Npower bizarre bill estimates

sparkymarcopolo

Woke up to the same issue today, I checked my online account in December and nothing looked untoward, I noted there seemed to be an actual reading, rather than estimated.

My shock today was the hike in monthly payments, up from £154.00 per month to £228.00

Having checked my account in more detail (I'm sure the usage readings were different from December). Since we'd had a new boiler installed in August I've sort of allowed it to settle down.

Ok, so for usage it was fluctuating between -2% and +10% but then I noticed this for October

Oct 370 (Forecast) 1233 405 (Forecast) 1255 (Forecast) +349% / 1290kWh more

What the heck, +349% increase.

I know that when I read I account detail in December, there was nothing to say my payments were going up, ridiculous. This is not the first time I've questioned account/usage change between visits.

It seems they are now forecasting usage (how pathetic), bill me for what I use, not what you think I'm going to.

Seconding, my original payment of £154, was already including an excess to pay off existing underpayment. Oh yes this was because they'd miscalculated in 2011.

I'm fed up with all these tariffs and complexities of not only the suppliers but the calculators you need to use. They need to just tell us how much they change per k/w so I can compare and when prices rises are/or held until, it would make it far easier for the majority of household consumers.

I've already started the process to move, enough is enough. I thought SSE were bad but nPower are down another level.

Consumerist

After npower's £1 penalty from Ofgem for bad customer service, these problems are, according to npower, all historic. :rotfl:

Keep complaining. Perhaps we'll see whether Ofgem has any backbone.

silverwhistle

At least some of you have had bills: I haven't since a move and the installation of credit meters mid-August. I'm keeping a weekly check of consumption and fortunately from a simplicity point of view I'm on pay on receipt of bill.

When I get back from my winter holiday I shall be moving to another supplier, but I'm not looking forward to the process. At least they can't take any duplicate direct debits after I've moved!

silverwhistle

scaredofdebt wrote: »

It cost nPower over £250M and counting to implement their SAP IT system, so it's not exactly great value for money.

But at least IBM are doing well out of it - they're the contractors doing the work.

Some years ago IBM did SSE's too. The work left to SSE IT staff was so boring (data cleaning/migration etc.) that many people left.

Including me!:D
I didn't stay in IT, thank goodness..

sundays_child

had it!
I'm checking out a supplier that does not have a standing charge being a low user half the bill ends up being just the standing charge....
Got the excesses payment returned from n.p., but have to specifically ask the power companies for money back.

bobsa1

N power currently trying to charge us £400 a quarter for an empty flat despite 20 phone calls 4 faxes and multiple emails

sundays_child

did you make an official complaint?
You would have to go through their official complaints procedure before contacting the regulator: ofgem
It is truly amazing just how they come up with these estimates....

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

bobsa1 wrote: »

N power currently trying to charge us £400 a quarter for an empty flat despite 20 phone calls 4 faxes and multiple emails

Is that electricity, gas or dual fuel? Do you have central heating left on? Underfloor heating? Security lighting?

sparkymarcopolo

Just off the phone from speaking with nPower, couldn't really offer an explanation for most of it but said based on my meter reading I took yesterday, payments should be £144 pm. That also means they owe me £450.00 of over payments


They have little regard for customer financial situations and speaking to their representatives just reinforced that.


Apparently the automated system calculates annually, when you call they base it on a 6 month period.


Lost total confidence in them, moving to either OVO or Scottish Power today.

Strebor

I had awful problems with wrong estimates, and also npower getting the meter units wrong. They never sorted it so past on problem when I switched.

So much stress I decided to try and do something and set up an e-petition. Please consider signing only need 3 more votes to get to page 1 in the energy department petition list. Also, please tell friends if they've had problems.
Cheers, Steve

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56280