want to switch but am trapped

Bee70

We have been with Npower for a while, but I want to switch us. The problem is that apparently we are over £500 in arrears according to them. We pay by monthly DD and we were £200 in arrears last year, so they DOUBLED our monthly payments after we questioned it (their bills are so complicated). We have not used any more electricity, in fact I think we have used less, as am so worried about the cost. So how has this happened? surely they shouldn't let it get as bad as that?
I'm so confused

chanz4

thats what statments are for and giving regular reads

NXV839

Unfortunately, until you pay off your debt, you won't be able to switch supplier while paying by direct debit.

You could always request to move from direct debit to pre-payment meters. Normally, PP customers are able to switch suppliers while up to £200 in debt so that may be beneficial for you.

Another good thing about PP meters is you pay before you use the energy so you can't rack up any more debt and will know exactly where you stand as you will be topping up on a daily/weekly basis rather than just having the money be taken from your account.

You do pay a slightly higher rate for having a pre-payment meter - but it is probably worth it as it may help you manage your finances better.

Also, you should ask your supplier if they have an energy measuring device, such as the iPlan (http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/iplan/). It allows you to see exactly where your money is going so you can cut down on unnecessary spending i.e. leaving the TV on standby or using the tumble drier. Suppliers usually give them out for free so it won't cost you anything.

Hope this helps!

Joyful

With prepayment meters you can now switch with up to £500 debt.

Bee70

thanks - have been giving them regular readings and never leave anything on standby and go around the house turning stuff off after my toddler/husband, so don't know how I can reduce useage anymore. I had thought about prepayment meters but we live in a rented house and they won't let us have them fitted.
I just couldn't understand it as we have never missed a payment and they have upped the DD so much, doubled last year and increased again since then.
I think I will try and talk through it with them again. Last time they ust treated me like I was stupid and were really patronising, but I'll just have to put up with it until I can get it sorted I guess

wizzards

Bee70 wrote: »

We have been with Npower for a while, but I want to switch us. The problem is that apparently we are over £500 in arrears according to them. We pay by monthly DD and we were £200 in arrears last year, so they DOUBLED our monthly payments after we questioned it (their bills are so complicated). We have not used any more electricity, in fact I think we have used less, as am so worried about the cost. So how has this happened? surely they shouldn't let it get as bad as that?
I'm so confused

1) I assume the bills that you are getting are based on real meter readings and not estimates otherwise the first thing is to check that.

2) If 1) is OK then you need to get to a state where you clear the arrears.
First you thing to do is to make sure you are reading the meter regularly (ideally the same day each month) and enter the meter readings online online at the npower website. Obviously if the reading is much more than than Npowers estimated readings then your arrears are increasing and there is a danger they might increase the DD so you need to make a judgement call on this one.

3) If you can't pay the arrears due to financial constraints then you have to cut back on usage. Obviously if you have such things as a tumble dryer and such like then this is one thing that gobbles energy. On the electric side if you can sign up for a free energy monitor or even borrow one from a friend then that can help you keep an eye on it and help you work out at least on the electric side what uses a lot.

4) If you in a family situation then all your family can help by switching stuff off when they don't need it.

I know this is one of the coldest days yet so above may not be comforting but small steps can solve large problems. If you have problems to read the meter or work out kWh etc there are many people that can help you on here with the calculation if you provide the readings and the tariff or package you are on.

McKneff

If you havent been paying enough DD to cover your usage then they add that to what they think you will use (going by previous years usage) and then divide by 12 (months) this is why you DD has gone up significantly.

To be honest, 'they' havent let it get as bad as that. You should be doing your own monitoring and keeping an eye on the situation.

fed_up_and_stressed

Yes checking that your bills are based on Actual reads (A) taken by metering operators or Customer reads (C) and aren't estimates is really important.

Also strongly suggest you give npowers energy efficiency team a call its free so you can work out how to reduce your usage and therefore your bills.

Their number is 0800 022 220

Bee70

thanks everyone for your help. I have contacted them and we have finally worked out that actually it was in error and we are now in credit. no appology though! We will be moving to a better tariff and away from them.

fed_up_and_stressed

Bee70 wrote: »

thanks everyone for your help. I have contacted them and we have finally worked out that actually it was in error and we are now in credit. no appology though! We will be moving to a better tariff and away from them.

Sounds like the issue cropped up due to estimates

Just remember ANY energy supplier only HAS to read your meter once every 2 years a lot of debt or credit can accrue in that time ... and obviously if they are not getting reading they can only bill on what I loving call "guesstimates".

Regardless of who supplies you to ensure you dont get any nasty surprises I strongly suggest you take regular readings and submit these to your supplier so a) they can bill you to what you use and b) if then on the rare occasion they do have to bill you to estimates they have more reliable data to work out more accurately what you are likely to have used.

timmmers

NXV839 wrote: »

Unfortunately, until you pay off your debt, you won't be able to switch supplier while paying by direct debit.

You could always request to move from direct debit to pre-payment meters. Normally, PP customers are able to switch suppliers while up to £200 in debt so that may be beneficial for you.

Another good thing about PP meters is you pay before you use the energy so you can't rack up any more debt and will know exactly where you stand as you will be topping up on a daily/weekly basis rather than just having the money be taken from your account.

You do pay a slightly higher rate for having a pre-payment meter - but it is probably worth it as it may help you manage your finances better.

Also, you should ask your supplier if they have an energy measuring device, such as the iPlan (http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/iplan/). It allows you to see exactly where your money is going so you can cut down on unnecessary spending i.e. leaving the TV on standby or using the tumble drier. Suppliers usually give them out for free so it won't cost you anything.

Hope this helps!

No offence, but this is awful advice.
Assuming a debt on an nPower account.

They take 70% towards the debt on each topup on gas, then have a standing charge of 40p a day (just went up a little but it's about that).
So, assuming you buy 10 quid top up, 7 goes instantly, and the remaining 3 will be eaten by the SC in about a week.
Buy 50 quid a week and you'll get 15 quid less the SC to use...that won't get you much gas either.

If you can't change supplier you're going to be in a bad place.