Npower help needed.

craftymrsb

Hi,
I'm new to this so please be patient with me if I seem a bit slow!
Our current payment is being jumped from £99/month to £170/month with a £454 bill outstanding. My husband and I are so upset as were not sure which way to turn. There is no way we can afford to pay £170/month but to switch we'd have to find £454 which we really don't have! I am a SAHM with our 1yr old and my husband is the main earner in the house.
Is there anyone who can advise us on a plan? is there something were missing here?
Thanks in advance.

AnotherJoe

I would expect the jump to £170/m is to catch up the arrears you've let build up. You could confirm that with a phone call.

When you say "you really dont have" the £454 is that a figure of speech, or do you mean it would be a struggle to find but you could if pushed?

craftymrsb

No, we're under a payment plan with a few creditors after I was off work during my pregnancy (due to hyperemesis graviderum) and as a result of that we were struggling to pay the the credit cards we had. We budget every week for food shopping etc and every penny is accounted for. Any savings we had were used when I was off work with sickness.

Bigphil1474

It sounds about right. If you've built up the £454 over 12 months, you've essentially been paying £38 per month less than you should have. Add on £38 to what you were paying plus another £38 to pay off what you owe, and you get to £175. Maybe they said £170 as it's been a mild winter.

Robin9

Do see if you can change tariff within nPower and with no exit penalty.

Read your meter and get an up to date bill.

craftymrsb

As far as I'm aware it's since October 2015.
What I'm asking is if there is a way of working around it as, like I said, we're struggling for money as it is and that would just about sink us.

craftymrsb

Robin9 wrote: »

Do see if you can change tariff within nPower and with no exit penalty.

Read your meter and get an up to date bill.

Thank you Robin, I will see if that's a possibility. We're very good at keeping our metre readings up to date.
I think what makes it feel worse is that if we were able to switch our bills would go down to £81/month!

AnotherJoe

Have you got £500 worth of stuff you could sell? eBay, car boots etc?

What nPower tariff are you on?

victor2

craftymrsb wrote: »

.
I think what makes it feel worse is that if we were able to switch our bills would go down to £81/month!

The reason your monthly amount has increased is because of the debt you have built up. Unfortunately it is of no use saying your monthly payments would be £81 if you could switch, because that would not cover the debt. Npower are effectively giving you an interest free loan to clear the balance, which is a significant part of the increased monthly payment. You could try to negotiate lower payments, but accept it will take longer to clear the debit balance and get down to a situation where you are only paying for your usage. Make sure you are on Npower's best tariff for you if you choose that route.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

craftymrsb wrote: »

Thank you Robin, I will see if that's a possibility. We're very good at keeping our metre readings up to date.
I think what makes it feel worse is that if we were able to switch our bills would go down to £81/month!

You must understand this is incorrect. If £99 was leaving you significantly in debt before, £81 will not cover you going forward.

Robin9

Are you saying that as of Oct 2015 you were up to date with your payments and you owed nPower nothing?


In that case something has gone drastically wrong with your meter readings - can you post your meter readings (as billed by nPower) for the last 12 months please