Help with Npower "bumf" & final bills.

Amzlys

Ok, so this has turned into an actual essay - sorry! Bit of background first...

I switched from EDF to Npower about a year ago. Aside from never actually receiving a bill, all was fine. I sporadically submitted meter reading, although was never asked for one.

Finally got my first bill in August after submitting our meter readings which said our bill was going up from £70 to £93. Obviously, I decided to switch and found that OVO could do our energy (from the same meter reading submitted to Npower) for £67. Checked with my Npower bill & no exit fees. Brilliant!

I also seen from our Npower bill that our account was £108 in credit. Knowing that if I wanted to claim this, I'd need to submit a final reading, I did so (by this point a few weeks on from the last reading). Within a week I got another bill saying that they were NOW increasing our amount to £125!!! By this point I'd already started the switching process so wasn't overly concerned but realised it probably meant I wouldnt be getting the money we were in credit by. I decided to check my account online to see if it was still in credit but found it was closed. Fair doos.

I was all prepared for OVO or Npower getting in touch to say we had a final balance to pay but nothing. The only contact I've ever had from Npower was a girl phoning to ask for a meter reading, a few days after I submitted my last one. I advised her I'd only just submitted one and that my account was now telling me it was closed online: she advised me it must be an error and that her list of people to call must be out of date. The switch went through fine and I've been paying OVO for the past two months.

Then today, I've received a whole load of bumf from Npower with a cover letter saying it's the documents I requested - I've not requested anything, nor been in touch with them full stop.

It includes as follows;
Two bills dated the 10 August 2014 for "25 Oct 2013 - 24 Nov 2013" & "25 Nov 2013 - 7 Apr 2014" both of which are for £93/month, when in actual fact I was billed & paid £70/month as was requested at these times.
Two bills dated the 29th August 2014 for "25th Oct 2013 - 24 Nov 2013" & "25 Nov 2013 to 29 Aug 2014" both of which are for £125/month, which again I was billed for & paid £70/ month at the time. Plus a billing cheque for £105.19, which the latter States my outstanding balance is...?
Finally there's a final energy bill for "30 Aug 2014 - 30 Sept 2014" to the amount £171.01, as well as another billing cheque. It does state on it that it takes into account all outstanding amounts, so I assume it means I'm not still due the £105.19 on top of this...?

Phew! That was longer than I expected! So, I'm well aware I'm probably not finished with Npower & quite likely due them money as I've not yet paid any final bill BUT I've a couple of gripes & I'm hoping someone knowledgable can help!

1. My bill increased from £93 to £125 in the matter of a fortnight. Surely our consumption can't have jumped that much? I'm particularly annoyed about this part as the second increase was following the start of us switching supplier & bluntly put I feel like I'm being taken for a ride. Especially since another supplier is now doing our energy for £67! (Half the price, no less!). So, can I dispute this?
2. Npower allowed the switchover despite claiming I was due them money. Surely if I was due what they say, they should have requested this first...?
3. I've never actually received a final bill from Npower. The one that is within all the bumf I got today is the first I've heard anything about a final bill & it has "COPY" printed across the front (as do all the other documents). Should I be paying something if I haven't actually been billed for it?
4. As far as I was aware, thanks to Npowers website, my account was closed, ergo I was finished dealing with them. Can they come back to me two months after switching and closing my account and then ask for me to pay this?

Sorry for such a massive post - I didn't want to drip feed info & kudos to anyone who eead it all! I was going to go to CAB for advice but lots of people seem to have gotten sound advice here so I thought I'd try here first TIA

JJ_Egan

Bill increase did you have meter readings for this bill or is it an estimate .
Closing account does not mean you do not owe a bill or they owe you .

Had you been inputting meter readings on your account .

Simple fact is tariff rate multiplied by days for standing charge plus meter readings difference kWh charges is what you pay less any discount .Estimated monthly charge/ DD is just that and depends upon what readings its based upon .Ovo at £67 is rather low if its dual fual but post is to long and to much bumf to be 100% .

sam.4000

Amzlys wrote: »

Ok, so this has turned into an actual essay - sorry! Bit of background first...

I switched from EDF to Npower about a year ago. Aside from never actually receiving a bill, all was fine. I sporadically submitted meter reading, although was never asked for one. I would suggest for future reference that you submit monthy meter reading. Personally I also have a spreadsheet to track my usage. By doing this I get no shocks.

