Npower online - Does anyone choose monthly fixed direct debit? If so why?

thor

I'll be needing to switch my gas in the not too distant future and Npower are one of the companies I am considering moving to from my current supplier Eon.
Looking at their online price fix until November 2014 I see that they have a monthly fixed direct debit and a Quarterly variable direct debit payment option. Given how much grief monthly fixed dds have been to people why would anyone choose this over the variable quarterly?
I am assuming that with the variable quarterly you do not get Npower estimating your usage. Instead you only pay for the meter readings you submit yourself.
Also having never had an online tariff can I ask if I would be able to print out a bill complete with all the details a paper bill would have(for id purposes)?

flashg67

You can print or (save to your PC) a PDF copy of your bill which is identical to the paper one. I like their online tools which compares energy use over time etc.

The advantage of monthly DD is that you spread the cost over 12 months - my usage rockets in winter.
I've never really had a DD problem with Npower - on the odd occasion that they've re-assessed my payment, and I disagreed, they have changed the DD on request.
I think most utility companies over estimate - they'd rather have your cash in their bank than have to chase you or put up your payments massively if you get behind!

Nada666

Not everyone has £700 free in a single month to pay a bill. And the variation can be easily controlled. And people make a lot of fuss over nothing. Most normal people do not mind - if they overpay then, great, they then get to pay less than usual for a while. If they have underpaid (but keep an eye on the level) then they benefited then and choose to pay a bit more in future (or pay a lump sum when they want, not when weather dictates.)

matelodave

People only get into trouble with their direct debits when they don't keep an eye on their consumption & costs. There are a lot out there who think that a low DD is to their benefit and are happy to get low estimates as they think that it will keep their costs down, not realising that they'll have to catch up in the future.

Regularly reading the meter will enable you to check your bills and get them corrected so your DD should accurately reflect your usage so you shouldn't end up either over or under paying. If you send regular readings you shouldn't even get estimated bills.

You'll also have a decent record of your consumption to help you the next time you want to use the comparison sites.

thor

So there is no monetary disadvantage to choosing quarterly DD over monthly? That's great as I have always paid quarterly and would prefer to keep it that way (unless I was going to lose out on a biggish discount).
Also after having read another thread it seems that you can switch away after the tariff ends and still get the DD discount. It looks like I'm going to have to switch to npower before this deal gets pulled.
Right now to read up on this cheap energy club malarkey.....

Nada666

thor wrote: »

Right now to read up on this cheap energy club malarkey.....

Check cashback from Topcashback or Quidco as they are often significantly higher than from this site's Cheap Energy Club. Use it for (additional) info on when to switch but be careful about using them to carry out the actual application.

Martin caps the amount you can receive from him at £30. Applying elsewhere you can (sometimes) receive more than £100.