Npower Direct Debit Increase

GoldenArbs

Just wondering if anyone else has had this kind of thing happen to them...

At the moment my energy bill for both gas & elec is £74 direct debit with Npower.

This figure was worked out very roughly (by NPower) as my partner and I used to use about £60 in our previous flat... but in October we moved into a small house.

Accordingly to my latest bill in the past 109 days we've used £113 elec and £56 gas. That's £1.55 daily and roughly speaking about £50 a month.

When our first bill arrived we were £54 in credit and were refunded that amount. So everything makes sense so far. And bare in mind, this is energy usage over winter.

But on that same bill we're being made aware that our DD is going up from £74 to £102.

huh?

Specifically they estimate that we'll use £501 of gas in the next 12 months. I think we'll use under £200.

I've just had a web chat with someone who manually re-calculated the cost to £96 per month. I told him that was some terrible maths and we've agreed to keep it at £74.

What are they playing at? Are they trying to get hikes in short term money for financial gains or something?

Robin9

Can you confirm that your latest bill is based on ACTUAL readings and not Estimated.

GoldenArbs

yes actual readings. no estimates

backfoot

GoldenArbs wrote: »

Specifically they estimate that we'll use £501 of gas in the next 12 months. I think we'll use under £200.

I've just had a web chat with someone who manually re-calculated the cost to £96 per month. I told him that was some terrible maths and we've agreed to keep it at £74.

What are they playing at? Are they trying to get hikes in short term money for financial gains or something?

Ask them, as you are entitled under OFGEM's DD Factsheet, for a full written explanation of their calculation.

Ask them specifically why your respective gas estimates differ.

Hoopie1

GA - they constantly tinker with my direct debit, despite repeatedly being told not to. They aren't on their own in this regard, and I don't understand why as it is a simple calculation. Given that what they sell me is a commodity I spend far too much time on the phone to them.

Despite all the criticisms, they are cheap and I find that their telephone support are pleasant and do their best to be helpful.

teddysmum

OP, do you have a tariff fix that will end soon ?If this is the case,the estimate of future cost will be based on the most expensive rates ie standard.


My payments were increased after last summer (based on my tariff ending this month) but the automatic refund of credit over a certain amount still resulted in a slight arrears on the December bill.


On the lastest bill there was a slight credit, but last week I changed to a lower tariff and was offered a lower monthly charge or the option of staying on the higher payment.


I opted for the former,as payments are due for review and possible change in June, anyway, but had this not been so, would have gone for higher payments, as I prefer to be in credit.

backfoot

teddysmum wrote: »

OP, do you have a tariff fix that will end soon ?If this is the case,the estimate of future cost will be based on the most expensive rates ie standard.


My payments were increased after last summer (based on my tariff ending this month) but the automatic refund of credit over a certain amount still resulted in a slight arrears on the December bill.

If that is correct, the use of the so called 'Confidence Code':rotfl:would result in a gradually increasing DD throughout the term of a fixed period contract.

I can't believe that that is really the case or that Suppliers are trying it on using that argument.

That hasn't ever happened to me. Yes i have had flawed DD calculations but never on the basis of reverting to standard.

GoldenArbs

teddysmum wrote: »

OP, do you have a tariff fix that will end soon ?

Nope. 1 tariff ending end of 2016. The other in 2017

bellaboo86

Npower are a nightmare. I've lived in my house just under 18 months and my DD is always changing. At first they set my DD up for £35 a month. I rang and said this wouldn't cover my expected usage that they had calculated so they agreed to increase it.
I would say i've had 4 or 5 different DD amounts in the time i've been with them.

footyguy

GoldenArbs wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone else has had this kind of thing happen to them...

At the moment my energy bill for both gas & elec is £74 direct debit with Npower.

This figure was worked out very roughly (by NPower) as my partner and I used to use about £60 in our previous flat... but in October we moved into a small house.

Accordingly to my latest bill in the past 109 days we've used £113 elec and £56 gas. That's £1.55 daily and roughly speaking about £50 a month.

When our first bill arrived we were £54 in credit and were refunded that amount. So everything makes sense so far. And bare in mind, this is energy usage over winter.

But on that same bill we're being made aware that our DD is going up from £74 to £102.

huh?

Specifically they estimate that we'll use £501 of gas in the next 12 months. I think we'll use under £200.

I've just had a web chat with someone who manually re-calculated the cost to £96 per month. I told him that was some terrible maths and we've agreed to keep it at £74.

What are they playing at? Are they trying to get hikes in short term money for financial gains or something?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits

techno12

NPower always do this.

I've been at the same property, with roughly the same usage, for over 10 years now and they still tend to faff with the DD twice a year (often it'll halve, or double). They don't seem capable of taking my annual usage and dividing by twelve.