npower upped our DD HELP!!!

magyar

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

They normally aim to collect under-payments over the next year, or the remainder of the payment plan year.

If you've had two estimated bills, you should have checked the meter yourself each time and worked out that you were getting under-charged. It's not your supplier's responsibility to know how much electricity you are using.

If £78 is the correct amount based on your current usage and the amount you owe them (spread over a sensible period), you don't really have any reason not to pay £78.

I agree with this, it's quite straightforward, you either pay what you owe them now and then you could have a DD for slightly more than the original £30 a month. Or, alternatively, you could look at the amount you've underpaid overall and then pay them back over a year or so.

As robwend says above, if npower have a problem with this, then changing supplier is one way to force the issue - as you have to settle any outstanding debts before you can switch.

But, as always, the moral is to check estimated bills; if they're a long way out. Paying by Direct Debit doesn't guarantee you'll have enough money in the pot to pay for whatever electricity you've used.

Terrylw1

Npower attempt to gain readings at your site at month 14 & then there is the 28 month check (thats a safety check though, there is no obligation on the reading side really but they try for them)

Get a reading, if it matches your bill, it's just catching up so as others have said, you will have to pay it back.

You have the ability to negotiate it a bit, even making a part payment in 1 month will bring the rest down.

maytaurus

Hi
Npower have sent me lots of these
'we are increasing your direct debit payment' letters in the last 18 mths although we have always been in credit
I just phone them and say I don't want them increasing and will decide myself if and when I want to pay more,as long as I am in credit
I have never had a problem
Maybe the aswer is to TELL them you don't want it increasing,rather than just saying you want to discuss it
this has worked for me so far anyway :j

economiser

I think it best always to take your own readings when you get the bill. Contact them with a customer reading and get an amended bill. That way you always know where you are and you, and they, have a true history of your usage.

MarkyMarkD

Most suppliers will accept your preferred DD amount if you insist on it.

cocoluvsmummy

we actually are in the position of wanting our DD with npower to be greater, and their computer wont let us, says the break down of amounts for gas and elec are the only balance it will let us have. having struggled for 9 months to get a correct bill and asked them to increase our payments to a sensible level ( at one point they were taking 18 a month only for elec, not anywhere enough for a 4 bedroom house with everyhthing elec running 24/7) we now are in the position where we are in arrears by a lot (£350ish) despite asking for bigger payments and sending in our own readings.
finally this week we have a new DD set up to a much bigger amount which with any luck will work off the arrears as well as usage