Npower are robbing us blind!

Bulbie

Ok, so we're currently with Npower. Just paid our monthly bill. I'm a carer with health issues, and I look after a brain damaged man with health issues, so he's on disability. Npower a couple of months back decided to increase our bill by 50% out of the blue, no warning, because apparently we were building up a debt. Phone calls were made and we got it pulled down to 103 a month, some of that paying back this so called accrued debt. I just opened the app a few minutes ago, and they've gone and done it again, same as before, no warning. It's gone from 103 to 159 now, so even more than last time, for the same reason as last time.

Now, we are very careful with our energy consumption, we've used the heating much less this winter than we need, though it is switched on occasionally to stop the pipes from bursting. Yet somehow we are building up debt again! Use less energy=pay more money.

!!!!!! is going on? I'm pretty sure they can't keep doing this especially since they know our financial situation. What do we do? Feels like we are going to be trapped with them forever, constantly paying off a growing debt.

JJ_Egan

Are you taking frequent meter readings .
Are you able to see bills etc on your on-line account .
Why do you have this debt .
Are you on an expensive tarrif .

matelodave

Are you reading your meters and checking your bills. Are your bills estimates or actual readings.

Unless you check the bills, make sure that any estimates are corrected and that you are actually paying for what you use then you will get behind and have to pay the arrears as well as your current consumption.

The power companies usually only up your direct debit if it's not covering your consumption and you are accruing a debt. You've only got to be paying £25 a month too little to accrue a debt of £300 in a year.
That will then equate to a £50 increase in the second year (£25 extra for what you were underpaying on your current consumption and £25 to pay off last years arrears)

This winter is colder than last year so you'll be using more energy than this time last year so actually getting your DD reduced might not have been a good idea as you might not be paying off the arrears and accumulating even more.

You need to read your own meters to establish how much you are using rather than just thinking that you aren't using as much. If you don't measure it you can't control it.

Bulbie

We do send in regular meter readings. Weekly, in fact.

Yes I can access the account online, I did so this morning.

I check the bills frequently to keep our household accounts up to date.

There is nothing on the account to say that the bill is estimated.

We're not using as much energy as we did last year, we have cut down the heating usage by a third compared to last year - it says this on our account, and we also make a point this year to use the heating as little as possible so instead we are layering up clothing, hiding under duvets, and we invested in hot water bottles.

I do not think we aren't using as much. I KNOW we aren't using as much.

We have no idea how we are accruing so much debt the less energy we use.

We are on the cheapest tarriff according to them.

SuiDreams

What is your annual usage, Unit Rate/Standing Charge and how much Debt is on the account?

Bulbie

£337 in debt, we wre £400 odd in debt, so by the look of it they are saying our debt is getting bigger and bigger, so we have to pay more and more, when in actual fact it is getting smaller, so we're obviously paying it off.

It also says we've paid 500 odd toward the original debt of 400 which should mean we're in credit, but we're not...

I just don't get it, I really struggle with these things at the best of times...

System

Can I suggest that you take the problem to your local Citizen's Advice who can (a) look at all the facts and (b) advise you on the best course of action in your circumstances. Energy companies may be guilty of many things but theft isn't one of them. Monthly payments only rise if the computer has reason to believe that you are using more than your projected annual usage of fuel. If you are using more, you will pay more or, as others have suggested, there may be a chance that the system is not accepting the readings that you are providing. You need someone to look at past bills, your current meter readings and tariff. It is a fairly simple calculation.

SuiDreams

Without knowing what your actual energy usage is and the rates you are being charged by NPower it is impossible to compare this to your current and new DD amounts. £337 of debt would be £28.08 per month on top of your normal usuage or or £56 over 6 Months. Looking at your change in DD this seems to have added the £56 to the £103. On your last bill does it give you a breakdown of expected annual usuage = £x per year + £y debt = £z per month? It looks to me as if NPower are saying your annual usage = £103/month and the £159/Month is to pay back the debt over 6 months. Could you ask them for a longer period to pay back the debt?

matelodave

Have you tried doing your own sums rather than just relying on how to fathom out their bill.(put your own figures in as mine will all be guesses)

Check your consumption for the past 12 months Say 3500kw Electric and 15000kwh Gas.
Check your tariff say 12.5p kwh electric and 4.5p kwh for gas. Say 20p/day standing charge for electric and 20p/day gas.

You bill would be (3500 x 0.12) = £420 + (365 x 0.20) = £73 = £493 for leccy
For gas it's (15000 x 0.045) = £675 + (365 x 0.20) = £73 = £748

so your total bill would be £748 + £493 = £1241 per year. Divide that by 12 will give you your direct debit= £103.34 just to pay for your consumption

But you've got £400 arrears = 400/12 = £33.33 which needs to be added to that to reduce your arrears to zero in 12 months
.
Your total direct debit should therefore be £103.34 + £33.33 = £137 per month to pay for your current consumption and pay off your arrears.

Do your own sums using your actual consumption and tariff inf and see what yours comes out to - when you've done that you can argue with your suppliers because you'll know what you should be paying.

Bulbie

According to my account though, our debt has already been paid off but somehow I'm still in debt. They're extremely poor help when they're contacted also.

Im sorry I seem to have annoyed some of you by being this stupid. But I'm afraid I can't help it. I'm dyslexic so I have trouble reading things anyway, I'm also autistic, so I can never tell someone's mood toward me even if they're telling me what their mood is. Fibromyalgia also plays a part, my cognitive abilities are not as good as a normal brain.

SuiDreams

I think you need to go through all your bills and tally them up. Amounts paid less amounts billed etc.Remember you may have started with £400 debt and made £500 in payments, but you need to take off ongoing usage from the amounts paid as well. e.g. Starting debt £400 - £500 paid = £100 credit -£437 usage = £337 debt
Do you have someone who can come round and help you read through the bills and account information