Stuck with npower

8bits

Hi,
I have moved to a new property as a tenant mid November.
It seems the previous tenant did not pay any electricity & gas bills and she is in debt of more than £700 pounds from what I have seen on letters addressed to the 'occupant'. She has moved and I have no idea where she went and I do not know her.

As soon as I have moved I have asked to switch to a new electricity and gas supplier (I did not know about that before). However they sent me an email saying that my current supplier (npower) was objecting to switch, I assume because the previous tenant did no pay any bills.

So I have called npower on the 14/12/2015, stating what the problem was and they created a new account in my name (even if I said I was reluctant to as I did not want to be a customer, they said they had to do this first) and they told me (I think) that I will receive a letter. Howver as of today still haven't received anything and I am wondering if they don't do this on purpose since I will have to pay the current tariff which is probably not very competitive.

Do I have to call them again? Is this going to be useful? I am a bit confused to what to do next.

Also, I have read my electricity and gas meters as soon as I have moved in (I have pictures of them) and I would have thought that I could pay with the tariff of the new supplier from this date (when I have moved in) to now. Is it possible?

matelodave

If you've registered with nPower and got an account number (you do have an account number don't you?) you can then get yourself another supplier.


You will have to pay nPower for the energy that you've used from the day you moved in (keep the meter readings) until the new supplier takes over. The new supplier should ask you for meter readings just before they take over supply. it's up to them to communicate with nPower and give them the new readings.


nPower should eventually send you a bill for the energy that YOU have used. The initial reading should be the one you gave them when you moved in and the final reading should be the same as the reading that you gave your new supplier (or the reading that the new supplier is using if the transfer was on a different day to the day you took your reading).


I strongly advise you to do this all in writing so you've got proof of the communications. nPower don't have a good reputation for sorting stuff out so make sure you keep records.

8bits

Thank you for the reply; alright I understand a bit more what I am supposed to do

No I don't have an account number at the moment, but I think that's what they tried to do by phone and what I am supposed to received by mail. ( I also have never opened the npower letters from the previous tenant and sent them back to npower ('not known at this address') so I do not know the account number of the previous tenant.) I remembered they did ask me for the meters reading when I moved and they talked about a bill to pay so that's probably what I am waiting for.

However it's been already 1 week so I have the feeling the call I have made was useless. I will call them again tomorrow...

matelodave

You don't need the account number of the previous tenant - in fact don't reveal that you know it or even their name - they are nothing to do with you.
If nPower insist on trying to get info about the previous tenant then refer them to your landlord or the letting company - it's their problem not yours. Don't get involved.


Make sure you register with nPower and get an account number in your name using the readings that you took when you moved in and then get away from them as soon as you can.

[Deleted User]

The way you are acting I would expect Npower to have no faith that you are not just the ex customers boyfreind and get a warrant to install a pair of prepayment meters. How did you know that there was a debt of £700 ? you must have opened the last tenants letters to find this sensitive information. You come across as complete novice in dealing with suppliers. Mr Google helps you, you don t need to come on here. He would have told you that as soon as you move in ( ok, and start using energy ) you must register your start date and reading with the current supplier to the property, and in your case I would expect Npower, rightfully , would like to see your tenancy agreement ( or copy ) just to prove that you are who you say you are and what you say is true. £700 is about the level of debt that the suppliers start to get jittery and want to fit a prepayment meter so if you want to avoid complications get on that phone and do it correctly. That last tenant is a prime example of a "professional " renter. They stay just as long as possible using credit meters then move when the heat is applied from suppliers. Anyone who thinks smart meters are nt a good idea is misguided, like the MPs were and unlike Matelodave I personally would be extremely happy to help Npower track down a thief and would help them as much as possible

AndyPK

Yes you will will on the standard tariff.

So use uswitch.com or the npower site to select the best npower tariff for you and get switched onto it asap.

There will be more saving doing this, than you trying to wait and goto a different company

8bits

I could be the ex boyfriend indeed but like I said I know she is in debt because I opened a letter addressed to 'the occupant'. I actually called the firm that is tracking her down to tell them I did not know about her. And yes, I do have a tenancy agreement that I can show.

The fact that I came here to ask is that I live in London and I have never dealt with this kind of situation.

victor2

Sound advice from matelodave there.
Npower don't have the best of reputations, but you can only switch to another supplier if you have an account with npower to switch away from. Mail from npower could easily have been delayed over Christmas, or even lost, so you may have to chase them a bit more before you can sort it out.

Cardew

8bits wrote: »

Also, I have read my electricity and gas meters as soon as I have moved in (I have pictures of them) and I would have thought that I could pay with the tariff of the new supplier from this date (when I have moved in) to now. Is it possible?

What has been implied in the posts above, but not actually spelt out, is that when anyone moves into a property they have entered into a legally binding 'Deemed Contract' with the existing supplier.(NPower in your case).


You must give your details and meter readings to Npower(from the date you moved in) and once NPower accept that you are not responsible for any of the £700 debt, you can instigate switching procedures.

spiro

As soon as you contacted nPower to register an account you can go on a switching site and switch supplier. Better still having found the best supplier on the switching site phone the supplier to start the change of supplier and make it clear you are a new tenant. If nPower object to the switch raise a formal complaint that they are illegally objecting.

Cardew

spiro wrote: »

. If nPower object to the switch raise a formal complaint that they are illegally objecting.

They are not illegally objecting until they determine that the OP has no responsibility for the £700 bill. As sacsquacco points out above, plenty of people live in the property and simply change the name on the tenancy to escape payment of utility bills.