advice on best way to leave NPower

TickersPlaysPop

I want to make sure I leave NPOWER in the easiest and simplest way possible considering the special ways in which NPOWER work.

I am sure if I follow the standard guidelines and the way in which people switch away from other energy companies I will be in for a rough ride.

Do you guys have any advice, specifically on switching away from NPOWER?

I would preferably like to deal with final bill issues before leaving them, but I guess that is impossible?

System

So having not got the answer that you wanted from your previous thread, you are now asking the same question in a different way. There is no alternative way to leave an energy provider. The responsibility for initiating the switching process sits with you and then your new energy provider. It will provide you with tariff details and ask for meter readings at the appropriate time/s. These readings will then go to a 3rd party for validation before being passed to NPower.

If you have outstanding debts with NPower then it may stop you moving suppliers until these matters are resolved. Equally, your new supplier may decline to accept you as a customer if you have outstanding debts with your present supplier. In your case, as the debt is more than 28 days old, you are likely to be debt blocked from moving by NPower until such time as the outstanding balances have been paid.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_energy_supply_e/problems_switching_energy_suppliers/you_cant_switch_energy_supplier_because_of_a_debt.htm

If you are not prepared to consider the advice that people have given to you previously, then why bother posting?

The one thing that initiating the switching process would do is 'kick-start' NPower into giving you a Final Bill which would enable you to achieve your aim of 'deal (ing) with the final bill issues before leaving them'.

TickersPlaysPop

Cheers Hengus :-) you surely are a great asset to this forum.... But best if you read my post and answer the question mate.

.....Anybody else have slightly more relevant and useful advice.... and able to throw less spiteful accusations?.... if you do have accusations .... please make sure they have more substance.

MoneyMate

Hi TickersPlaysPop, I'm with NPower at the moment, for me there is a no penalty for either Gas or Electricity on leaving, this below is taken from the NPower site
How long does it take to switch energy supplier?

It usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks to change energy suppliers. This includes a 14-day 'cooling off' period, in which you can change your contract or cancel it completely.

During that 4 to 6 week period, you'll be using energy supplied by the company that last had a contract at that property - so they'll send you a final bill, when the changeover is complete.
I would think summer is a good time to change if paying by DD as your credit would be it's highest ? :beer:

Nada666

TickersPlaysPop wrote: »

Cheers Hengus :-) you surely are a great asset to this forum.... But best if you read my post and answer the question mate.

.....Anybody else have slightly more relevant and useful advice.... and able to throw less spiteful accusations?.... if you do have accusations .... please make sure they have more substance.

Perhaps, Mate, you should read accurate, relevant and useful advice rather than clog your moat up with dummies.

As you have a registered negative balance and debt with npower first you will have to pay this off even if it puts you ridiculously in credit in realtime terms.

If you don't npower will do nothing and a couple of months later without correspondence from either party you will discover the application was (rightly) rejected.

If your account is up to date (according to your old supplier) then there is no need for palaver. Apply directly to your new supplier.

If you ignore Hengus' advice you will likely find the fixes you want are no longer available by the middle of this winter.

TickersPlaysPop

To me it is fair to expect NPower to publish a document

They know they have problems with their system, so why do they not tell us how to avoid known problems... Example...

A full time working single mum of 3 who didn't notice that NPower were taking DD for 6 mths after she switched.... Mr NPower on here said this is a known problem blah blah

I want to know all known problems before I switch..... the 2 experts who have so far responded to my request for help haven't mentioned this known problem. I.e. Make sure you cancel the DD with your bank once the switch has happened.

Maybe a picture of the meter with the front page of a news paper? Stuff like that to make sure I cover myself.

jazzy

One tip is to take copies of your online statements, once you change you will not have access to your online account too access old statements, in case of any disputes etc..

TickersPlaysPop

Thank you very very much Jazzy that is a great tip :-)

System

TickersPlaysPop wrote: »

To me it is fair to expect NPower to publish a document

I.e. Make sure you cancel the DD with your bank once the switch has happened.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of customers will switch into and out of NPower each week - without any problems. Once again, you are drifting away from the title of this thread - 'advice on the best way to leave Npower'. There is no best or alternative way to switch out of an energy company. NPower do publish advice on leaving on their website:

Quote: How do I leave npower?
We're sorry you're thinking about leaving. Why not get an online quote for our latest tariffs or call us to see if you can get a better deal by switching tariff.

If you do switch to another supplier, they'll handle the switch for you. Please make sure you continue paying for your energy until the switch is complete (i.e. don't cancel your Direct Debit), so there is no debt on your account, as otherwise this can slow the switching process.

Please let us have your final meter reading(s) and any changes to your bank account details so that we can refund any money that may be owed to you. Unquote

If you look at the company that you are proposing to join, then it will have a page which is something similar to:

https://customerservices.npower.com/app/answers/websearch_detail/a_id/292

Most sensible people will cancel DD mandates that are no longer needed; however, if a company does take money that you feel it is not entitled to then you are covered by the DD Guarantee:

--If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society---

You won't even have to speak to NPower.

Quote Maybe a picture of the meter with the front page of a news paper? Stuff like that to make sure I cover myself. Unquote

I will not dignify this suggestion with a comment.

Finally, lest you accuse me again of being unhelpful, I will offer you two further pieces of advice. When you supply your switching meter readings to your new supplier then also forward them to NPower. And, when you get your final statement from NPower check that the closing meter reads on this bill agree with the opening meter readings with your new supplier. These meter readings may not agree with those that you supplied unless you provided them on the exact day that your energy switched.

Despite your concerns and public animosity towards NPower, I am sure that your switch will go well.

TickersPlaysPop

Hengus says... Hundreds, if not thousands, of customers will switch into and out of NPower each week - without any problems. Once again, you are drifting away from the title of this thread.

Tickers says.... I don't care how many are successful, it don't want to be one of the significant percentage that hit problems. Also, how is talking about a switching document advising on system weaknesses drifting from the thread topic?!

Hengus says.... There is no best or alternative way to switch out of an energy company. NPower do publish advice on leaving on their website:

Tickers says.......I wasn't asking for alternatives, you should abid by forum rules and not misquote me. Also the advice doesn't include the great advice posted by others... Such as make sure online info and data available only through the account login is printed prior to switch. NPower should advise this themselves.

Hengus says...... if a company does take money that you feel it is not entitled to then you are covered by the DD Guarantee:

Tickers says.... I don't care. This creates work for me due to an NPower error yet again, and is the main reason I am leaving them. Would NPower spontaneously send me the money they owe me. I don't think so.

Hengus says.... You won't even have to speak to NPower.

Tickers says.... But you contradict yourself by advising me to call them with the meter read on switch date.....

"When you supply your switching meter readings to your new supplier then also forward them to NPower"

Hengus says .... Despite your concerns and public animosity towards NPower, I am sure that your switch will go well.

Tickers says.... Are you willing to place money on that, if so how much would you bet?

Since NPower openly admit they have problems, I'd prefer them to not take the final payment until an agreement is reached between us... but these large companies always seem to set the game play and conduct in their favour more often than for customers.