nPower !!!! up?

matt_storey

Hi, new member here.

I have just been on the phone to nPower to find out when my next bill is due to find to my horror my Night meter hasn't been working for AT LEAST 12months.

I am on an economy7 tariff. The meter has been stuck on 68109. On all but 1 occasion (May 2012) I have had Npower read the meter. The occasion i done it was when i tried paperless billing but found it alot of effort ( i live in a flat and the meters are all locked away)

My main concern is when the chap in customer services said "once we've seen the meter we can read the internal clock and bill you upto date". Now im not trying to get something for nothing but over a years worth of night readings AT least (I have been in the property since Aug2010) is going to amount to alot of money. Not what's needed with xmas round the corner.

Where do i stand on this? Surely something should have been flagged up on npowers system?

Krojan

This happened to myself when I lived in a flat, in my case all the useage was recorded by the day reading instead as the night meter failed (which needless to say on an eco7 meter was a hefty bill), what they did in my case was once the new meter was fitted, I was asked to give frequent meter readings so they could ascertain the approximate percentage of your day/night useage and then adjust the bill based on the information you provide.

Unfortunatly because you didn't provide regular meter readings, and a meter reader is strictly speaking only there to read the meter, chances are unless they offer a discount based good-will gesture, you're still liable for what you've used. Their computer system simply doesn't recognise any non-useage on meter readings submitted (Possibly for persons whom are disconnected?).

Ususally, you won't be expected to foot the bill it'll be spread out over the next 6 or 12 months along with your regular usage.

Since my experience I now regularly read, record and report meter readings ususally on the 1st of each month to ensure the problem is caught early should it reoccur, and it ensures that I'm only billed for what I've used. It can be a pain if your meter is in a locked communial meter/electric cupboard but it saves a lot of hassle long term.

MK55

The above post it not 100% accurate. They cannot prove how much electric used, they will take reads after a new meter is fitted and will attempt to work out an average and bill you for this. They wont lose much money then.

you just need to work out on the new meter ur average daily usage and ur average night usage and then give them the sums. if you're not happy follow the complaints procedure.

as for your night reading being the stuck 1, you have paid more than you need to and will be due a rebate. as you've paid the more expensive rate and none at the cheap rate where you've used electric at night.

Wywth

MK55 wrote: »

The above post it not 100% accurate. They cannot prove how much electric used, they will take reads after a new meter is fitted and will attempt to work out an average and bill you for this. They wont lose much money then.

you just need to work out on the new meter ur average daily usage and ur average night usage and then give them the sums. if you're not happy follow the complaints procedure.

as for your night reading being the stuck 1, you have paid more than you need to and will be due a rebate. as you've paid the more expensive rate and none at the cheap rate where you've used electric at night.

You are presumably assuming that the meter is not switching from the day to night registry.
If it is switching, and the night registry is stuck, then the OP will owe the supplier some money once the bill is estimated.

I'm not sure how any of this is a supplier's **** up?
Meters occassionally do go wrong. The meter is located in the customer's property, not the supplier's.

jalexa

matt_storey wrote: »

Where do i stand on this? Surely something should have been flagged up on npowers system?

Possibly not. For starters you need to obtain all your statements, whether copy paper statements or online statements. Look at the readings recorded. Are you on quarterly billing or monthly direct debit?

There is a obvious (to me and others) flaw in your logic. If gaining access to the meters is difficult for you as a householder, how do you think that the meter reader gains access? I anticipate they don't and your readings will have been estimated, something the statements will provide an answer to.

Ignore the unhelpful and incompetent NPower adviser comment. There is no "proof" either way but it is possible to negotiate missing readings and agree payment terms.

Play it by the book. Take photographs and regular readings. Discuss by email not by phone. Use the complaints procedure if you are not satisfied with any aspect of progress.

undaunted

Wywth wrote: »

I'm not sure how any of this is a supplier's **** up?
Meters occassionally do go wrong. The meter is located in the customer's property, not the supplier's.

Answer:

matt_storey wrote: »

The meter has been stuck on 68109. On all but 1 occasion (May 2012) I have had Npower read the meter.

Therefore between Meter reader & supplier they could & should have identified the problem much sooner than 12 months on

Wywth

undaunted wrote: »

Answer:


Therefore between Meter reader & supplier they could & should have identified the problem much sooner than 12 months on

So the supplier had just 2 or possibly 3 occassions in the last 12+ months to spot the defect.

The OP could have checked as many times as they wanted during that same period. In fact they did check it at least once themself.

Yep, must be the suppliers **** up! :cool:

macman

So that's 4 bills you've had where you failed to check the readings....so hardly all down to the supplier?

nPower

matt_storey wrote: »

Hi, new member here.

I have just been on the phone to nPower to find out when my next bill is due to find to my horror my Night meter hasn't been working for AT LEAST 12months.

I am on an economy7 tariff. The meter has been stuck on 68109. On all but 1 occasion (May 2012) I have had Npower read the meter. The occasion i done it was when i tried paperless billing but found it alot of effort ( i live in a flat and the meters are all locked away)

My main concern is when the chap in customer services said "once we've seen the meter we can read the internal clock and bill you upto date". Now im not trying to get something for nothing but over a years worth of night readings AT least (I have been in the property since Aug2010) is going to amount to alot of money. Not what's needed with xmas round the corner.

Where do i stand on this? Surely something should have been flagged up on npowers system?

Hi matt_storey,

Have you spoken to anyone else at npower since posting this?

I'm more than happy to look into this for you and see what we can do? Just pop over your details to [EMAIL="forumresponse@npower.com"]forumresponse@npower.com[/EMAIL]

Best wishes,

Adam