NPower to Iresa

AndyPK

Well I kicked off a transfer of my elec from Npower to IRESA some time ago.

Yesterday I rang Npower to schedule a move from one gas tariff to another. I asked at the end whether my elec transfer had done thru. They said yes.

Today I get an email from IRESA saying Npwr had blocked the move. So I phone NPwr up to ask why. They tell me because my elec is in debit.

Now Npwr take the money out my account via DD quarterly. So I have no control of when I pay them

Plus I'm staying with them for gas anyway, so not doing a runner.

They said they would ring a department to get the block removed and I should pay the outstanding elec money.

I guess they realised they had made a mistake, but weren't telling me.

So I look at my bill and the DD is due to come out tomorrow :doh:

So I need to ask IRESA to have another go.

footyguy

AndyPK wrote: »

Well I kicked off a transfer of my elec from Npower to IRESA some time ago.

Yesterday I rang Npower to schedule a move from one gas tariff to another. I asked at the end whether my elec transfer had done thru. They said yes.

Today I get an email from IRESA saying Npwr had blocked the move. So I phone NPwr up to ask why. They tell me because my elec is in debit.

Now Npwr take the money out my account via DD quarterly. So I have no control of when I pay them

Plus I'm staying with them for gas anyway, so not doing a runner.

They said they would ring a department to get the block removed and I should pay the outstanding elec money.

I guess they realised they had made a mistake, but weren't telling me.

So I look at my bill and the DD is due to come out tomorrow :doh:

So I need to ask IRESA to have another go.

For a supplier to prevent you switching because of a debt, you need to be officially in debt to them.
For that to occur, they must have produced a demand (a bill) at least 28 days previously that you have failed to pay.

Check the last but one bill they sent you, then check with your bank that it was paid by DD. The bill will state the date the DD should have been collected - the date will usually be about 2 weeks after the bill date; certainly not over 4 weeks.
Check similarly the dates of that last bill you received that is due for collection tomorrow.
(rather than going back in history, alternatively you can check to see if any debt has been brought foreward on that bill)

If you paid the last but one bill (or no debt was brought forewrad), then:
1. Ask for a full explanation as to how you are in debt to the supplier.
2. Do not pay any more money until they produce a proper bill for that amount, especially if a payment is due out tomorrow (as that cannot now be stopped by the supplier)

If appropriate, I suggest you raise a formal complaint, and should expect a nice goodwill gesture from them if you are not officially in debt to them.

AndyPK

Thanks for the info.

I must admit I didn't like them telling me I was in debt 3 times lol.
And all over 50 quid.

Payments are upto date.

What I'm miffed about is that your meant to stay on the same tariff if a switch is underway. Well my fix ends tomorrow! So I hope I don't end up on their expensive standard tariff !

As long as I move before their increase on 16 March I'll be happy!

Oh and the funny thing i forgot to mention I got a "Your energy supply is starting - send us your meter readings" email from Npower today. It says my supply will start on x November 2000. Yes 2000 ! Probably when my house was built.

Maybe that's because the elec has bounced back!

teddysmum

AndyPK wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

I must admit I didn't like them telling me I was in debt 3 times lol.
And all over 50 quid.

Payments are upto date.

What I'm miffed about is that your meant to stay on the same tariff if a switch is underway. Well my fix ends tomorrow! So I hope I don't end up on their expensive standard tariff !

As long as I move before their increase on 16 March I'll be happy!

Oh and the funny thing i forgot to mention I got a "Your energy supply is starting - send us your meter readings" email from Npower today. It says my supply will start on x November 2000. Yes 2000 ! Probably when my house was built.

Maybe that's because the elec has bounced back!

That is my fear expressed on another thread. Specifically if you transfer both fuels but one goes ahead of the other . If the remaining fuel is still inside the fix date, will it be charged at standard rate because the account is no longer duel fuel, which is a requisite of that fix?

AndyPK

I was on different Npower tariffs anyway.

Elec ends Feb
Gas ends April

footyguy

AndyPK wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

I must admit I didn't like them telling me I was in debt 3 times lol.
And all over 50 quid.

Payments are upto date.

What I'm miffed about is that your meant to stay on the same tariff if a switch is underway. Well my fix ends tomorrow! So I hope I don't end up on their expensive standard tariff !

As long as I move before their increase on 16 March I'll be happy!

Oh and the funny thing i forgot to mention I got a "Your energy supply is starting - send us your meter readings" email from Npower today. It says my supply will start on x November 2000. Yes 2000 ! Probably when my house was built.

Maybe that's because the elec has bounced back!

I'm not sure there is anything universal that says a supplier must maintain you on an existing tariff that has expired if you are switching. Some suppliers allow this in their terms, but otherwise you have 50 days before youir tariff ends to switch. Switching should take 17 days, and no longer than 35 days.

Furthermore, if the supplier has (apparently incorrectly in this instance) prevented you from switching, they would have no active switch request before your tariff ends, hence they probably will put you on their standard variable tariff today.

