NPower suddenly appears on my file

MallyGirl

GingerBob wrote: »

Provided it was correct, which for NPower there's every chance it wouldn't be.

so true. I submit monthly meter readings and their forecast for the coming year has me using 250% more electricity than last year! Worse is the fact that no one I talk to there sees why I might have a problem with that

SRT81

I've just noticed my nPower accounts on Experian too.

Wouldn't be a problem, but there are arrears on both accounts. NOT, and I can't stress this enough, NOT because I didn't pay my bills, but because after switching to them from British Gas they cocked-up the tariff I was supposed to be on, then sent me a bill for more electricity usage than was possible in the time allotted.

Took almost a year to get resolved, and in the end they finally admitted it was their mistake. The only problem was that while they were investigating the account they said they weren't allowed to take any payments from me, but couldn't cut me off either. So I was putting our normal payments aside each month, but when it was resolved our usage totalled more than we had put aside (not helped because they kept telling me they couldn't give me an estimate of what the usage during the investigation time was).

So as well as our usage I'm paying back the arrears with my DD each month.

But now I've got two additional accounts with arrears on my Experian report. Only saving grace I suppose is that there aren't any missed payments logged on the accounts.

Can the Experian rep advise on how this may affect my credit report?

chanz4 wrote: »

If people pay their bills on time, they wont have issues

All well and good, but nPower truly are incompetent (see above).

Plus I've had to call them every month for the past four months because as well as my regular DD payments they've been taking random amounts from my bank account because of (and I quote) "a problem with our system".

Four times I've had to have the bank return the extra money they've taken, which has meant they've had to cancel my DD, so then I've had to call nPower and re-set everything on my account.

Four times.

Experian_company_representative

Hi SRT81,

It is good to hear that Npower have not recorded late payments, as these would have a significant impact on your report.

Lenders searching your report will be able to see that this is a utility account. They may choose to take the balance into account as part of their decision making process, as it is an existing financial commitment.

If you wanted to explain the circumstances of how the balance built up you would be able to add a notice of correction to your report to do so.

For details about how to add this can be found here.

Regards Neil.

GingerBob_3

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

It is good to hear that Npower have not recorded late payments, as these would have a significant impact on your report.

Quite! So overall then, when we've got organisations of the calibre of NPower being able to influence whether or not we get a mortgage (they threatened me with disconnection even though they owed me money), it would surely be better if such organisations were banned from reporting to the CRAs?

I would have thought that with all the difficulties this disgraceful company has had, the last thing on their mind would be to report private financial details of their long-suffering customers to the likes of Experian.

tinkerbell28

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

I think it's usual for dual fuel arrangements to be registered as two accounts as each will be a separate agreement. I have different account numbers on my gas and electricity bills even though they're with the same supplier. Importantly, the start date shown should reflect when the account was opened not first shared with the CRAs so if it's a mature account your credit rating should benefit from this. Utility firms are beginning to share data and it's something featured in MSE's credit rating guide. I think it's a very positive development for people - most of us don't pay late or get into disputes so will be collecting additional positive credit history information. However, if you do get into a genuine dispute with any creditor then existing data-sharing rules mean that adverse information should not be registered on your credit report while the dispute is ongoing.

James J

What credit rating and whose?

Experian_company_representative

Hi,

GingerBob - If Npower do record any information that you think is incorrect then we would be happy to query the information with them on your behalf, and mark the entry as disputed while we do so.

Tinkerbell28 - When a company views a report they will see the date the account started and not just the status history. They will then be able to take this into account when they are reviewing the report.

Regards
Neil

GingerBob_3

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

GingerBob - If Npower do record any information that you think is incorrect then we would be happy to query the information with them on your behalf, and mark the entry as disputed while we do so.

I'm no longer with them. In any case, my policy is not to supply these companies with uniquely identifiable data. All they had was my name with single initial and address, so with no DoB they'd have to guess who, at my property, was the bill payer.

tinkerbell28

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

Hi,

GingerBob - If Npower do record any information that you think is incorrect then we would be happy to query the information with them on your behalf, and mark the entry as disputed while we do so.

Tinkerbell28 - When a company views a report they will see the date the account started and not just the status history. They will then be able to take this into account when they are reviewing the report.

Regards
Neil

I get that. But as every lender has their own criteria and follows their own path on deciding who to lend to.

I was wondering why James would say your credit rating would benefit? What credit rating? Whose credit rating? Did he mean Experian's score? A lenders internal score?

Lenders look at and process the data don't they? Different ways for each. I don't believe we have a credit rating to improve.

Alfies

When I chose to switch my energy provider from British Gas to Npower as a customer with a pre-payment who was simply switching providers, I paid for my gas & electricity prior to my actually using it by topping up the key & card with cash. Npower awarded my choice of switching to them for my energy supply after being loyal to them for 2 years...£1000 cash cheque was given to me as per the special promotion running at time I switched. So from owing zero, paying in advance for all my energy usages I now have final demands for £970 for electricity & what was £52 for gas (the gas I paid simply because a doorstep collector called & I didn't want any adverse entries added to my rating at this new address. I am still disputing Npowers claim that I owe them anything even though they said I could pay just £470 if paid within 7 days & the bill was due to engineers from Npower not being able to gain entry to my home to adjust my tariff...seeing as my meter was outside I knew I was in the right whilst Npower was delusional. So for me there has been no credit given by anyone, I haven't asked for credit from anyone yet am not accepted when I apply to open a bank account.I don't want credit or debit card yet the answer is always NO due to info recorded on my credit file which I cannot get to view as I am told NO when I apply & so I cannot dispute any adverse entries recorded on there by God knows who, God knows when or why...seems anyone can add what they like & view my file as long as it isnt me.

PaulW922

tinkerbell28 wrote: »

I get that. But as every lender has their own criteria and follows their own path on deciding who to lend to.

I was wondering why James would say your credit rating would benefit? What credit rating? Whose credit rating? Did he mean Experian's score? A lenders internal score?

Lenders look at and process the data don't they? Different ways for each. I don't believe we have a credit rating to improve.

I think you are just being difficult here aren't you? You know what he means. Any potential lender who looks at your file and sees positive payment information will be able to take that into account when deciding if your rating, based on their own model, is sufficient to grant you credit.