Trying to change provider

oathy03 · 19 January 2016 at 12:04AM

Hi.

I wonder if someone can help please. Dad Is finally trying to move providers after a long running battle with Npower over insanely priced bills and basically 19 months of no bills at all. its been a farce in all honesty but we have hit a problem and cant understand why. When he phones various companies about changing they inform him within a short time they will only accept him if payment is made upfront (not payment meter) but actually taking the money upfront for the bills.

At first we just thought it was one company but they are all doing it? has this become the norm or have the problems with Npower triggered something please.All the bills have been paid so its not like he's got a bad history of non payment all the issues were with Npower.

Any advice would be brilliant please because we really don't want to be with Npower anymore.

thank you.

Peter333 · 19 January 2016 at 12:26AM

If a customer is owing money on their account, they cannot leave the energy supplier. Even if the issue is the energy supplier's fault for not billing the customer.

Sorry.

Best to contact the energy ombudsman.

oathy03 · 19 January 2016 at 1:40AM

hi that's the most puzzling thing.
now the issues have been sorted we don't owe anything at all.
its cost thousands and Npower did give dad a 400 pound discount for all the hassle.

the gas comes to around 400 pounds a Quarter and electric around 250 pounds and so far all the suppliers seem to say they would take these amounts upfront at the start of us moving to them.

CashStrapped · 19 January 2016 at 1:40AM

By payment upfront, are you talking about method of ongoing payment....as in Direct Debit rather than a cheque? If so, direct debit and monthly upfront payments is the default option for most suppliers (not to mention the cheapest way to pay). Other payment options should still be available however.

The only other alternative I can think of is that if there has been a billing dispute with an utility company, it could have affected your fathers credit history.

When new suppliers do a quick check he is coming up as a high risk and therefore suppliers are being very cautious about taking him on as a customer, hence them asking for upfront payment.

If it is nothing to do with method of payment, your father may want to sign up to a free credit check service and view his credit history/report. They [credit check companies] usually have free 30 day trials (just don't forget to ring up and cancel before its up!).

If there is anything odd on his credit report, follow the guides on this site on how to correct them. In fact have a look at the whole credit check section.

System · 19 January 2016 at 9:53AM

An important point. Whether it is a security deposit or the first monthly payment in advance of supply (Ovo, GBEnergy....) this is not money that is being squirrelled away by the suppliers. Customers will only pay for the energy that they use.