Can someone please explain how a utilities bill is worked out ?!

Princesspeach63

I have an ongoing sorry saga with Npower - I won't go in to details as it has been ongoing for over a year and I simply won't fit everything in !

However, I was wondering if someone could explain how the bill is worked out ?....

I got a bill npower for £695 for 5 months .
I pay them £125 per month for ongoing usage .
So 5x £125 is £625 - which to me would suggest I am £70 in DEBIT?

However , npower have said that the £695 bill already takes in to account the payments I have made by direct debit .
So 5x £125 is £625 + £695 debit is £1320 for 5 months !!!!

To cover this , I should be paying a direct debit of £264 per month ?!

Which is the correct calculation?

HappyMJ

How many kWh were used in the period?

Princesspeach63

1330 kwh for electric and 10,498 kwh for gas .

This may be based on an outstanding debit on the account though . I'm not sure , the bills are too hard to fathom .

HappyMJ

Princesspeach63 wrote: »

1330 kwh for electric and 10,498 kwh for gas .

This may be based on an outstanding debit on the account though . I'm not sure , the bills are too hard to fathom .

Should be as you say £125 a month. What was the balance at the beginning of the period? That's probably what they are chasing. You can pay off the outstanding balance of £695 and you can then keep your monthly direct debit at £125 a month.

molerat

http://www.npower.com/idc/groups/wcms_content/@wcms/documents/digitalassets/your_bill_explained_pdf.pdf
shows how your bill is worked out. The bit marked "How your Direct Debit account adds up" has at the top "Balance on last bill"

Princesspeach63

My balance before this bill was £50 in DEBIT - so I expected that the bill would be my usage (£695) plus the £50 DEBIT (so £745) MINUS the £625 payment ...

Leaving a balance of £125 in DEBIT .

Is that correct ???

The manager at npower says I'm wrong and I owe them the £1370 (inc the £50). Surely this can't be right ??

molerat

What does it say on the bit marked "This bill"

From what you have posted
Account balance before charges £575.00 credit
Total charges this period £695.00 debit
Account balance for information £120.00 debit

Princesspeach63

This bill says £745 - but npower say that already includes my deducted direct Debits and I now have a £745 debit - my payments seem to have been swallowed up in to non existence !

molerat

The bill should be laid out as above so what are the numbers in that part, as in the sample bill in my link.

Princesspeach63

Account balance says £745

Princesspeach63

I looked at your link and it appears that npower may be correct with my bill .