176/month as I struggle with the £90/month as it is. Payment of £176/month means a total of £1232 over 7 months.

What shall I do? I was thinking of switching, but it would mean paying £40 exit fee in total and switching to a higher rate now which didnt seem to make sense when I had 4 months left on my current tariff.

Wywth

Nicky321 wrote: »

I have been with Npower on Go Fix 8 since November 2011 for both Gas and Electricity and my payments where £21/month Gas and £69/month electric. These payments where showing up on my account as 2 separate payments up until Sept 2012 when they started appearing as 1 credit of £90/month. My bill was supposedly due around 10th November 2012 but my meters where read on 15th October and they have issued me with a bill saying I am now £220 in debit. They have informed me that my monthly payments will be increased to £176 from 1st November 2012. If the bill had only been issued on 10th November I would have expected to see another credit of £90 (DD payment 1st November) and also my dual fuel annual discount of £100, which would have taken the amount I was in debit by down to roughly £30 - £50 pound. The payment of £176 is due monthly from 1st November 2012 - 1st May 2013 inclusive. There is no way I can afford to pay £176/month as I struggle with the £90/month as it is. Payment of £176/month means a total of £1232 over 7 months.

What shall I do? I was thinking of switching, but it would mean paying £40 exit fee in total and switching to a higher rate now which didnt seem to make sense when I had 4 months left on my current tariff.

I'd suggest you give themn a call asap if you can't afford the proposed payments and see what they can do for you e.g. spread the accrued debt over a longer repayment period and hence lower the monthly cost.

Think carefully about switching supplier at this time, as they will demand full repayment on issuance of their final bill ... and whilst you may be able to request spreading this a little, they will be less accomodatiing than if you are still a customer.

Nicky321

the annoying thing is I have built this debit up over 12 months, so i take it that my payments had been underestimated by £18.50 I can probably pay upto £110 - £120 per month. I am a bit annoyed with npower because like i say my annual bill was issued a month early, and they dont look to have taken the £100 annual dual fuel discount into consideration. My usage will be pretty much the same through the winter period, as my gas CH will be used for drying laundry instead of the electric tumble drier.