Finally got my first bill in August after submitting our meter readings which said our bill was going up from £70 to £93. Obviously, I decided to switch and found that OVO could do our energy (from the same meter reading submitted to Npower) for £67. Checked with my Npower bill & no exit fees. Brilliant!

I also seen from our Npower bill that our account was £108 in credit. Knowing that if I wanted to claim this, I'd need to submit a final reading, I did so (by this point a few weeks on from the last reading). Within a week I got another bill saying that they were NOW increasing our amount to £125!!! By this point I'd already started the switching process so wasn't overly concerned but realised it probably meant I wouldnt be getting the money we were in credit by. I decided to check my account online to see if it was still in credit but found it was closed. Fair doos. They're always are in credit till they generate your next bill mine get over £500 in credit as Npower work out the bill every 6 months. Once the bill has been worked out the the credit drops depending on what you have used.

I was all prepared for OVO or Npower getting in touch to say we had a final balance to pay but nothing. The only contact I've ever had from Npower was a girl phoning to ask for a meter reading, a few days after I submitted my last one. I advised her I'd only just submitted one and that my account was now telling me it was closed online: she advised me it must be an error and that her list of people to call must be out of date. The switch went through fine and I've been paying OVO for the past two months. Npower are the worst according to recent market reseach results for customer complaits, they are as useless as a chocolate teapot. But I personally would be more proactive cand If they had not contacted me I would have contacted them.

Then today, I've received a whole load of bumf from Npower with a cover letter saying it's the documents I requested - I've not requested anything, nor been in touch with them full stop. This is probably their way of explaining to you what you owe them.

It includes as follows;
Two bills dated the 10 August 2014 for "25 Oct 2013 - 24 Nov 2013" & "25 Nov 2013 - 7 Apr 2014" both of which are for £93/month, when in actual fact I was billed & paid £70/month as was requested at these times.
Two bills dated the 29th August 2014 for "25th Oct 2013 - 24 Nov 2013" & "25 Nov 2013 to 29 Aug 2014" both of which are for £125/month, which again I was billed for & paid £70/ month at the time. Plus a billing cheque for £105.19, which the latter States my outstanding balance is...?
Finally there's a final energy bill for "30 Aug 2014 - 30 Sept 2014" to the amount £171.01, as well as another billing cheque. It does state on it that it takes into account all outstanding amounts, so I assume it means I'm not still due the £105.19 on top of this...? is this the final bill?

Phew! That was longer than I expected! So, I'm well aware I'm probably not finished with Npower & quite likely due them money as I've not yet paid any final bill BUT I've a couple of gripes & I'm hoping someone knowledgable can help!

1. My bill increased from £93 to £125 in the matter of a fortnight. Surely our consumption can't have jumped that much? I'm particularly annoyed about this part as the second increase was following the start of us switching supplier & bluntly put I feel like I'm being taken for a ride. Especially since another supplier is now doing our energy for £67! (Half the price, no less!). So, can I dispute this? I think you may be in for a shock, You were not paying Npower enough each month so you do owe them money. They will raise your direct debits in a matter of a fortnight if you are not paying enough especially when entering the winter months.
You will find that you are not paying your new supplier enough. Make sure you give your new supplier monthy meter readings to prevent this happening again.

2. Npower allowed the switchover despite claiming I was due them money. Surely if I was due what they say, they should have requested this first...? Yes they can I think they can only stop you switching if you owe them over £500
3. I've never actually received a final bill from Npower. The one that is within all the bumf I got today is the first I've heard anything about a final bill & it has "COPY" printed across the front (as do all the other documents). Should I be paying something if I haven't actually been billed for it? I would phone up npower and get them to generate a final bill. I think from looking at what you have put above you still owe Npower but without details I can't work it out.
4. As far as I was aware, thanks to Npowers website, my account was closed, ergo I was finished dealing with them. Can they come back to me two months after switching and closing my account and then ask for me to pay this? Yes they can you might have closed your account but you still need to settle what you owe them before you have finished with Npower.
Sorry for such a massive post - I didn't want to drip feed info & kudos to anyone who eead it all! I was going to go to CAB for advice but lots of people seem to have gotten sound advice here so I thought I'd try here first TIA

You need to track your energy use by atleast giving meter reading to your supplier, yes I know they dont ask for it but it does hopefully ensure that you pay the correct amount and that you get no nasty surprised down the road.

From looking at what you have posted you will need to pay more than you are currently paying £67 is not going to be enough.