33% increase in bill Npower

bjoyce

Hello,
This is my first time posting, but we are desperate for some help in regards to Npower and their increase in billing.

So we're a bunch of 5 students living in private rented accommodation. Bills aren't part of rent so last year we decided to go with Npower after the previous tenant went through Spark who went bust. We have sent a few readings to Npower over the last 2 years with no one ever coming out to double check. Our original bill for gas and electric was in the low 30's then increased to £43 per month. Suddenly they're trying to charge £65 per month despite us having £322.18 in credits and we have rarely been in the house over the past 2 months and are generally quite savvy at turning off plugs when we aren't in and we rarely use heating (maybe once or twice a week for an hour most). This increase may not seem a lot but as students it can be hard to scrape together the extra £20.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

comeandgo

Why are you not sending the actual readings in quarterly? Get the actual readings up to date and see what the actual bill might be.

Gerry1

You need to send monthly readings and to understand how direct debits work.

You may wish to switch to a supplier that offers Variable Direct Debits e.g. Shell Energy or E.On, although that will mean higher bills in winter and lower bills in summer.

Streaky_Bacon

As advised above, you should take up to date meter readings now and submit them, and continue sending regular readings.

I would also advise you to consider writing to them asking:

1) That they send you an updated bill
2) That they review your DD, taking into account your actual usage
3) That they either refund your credit balance, or reduce/zero your DD until the credit balance is used up

It's not a good idea to build up a credit balance, especially if money is tight, although I appreciate that handling a refund from your end it may be more difficult as there are 5 of you.

Finally, you should certainly consider reviewing the tariff that you are on, because you will likely find a much better deal, and it would seem likely that you are now out of any fixed contract (if you are still in a fixed contract then watch out for exit fees).

Here are a couple of tools for comparing tariffs

https://clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub

https://energycompare.citizensadvice.org.uk/

slowrace

bjoyce wrote: »

Hello,
This is my first time posting, but we are desperate for some help in regards to Npower and their increase in billing.

So we're a bunch of 5 students living in private rented accommodation. Bills aren't part of rent so last year we decided to go with Npower after the previous tenant went through Spark who went bust. We have sent a few readings to Npower over the last 2 years with no one ever coming out to double check. Our original bill for gas and electric was in the low 30's then increased to £43 per month. Suddenly they're trying to charge £65 per month despite us having £322.18 in credits and we have rarely been in the house over the past 2 months and are generally quite savvy at turning off plugs when we aren't in and we rarely use heating (maybe once or twice a week for an hour most). This increase may not seem a lot but as students it can be hard to scrape together the extra £20.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Just so I can understand the situation correctly:
1. You say you switched to nPower sometime last year
2. You initially were paying £30ish per month, and then were paying £43 per month (so somewhere between £360 pa and £503pa) for gas & electricity combined
3. There are 5 of you living in the property (all students)
4. You genuinely believe you are already £322.18 in credit :rotfl:
5. You each would find it hard to find a spare 15p per day, although if your comprehension of the situation is correct, you would be getting that back later
6. You are seeking some advice.

Students, eh? On a wet & cold Wednesday afternoon.

Streaky_Bacon

slowrace wrote: »

Students, eh? On a wet & cold Wednesday afternoon.

You forgot to point out that £43->£65 is an increase of 51%, not 33%

Probably Maths students :rotfl:

Talldave

I gave up at the point of 2 years readings to npower despite only switching last year?? Read meters monthly, keep a spreadsheet of readings. Then you'll know if bills are correct and be armed with consumption data for switching (which is the best thing any npower customer can do).

Robin9

slowrace wrote: »

…………..
4. You genuinely believe you are already £322.18 in credit :rotfl:
………..)

Look very closely at that bill. Some suppliers do not include the cost of energy itself in every bill. That can lead to a false picture.

Is there a mathematician among you do the sums .

Smodlet

OP, do you have an online account? If you do, you can input meter readings whenever you like but there is still no substitute for working out yourself what you have used every month and how much it costs; it takes five minutes with a pen, paper and calculator.

If your figures are within pennies of what the website tells you your balance is, you know where you are. If they are not, double check your figures. If necessary, call the supplier and ask them to go through the figures with you. You can request a statement at any time. HTH.

teddysmum

Despite having a long term fix only part way through, having an actual credit (a bill had been recently supplied) and the next DD due the next day, npower wanted to put my DD up by about a third.

I complained, saying that the current rate, payable the next day,would be more than enough to still leave a large credit and the call taker agreed. However the system put a limit on the reduction she could make, meaning I have to appeal again, this month. She said the calculations do err on the side of the company. (What a surprise).

I've never had a problem that npower didn't quickly resolve and have been with them for years. as moving only (possibly) saved a few pounds at most, but think I may need to change, because of the proposed takeover by EON, once my good fix is over.