Another reason you should complain, as you will have lost out financially due to nPower apparently erroneously having prevented your switch. Ask nPower to compensate you for the financial loss you incur.

The notice you have received from nPower presumably just has the wrong date on (sounds like incorrect computer merging, resulting in a default date being used). It is probably because you are being transferred to their standard variable tariff today following the expiry of your fixed tariff.

footyguy

AndyPK wrote: »

I was on different Npower tariffs anyway.

Elec ends Feb
Gas ends April

What have you applied for with Iresa? A dual fuel tariff?
Does your existing gas tariff with nPower have any early exit fees? If so, and you have applied to switch already, you will suffer those.

System

footyguy wrote: »

I'm not sure there is anything universal that says a supplier must maintain you on an existing tariff that has expired if you are switching. Some suppliers allow this in their terms, but otherwise you have 50 days before youir tariff ends to switch. Switching should take 17 days, and no longer than 35 days.

Furthermore, if the supplier has (apparently incorrectly in this instance) prevented you from switching, they would have no active switch request before your tariff ends, hence they probably will put you on their standard variable tariff today.

Another reason you should complain, as you will have lost out financially due to nPower apparently erroneously having prevented your switch. Ask nPower to compensate you for the financial loss you incur.

The notice you have received from nPower presumably just has the wrong date on (sounds like incorrect computer merging, resulting in a default date being used). It is probably because you are being transferred to their standard variable tariff today following the expiry of your fixed tariff.

SLC24.9 is, I think the relevant Condition

Continuation of Fixed Term Supply Contract terms for interim period

24.9 In relation to each Fixed Term Supply Contract, unless the Domestic Customer has entered into a new Fixed Term Supply Contract with the licensee or paragraph 22C.5 of standard condition 22C applies, the licensee must ensure that where paragraph 24.10 applies a Domestic Customer will continue to be subject to the same Charges for the Supply of Gas and the same terms and conditions (but not any Termination Fee) that applied to that Fixed Term Supply Contract until they have changed their supplier.

24.10 This paragraph applies where one of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) no later than 20 Working Days after (but not including) the date on which the fixed term period of a Fixed Term Supply Contract ends, the licensee receives Notice under the Network Code by way of the Relevant Gas Shipper that another Gas Supplier will begin to supply the Domestic Customer’s Domestic Premises within a reasonable period of time; and

(b) another Gas Supplier begins to supply the Domestic Customer’s Domestic Premises within a reasonable period of time after the date on which the Notice referred to in sub-paragraph 24.10(a) is given; or

(c) where:

(i) the conditions in sub-paragraphs 24.10(a) and (b) are met; and
(ii)the Domestic Customer has paid any Outstanding Charges within 30 Working Days after the Domestic Customer receives Notice that the licensee intends to prevent the Domestic Customer’s Proposed Supplier Transfer.

24.11 In relation to each Fixed Term Supply Contract, where paragraph 22C.5 of standard condition 22C does not apply and a Domestic Customer has entered into a new Fixed Term Supply Contract with the licensee, the licensee must ensure that where paragraph 24.12 applies a Domestic Customer will continue to be subject to the same Charges for the Supply of Gas and the same terms and conditions (but not any Termination Fee) that applied to that Fixed Term Supply Contract until the new Fixed Term Supply Contract comes into effect.
24.12 This paragraph applies where a new Fixed Term Supply Contract comes into effect no later than 20 Working Days after (but not including) the date on which the fixed term period of a Fixed Term Supply Contract ends.

nPower

AndyPK wrote: »

Well I kicked off a transfer of my elec from Npower to IRESA some time ago.

Yesterday I rang Npower to schedule a move from one gas tariff to another. I asked at the end whether my elec transfer had done thru. They said yes.

Today I get an email from IRESA saying Npwr had blocked the move. So I phone NPwr up to ask why. They tell me because my elec is in debit.

Now Npwr take the money out my account via DD quarterly. So I have no control of when I pay them

Plus I'm staying with them for gas anyway, so not doing a runner.

They said they would ring a department to get the block removed and I should pay the outstanding elec money.

I guess they realised they had made a mistake, but weren't telling me.

So I look at my bill and the DD is due to come out tomorrow :doh:

So I need to ask IRESA to have another go.

Hi AndyPK,

Thanks for your post. Sorry that you have experienced difficulties in changing supply.

I can certainly take a closer look at this for you, if you would like to send me an email using the address from my profile with your account details.

Thanks

Phil

AndyPK

That you for your offer of assistance. I have just emailed your address with my details.

Kind Regards
Andy

AndyPK

footyguy wrote: »

What have you applied for with Iresa? A dual fuel tariff?
Does your existing gas tariff with nPower have any early exit fees? If so, and you have applied to switch already, you will suffer those.

I only requested the Electricity to move over. It was before NPower were widely using exit fee's and was well within the 50 days in any case.

The NPower Gas tariff is very competitive. It will only cost me £30 a year more when compared to IRESA. As I would like to keep some business with NPower and as I don't wish to read my Gas meter monthly I'm happy to pay the extra £30 to stay with NPower.