Npower direct debit mistake

AliceBanned

scaredofdebt wrote: »

You could go onto quarterly variable direct debit, you then get a bill saying how much they will be taking in a couple of weeks time. Still get the discount then.

Make sure you read your own meter and put aside cash to pay for the quarterly bill.

You can get apps to work out the bills if you need help.

Thanks - have switched to quarterly direct debit - good idea. I've tried to do this online so hopefully it will go through. I've also sent through a meter reading and will try to keep on top of this and send regular readings.

scaredofdebt

If you've incurred bank charges etc due to this then send nPower a copy of the charges and they will refund them.

They generally tell you about changes to DDs on statements but I know that this isn't reliable as my DD was changed but the letter that was generated to advise me never materialised.

AliceBanned

Thanks. To be honest I've totally had enough of DDs this month!

As I have started to go over the limit a bit on all my accounts and credit cards at once, it is a nightmare. I am just cancelling most of them and starting again, as I don't want them to be submitted a second time as I probably won't have the funds.

AliceBanned

So I am now one month behind on council tax, BT phone and broadband, contents insurance and two of my credit cards will go back overlimit as soon as this month's charges go on.

I've applied for a credit union loan but it takes a few days and I don't have much longer. A friend has offered to lend me some money so I may take him up on it and pay back on 26th when i get paid. It has just all become so disorganised and is embarrassing!

scaredofdebt

Don't worry about being behind with the Council Tax as they are surprisingly accommodating as long as you keep them informed. They will come to an arrangement with you for missing payments etc. However, this debt needs to be prioritised as you can go to goal if you don't pay it.

Have you asked the credit card companies about the charges? If you write to them nicely they may refund the charges or at least part of the charge, some companies are more helpful than others though!

The trouble with most banks though is they are really helpful when you have money and don't need help but then completely uninterested when you are struggling and need it.

AliceBanned

scaredofdebt wrote: »

Don't worry about being behind with the Council Tax as they are surprisingly accommodating as long as you keep them informed. They will come to an arrangement with you for missing payments etc. However, this debt needs to be prioritised as you can go to goal if you don't pay it.

Have you asked the credit card companies about the charges? If you write to them nicely they may refund the charges or at least part of the charge, some companies are more helpful than others though!

The trouble with most banks though is they are really helpful when you have money and don't need help but then completely uninterested when you are struggling and need it.

Thanks, I am getting quite low about it all. It really is a downward spiral. I have emailed the council tax dept and think they may well be ok, as they sent me a £450 bill in late November, a while after I moved to my new flat, and they were ok. I have managed to pay most of it but not the final payment. After this they have put me on 12 instalments which should help.

I haven't tried to get any help re the charges on the credit cards. I don't want to go into default or late payments with anything. BT have just switched me to quarterly billing. The main problem are the Halifax and Barclaycard credit cards, where I am close to my limit and will go slightly over when this month's charges are added. i've asked for a loan from family which I will repay at next pay day. I originally asked for a credit union loan but they have taken a while and now want me to go in for an interview so I may just forget this. After all until I repay what I owe them I can't get my savings out (£500) and to be honest I'm annoyed that I am clearly in a hurry and desperate and they want me to go in for an interview at midday, when they know me by now and I've had and repaid a few loans from them. I just don't want to be messed around this much when I'm under so much stress. .

Trying to think rationally I guess if I get a handle on the two credit cards, I don't have much more to worry about after next pay day, as i should get up to date. I am going on a cheap weekend break this weekend, booked ages ago, my first break for a long time.

Beginning to wonder whether owning property is worth it at all. It definitely isn't a bed of roses near London anyway, and I'm on an "average" salary.

AliceBanned

Just realised you meant go to gaol..? jail. Unless I lose my job in the near future, it won't come to that but I feel a bit imprisoned anyway.:cool:

AliceBanned

scaredofdebt wrote: »

Don't worry about being behind with the Council Tax as they are surprisingly accommodating as long as you keep them informed. They will come to an arrangement with you for missing payments etc. However, this debt needs to be prioritised as you can go to goal if you don't pay it.

Have you asked the credit card companies about the charges? If you write to them nicely they may refund the charges or at least part of the charge, some companies are more helpful than others though!

The trouble with most banks though is they are really helpful when you have money and don't need help but then completely uninterested when you are struggling and need it.

I don't think credit card companies refund usual interest charges? Apart from this the charges aren't too bad. I am going to be paying them off fairly slowly though - can I get them to waive the interest? Probably not but I wondered whether this is what you mean. If not I will just keep plodding away with them as I know I need to get out of this for good.