npower tries to cut statements - anyone else?

onthehill

Hi

I've been with npower a long time (actually inherited them from a previous occupant) and earlier this year eventually sorted a probem where they had been misreading my meters for several years, resulting in an issue where they thought I owed them for over 200,000 units of electricity.

After this scare I insisted on going on to a scheme where I paid every 3 months for power actually used - ie: not their incompetent estimated/balancing system.

I have this in writing from executive complaints.

Things went better this year though I still had to phone executive compaints to get a quarterly bill raised.

My last statement from the beginning of November shows me on QUARTERLY variable direct debit.

At the end of last week I got a letter from npower - I expected it to be the worthless "apology" referred to in the press.

But it was a letter saying that my next bill will be about May 2014 and that after that back to normal. But for all I know, their definition of "normal" is a new norm they will have establised of every 6 months.

Has anyone else had such a letter?.

What are my rights?

I can overstate how bad this letter is - I need quarterly bills so that I can keep a handle on a company that has shown itself to be serially incompetent.* I also of course may want to leave them.


* In November I encountered a contractor reading my meter. They kindly rang the bell - no probems with that person at all. They told me that they were visiting on a special code as this was the third attempt to read the meter after two failed attempts. This despite the fact that the meter is outside, it has aways been outside and the meter was changed by an npower contractor only a matter of months ago.

chanz4

You don't have a right to 3 month bills, but give them reads and ask for a bill

[Deleted User]

Hi,

why not put in readings online, every month/3 months, and generate a bill, then pay that?

onthehill

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

why not put in readings online, every month/3 months, and generate a bill, then pay that?

I am confused by your reply frugal.

It is npower who generates the bills - not me.

Have you ever actually dealt with npower or read the press coverage? The country is full of people desperately trying to get them to send a bill.

I am keen to see that they know themselves when they are going to send it. Otherwise I hold out no hope for them managing to do it.

By my reckoning, on a quarterly billing (which my online account still shows as my status) my next bill should be dated early February.

npower's own web site says they intend to send it in March which is of course a discrepancy. It also contradicts the letter they have sent which says May.

Views from others on this letter welcome.

Anyone else had one?

I'm pretty sure that you are not with npower frugal - what a happy world you live in.

onthehill

chanz4 wrote: »

You don't have a right to 3 month bills, but give them reads and ask for a bill

Thanks for the reply chanz.

What rights do I have?

Transparent charging and regular clear billing would seem really basic to me.

This also seems particularly important in view of very frequent price changes these days.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

onthehill wrote: »

I am confused by your reply frugal.

I'm pretty sure that you are not with npower frugal - what a happy world you live in.

sorry for the confusion.

I am with Scottish Power, monthly Direct Debit, but operate my account online.

I put in my monthly reading and get an online statement, then a couple of days later I can print off a copy if desired.

Thought if you did this you could 'generate' a bill every 2/3 months and pay that.

Have a look here.

Andy_WSM

Same with Eon, enter readings on line, press the "request new bill" button, 24 hours later I have a new bill. Simple.

Sounds to me like npower need to lose a load of customers to teach them that they really need to run their business properly.

234d

Sounds to me like npower need to lose a load of customers

Are they not giving them away?

Grendel90

Most companies are going over to 6 monthly statements for MONTHLY Direct Debit customers. Those that pay their bills quarterly by cash/check or, like yourself, by Variable Direct Debit will still get quarterly bills.

Call them, have a chat and reassure yourself.

onthehill

Grendel90 wrote: »

Those that pay their bills quarterly by cash/check or, like yourself, by Variable Direct Debit will still get quarterly bills.

Call them, have a chat and reassure yourself.

Are you with npower Grendel?

All your posts seem to be on the power industry for some reason.

You seem very optimistic about npower's level of organisation.

Calling npower is rarely reassuring - I did call and after about an hour and a half of being passed around found that they were all incapable/not empowerered by npower - same old story, despite the fluffy apology of the head honcho - my apology letter arrived today a few days after the arrogant attempt to change my terms and a totally useless time spent on the phone.

So it has gone to complaints - only way to get anything done.

If it carries on like this I will have to get in touch with complaints every time I want them to blow some gas through the pipes.

I will report back.

Mulder00

OP seems to have ignored the suggestion to just enter meter readings online...which would make the most sense if you want accurate bills. (It's what I used to do with ScottishPower, do with British Gas and intend on doing with nPower once the switch TO them is complete).