N Power - What would you do?

Simon7685

Consumerist wrote: »

Hope she gave you a complaints reference number.

Edit
BTW "due course" for nPower is probably "never".

Yes she did, so I am a lucky boy - I now have 2 complaint numbers:D

Absolutely sod all else being done but at least 2 numbers.

I have e-mailed her again telling her it is not good enough and I expect a phone call within 24 hours or they are getting a LBA and then we will see them in court. Or not see them because I doubt they will turn up.

Alternatively they refund every penny they are holding of my Mothers money. When they supply a bill, they can have the payment, without a bill and with no prospect of getting one they cannot deprive her of her money.

She has not had a bill therefore she owes them nothing!

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Just be careful. I know the previous courtroom hero that posted here may have given you hope, but "I haven't had a bill, therefore I owe them nothing" has no basis in law.

Yours is an unusual case, she appears to be about a years worth in credit, and they aren't billing.

If this is the case, why are you bothering at all with npower? Just let them stew in their own inadequacy; the back billing code dictates that you will only be liable to pay for 1 years worth of energy. That's already been paid, so you're getting free energy. Stirring the nest will force npower's hand, and you will have to pay for your ongoing usage.

So why bother? If you took them to small claims to recover the balance, you'd get it back, with interest. That interest would soon be wiped out by having to actually pay for energy.

insanegloss

Couldn't agree more with the above post. Although you have to understand the back billing guidelines, which I recommend you read. Put simply, keep enough money aside in your bank awaiting their bill for the last 12 months (from when the get round to billing) and the reads. Once they bill, ensure you're only paying for the last 12 months and pay straight away. You don't need to do anything else.

Simon7685

I appreciate what you are both saying regards keeping quiet and in effect getting free energy use from 19th Feb. It is solid advice and not something I am dismissing.

My Mother is a full year in credit so that is already covered. However the normal monthly DD of £30 which is going to be cancelled will instead be getting paid into a savings account, not that it's going to earn anything.

Moving forward though, I know that my Mother wants it sorted out more so than getting free electric because of the back billing process. She is in a fortunate position thanks to having that 12 months worth of credit already on her account and has no objection to paying for her continued usage, as long as N Power start to bill.

It is something of a principle issue and the fact that N Power are basically sticking two fingers up at her and saying, we will do what we want. I can understand and agree with that point to be fair. Also until she has been billed, they will not change the meter, which in effect keeps her stuck with them and she no longer wishes to have them benefiting from her money.

For me and my part I think the principle of N Power not being allowed to continue to get away with doing as they wish is paramount. All of these energy suppliers have got to a point where they think they can hold people to ransom. Overly inflated payment hikes, overly excessive price rises, blaming market prices as driving the prices up but then taking an age to reduce them when wholesale prices fall. All the time making vastly increased millions every year in profit.

I think it is time more people held them to account.

However at the end of the day it is her decision how to progress the case and I am just the mouthpiece and here to do the fighting for her.

twint

Mallotum_X wrote: »

They put a new computer system in and everything has been a mess since. When you log in online they have a message about this. I changed tariff in October 2013 and still not showing as changed.

As an aside looking at value of bills in 2007 isnt really much use as prices have gone up a lot since then. Just check historic usage.

Im currently overpaying by my own calcs but id prefer to over than underpay and it will come out in the wash.

I also changed my tariff in October 2013 and they still havent changed my tariff. I have logged it as a 2nd level complaint 3 weeks ago which they have given me a reference for but still no reply. I have given up ringing them as I can never get through unless i want to be on hold for an hour. I am due a meter reading and a bill this month so that should prove interesting!