Just moved back to UK, grateful for advice!

Movingonnow

Have moved back to UK after a bereavement. After months of limbo it's all gone quickly, found job and have just rented a flat. I have some beginner questions. A bill was waiting for me at the flat from npower for gas and electric the month the flat was vacant. What do I do about that? Also when I make an account with npower what do I do? Do I negotiate a tariff with them? Can I move providers immediately? I might stay with them while I get my head together.

nPower

Movingonnow wrote: »

Have moved back to UK after a bereavement. After months of limbo it's all gone quickly, found job and have just rented a flat. I have some beginner questions. A bill was waiting for me at the flat from npower for gas and electric the month the flat was vacant. What do I do about that? Also when I make an account with npower what do I do? Do I negotiate a tariff with them? Can I move providers immediately? I might stay with them while I get my head together.

Hi Movingonnow

Thank you for posting. I would be happy to take a look into your account and answer your questions if you would like to send me an email (using the address from my profile) with your account details.

Thanks

Vicky

molerat

Movingonnow wrote: »

Have moved back to UK after a bereavement. After months of limbo it's all gone quickly, found job and have just rented a flat. I have some beginner questions. A bill was waiting for me at the flat from npower for gas and electric the month the flat was vacant. What do I do about that? Also when I make an account with npower what do I do? Do I negotiate a tariff with them? Can I move providers immediately? I might stay with them while I get my head together.

Were you the registered tenant for the month ? If not pass it on to the LL/LA.

Did you take meter readings on the day you moved in ? Don't believe any read the agent gave.

You need to contact NP and set up an account and give them the date you took over and the meter reads. Probably worth staying on their standard variable (or any fixed tariff that has no exit fee) until you have sorted out your consumption as detailed below.

You are then free to move to whoever you wish. There is no "negotiating" energy prices, you take what is on offer and best for you. The difficulty is of course knowing how much energy you will use but NP will be able to supply you with the data for the property. That may or may not be relevant to you but is a good starting point and by taking and submitting regular monthly reads a pattern will emerge.

Put that supplied data into one of the energy comparison sites and see what comes out, it is also worth inputting higher and lower consumption figures and see what comes out as best in different scenarios.

Movingonnow

Vicky from npower: just checking in as I sent details to set up account as you kindly offered to do, but haven't heard anything since.

dogshome

Oh Dear - Seems that you are already a victim of n'powers well known and distinctly shaky admin systems.

The longer NP take to set up your account, then the more time you spend on their expensive 'Standard Tariff'' with no opportunity to move to a better one, change supplier, or challange the bills you have had for energy use prior to you moving in.

Even as a newbie, I'm afraid you must go into battle
WRITE a letter to NP, heading it Complaint - the address will be on the bills you have had - Setting out the history of the dates you made contact and giving them the initial meter readings, pointing out that you have now been trapped on their Standard tariff for over 41 days

worried_jim

Movingonnow wrote: »

Vicky from npower: just checking in as I sent details to set up account as you kindly offered to do, but haven't heard anything since.

When you do speak to them ask for the last 12 months KWHs (Kilowatt hour) consumption for both fuels, then pop these figures into a whole of market (so you see every deal) comparison site such as - (other sites available)

https://energy.befuddled.co.uk/

When getting your quote select "all tariffs" to see all of them- usually they just show you the ones that the site gets a kickback from the supplier for.

Take your pick and off you go! They will arrange the switch for you and takes about four weeks. Do this again this time next year and every year to stay at the best price.

Welcome back to the UK, sorry about the circumstances, but well done on getting a job quickly! Keep using MSE as it's a great resource for nearly everything in life!