Issue with forced pre-payment meter

Gemazarus

The issue is that they now will no longer take a £500 up front payment or set up any form of monthly payment and this is now my fault because I asked the person I was speaking to, to speak to the warrant department as he suggested. Even the £500 was not an agreement. They refused to set up any form of agreement with me to kickstart a payment plan. He kepy saying, usually they ask for 50% but due to my circumstances they would be willing to negotiate. I said, okay so can a £500 agreement before the end of February be the kickstart of a payment plan? No. So I asked what would be, again he kept repeating the usual 50% but would negotiate. They just went around the houses and offered no other solution than may the entire amount now or court. That is the problem I am having, they claim to offer payment plans yet won't.

sheffield_lad

what's wrong with a pp meter? Plenty have them and if you have the £500 stick it on the meter that should see you through quite a few months the debt can be recovered at a rate which suites you.


PP meters are not any more expensive than standard tariff, they have a bad press but it allows folk who struggle with finances/money to cope with their bills.


GL

Gemazarus

Based on the advice I recieved from citizens advice, pre-payment meters are a higher tarriff and they can set the debt repayment at an amount to suit them, not me. If I really thought it would help and not cause me more problems, believe me, I would be allowing them in to do it tomorrow. I just want the situation solved and yet Npower aren't offering me any options. I just wanted a little advice as to any options they have not given me, if any.

scaredofdebt

Have they billed the account up to date using actual meter reads?

Gemazarus

Estimates.

sheffield_lad

Gemazarus wrote: »

Based on the advice I recieved from citizens advice, pre-payment meters are a higher tarriff and they can set the debt repayment at an amount to suit them, not me. If I really thought it would help and not cause me more problems, believe me, I would be allowing them in to do it tomorrow. I just want the situation solved and yet Npower aren't offering me any options. I just wanted a little advice as to any options they have not given me, if any.

CAB are incorrect the rates are the same as standard tariff which unless you bill online you will be on. As for recovery rates normally if someone is on benefits they set a low rate, from what I have read on these boards £4-5 per week is the norm when on benefits but it might be worth calling them to see how much they would set your meter to. As I said for many pp meters are a great way of keeping up while paying off debt.

Gemazarus

The only benefit that we recieve is working tax credits. Does anyone know where we stand if we voluntarily have the meters installed, pay off the debt and then ask for them to be removed?

chanz4

I doubt they will remove them while supplied under them, you would be seen as a high risk rated customer. Op pre-pay rates on standard tariff rates which if no dd is setup your already on them.

I know they use a system called tallyman, which is seperate from their sap system. You will of had other letters, I cant see 2k been 1 years usage.

If you agree to the pre-pays you are less likely to get the legal costs on top

jemima82

If you'd provided regular meter readings and/or monitored your own bank account, you would not be in this situation.

Take the prepayment meter, stop making excuses regarding not being able to top-up and pay your debt.

How do you get your shopping? If you are unable to top-up are you really suggesting your husband couldn't manage a fortnightly or monthly trip to a PayPoint (many of which are located in late-opening stores)?

scaredofdebt

Gemazarus wrote: »

Estimates.

Are the estimates accurate? If not you may owe a lot less than what they say.

You can have the prepayment meter removed once the debt has been paid but you may be charged for the privilege.