NPOWER with a 17% hike in prices - Here we go

SuperGran_4

What I'm really fed up about is that in spite of there being a gas main passing approx. 2 miles up the road, I am one of the legion of country dwellers who can't get gas, so the dual fuel savings are closed to me. Additionally, we're both over 65, so home most of the day, and my husband has a chronic illness, which means we need to keep the heating (oil powered) up. The final bit of bad news is that I am an Npower customer. Any ideas of how we can make some dent in this situation?

thor

sdmitch wrote: »

I see comments about regional variations in the Npower price rises - I'm in the East Midlands & I hear that the rises here will be 24% for Gas & 27% for electricity due to transport costs - the Npower website is not showing any details at present for the regional costs. Help

Last year npower trumpeted their price decrease of 15%(can't remember exact amount) for electric and made a big deal out of it but when I came to check my bills it was way less than all their adverts made out. I know this is because I live in yorkshire where they used to be the electricity supplier before privatisation and that all the utilities take advantage of customers on their home turf but it left a really bad taste in the mouth. They were already very expensive for electricty so I felt extremely satisfied when I switched away from them. A few weeks later an npower representative called around asking why I had switched and tried to get my to give them another chance. I can't believe they actually thought that they might have had a chance of succeeding and he left with his tail between his legs when I pointed out to him how unfairly we were being treated. Unless they are at least a third cheaper than anyone else I will never go back to them as I simply won't be able to trust them to not rip us of again. No doubt my currect elec supplier, edf, practise the same techniques but we are not in their natural area so I know that they will have to work harder to pick customers up from here.

magyar

thor wrote: »

Last year npower trumpeted their price decrease of 15%(can't remember exact amount) for electric and made a big deal out of it but when I came to check my bills it was way less than all their adverts made out. I know this is because I live in yorkshire where they used to be the electricity supplier before privatisation and that all the utilities take advantage of customers on their home turf but it left a really bad taste in the mouth. They were already very expensive for electricty so I felt extremely satisfied when I switched away from them. A few weeks later an npower representative called around asking why I had switched and tried to get my to give them another chance. I can't believe they actually thought that they might have had a chance of succeeding and he left with his tail between his legs when I pointed out to him how unfairly we were being treated. Unless they are at least a third cheaper than anyone else I will never go back to them as I simply won't be able to trust them to not rip us of again. No doubt my currect elec supplier, edf, practise the same techniques but we are not in their natural area so I know that they will have to work harder to pick customers up from here.

There's no way round it really. You will ALWAYS be charged more if you're in the 'original area' of one the old companies.

happyflea

briskly, many thanks for telling me where i can found the sol4 prices.

Lezanne26

We have been with npower for quite a while - just coming up to time for £80 cashback (usually shows on April bill). Was intending to stick with them til April but not so sure now. E.on are guaranteeing their prices until Oct 2009 for new customers and we could get £30 cashback from myshopping rewards. What do other msers think?

Gambler

Lezanne26 wrote: »

We have been with npower for quite a while - just coming up to time for £80 cashback (usually shows on April bill). Was intending to stick with them til April but not so sure now. E.on are guaranteeing their prices until Oct 2009 for new customers and we could get £30 cashback from myshopping rewards. What do other msers think?

I think it's £70 with Quidco. :beer:

dustercat

Just received a letter from Npower with their new rates, a quick calculation and :mad: - not a 17% increase in electricity but 35% increase. Called them and they confirmed that the increase is correct. Moral is do not believe averages, check your own numbers.

Time to look elsewhere!

jjf66

Like you dustercat I received a letter from Npower today also.

I'm annoyed because the letter has a generic date of "January 2008" and is headed "Keeping you informed about energy prices" and they have the cheek to tell me my energy prices went up 9 days ago. "Keeping you informed about old energy price increases" would be more accurate.

I know the increase was reported extensively on the news but should'nt "CUSTOMERS" come first and be informed about changes to their contract in a timely fashion?

Is this just not another example of the contempt in which these companies hold their customers?

dustercat

Are the energy companies allowed to inform you about price increases after the event? Prices went up 5th Jan but only been informed by letter today and only show new rates on reverse of letter, not increase over old ones or the % increase. As I pay by monthly direct debit NPOWER said they would review my account in 6 months and adjust payment accordingly, at the current rate of usage I will owe them an additional £200 by then.
How do the price comparison sites cope with regional variations? I am in LE3 and NPOWER now charge 20.87 for first 728KW, 14.49 ( up 41%) for over 728KW and 4.3 for night on their E7 juice tariff.

magyar

dustercat wrote: »

Are the energy companies allowed to inform you about price increases after the event?

Apparently, yes. Although if you call to tell them you're switching, then they'll freeze the old prices for 28 days. I know... I just did it!

dustercat wrote: »

How do the price comparison sites cope with regional variations? I am in LE3 and NPOWER now charge 20.87 for first 728KW, 14.49 ( up 41%) for over 728KW and 4.3 for night on their E7 juice tariff.

If you put your postcode in then the price comparison sites should only look at prices for your area.