NPower gas 'sculpting'

sofa-spud

undaunted wrote: »

Why not get your story in the press if you can letting others know that "seeming might" is not always right, the "worm can turn" and win!

It might yet be...

undaunted wrote: »

PS For 2k, I hope you've sent Direct debacle a real drink

Its in hand_party_

WhiteHorse

Yes! Publicise this as much as possible! Well done!

Sterling

Very well done – a truly excellent result.

lu_lu_2

I have only just read some of this thread as I wasn't an MSEer when it started & I am appalled by what Npower have done.

I am currently one of the EDF customers who have been caught by their latest tariff changes & on checking the comparison sites my best supplier is - oh yes wait for it - Npower!

Are they still being a bunch of Th***es & would I be letting other MSEers down if I switched to them?

I have also just had a dig in the mountain of old bills to discover that my husband & I were with Npower in 2003/4 grrrrrrrr. I don't think I have the energy to do what all of you have done.

Having given this some thought whilst typing maybe I'll have another look at the comparison sites & see who is my second best option. That will, hopefully, help keep my costs down, support other MSEers & let me vote with my feet.

I think you are all amazing & keep at it.

Good luck

sofa-spud

lu_lu wrote: »

on checking the comparison sites my best supplier is - oh yes wait for it - Npower!

Guess what, I did the same and it said npower were the best for me too!:eek:
I dont think these comparision sites truly consider the seasonal weighting. I am about to move away from nopower, & have simply been waiting to get the benefit of the low summer high price (primary block) unit allocation. Now that winter approaches they will begin to charge for more of these primary units per month, so I am looking for a supplier that either does standing charge + flat rate gas, or 2 tier pricing with uniform allocation of the higher price units per month.

lu_lu wrote: »

Are they still being a bunch of Th***es & would I be letting other MSEers down if I switched to them?

Well, since I began this I realised I have had regular problems with them over the years, apart from the aforementioned I have also had to threaten them as they did not apply my dual fuel discount, at first claiming 'yes sir that is correct, the discount you refer to applies to something else, blah blah blah'. Frankly I wonder why I've stayed with them so long, being lazy i suppose:o

lu_lu wrote: »

I have also just had a dig in the mountain of old bills to discover that my husband & I were with Npower in 2003/4 grrrrrrrr. I don't think I have the energy to do what all of you have done.

The over charge for this period worked out around £9. Others have had some success with sending a letter off & getting a small payment out of them.

lu_lu wrote: »

Having given this some thought whilst typing maybe I'll have another look at the comparison sites & see who is my second best option. That will, hopefully, help keep my costs down, support other MSEers & let me vote with my feet.

Choose what meets your requirement. fwiw, my view is if npower suits you then go for it, dont worry about others feelings;)
Just be fully aware of the impact of any seasonal weighting applied.

lu_lu_2

Sofa-Spud,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post.

I had already considered trying to find a supplier who does a flat standing charge as my gas consumption in the summer is almost zero.:j

undaunted

lu_lu wrote: »

I have only just read some of this thread as I wasn't an MSEer when it started & I am appalled by what Npower have done.

I am currently one of the EDF customers who have been caught by their latest tariff changes & on checking the comparison sites my best supplier is - oh yes wait for it - Npower!

Are they still being a bunch of Th***es & would I be letting other MSEers down if I switched to them?

No they are pparently just your cheapest (not your best!) supplier for the moment. A leopard never changes it's spots & I think you'd be letting yourself down never mind other MSE'ers if you switched to this dreadful company! Do recheck what no.2 & 3 are offering you before you commit

sofa-spud

OK, as a head's up & everything going to plan there should be another article in tomorrows Times on this subject.:)

DirectDebacle

sofa-spud wrote: »

OK, as a head's up & everything going to plan there should be another article in tomorrows Times on this subject.:)

It is here : http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/money/consumeraffairs/article2705216.ece

or buy/borrow the paper tomorrow.

Here is an extract:

'In its defence submission, npower admitted that it failed to notify Mr Hill and other customers of a new method of charging, which started in May 2007 and ran until October 2007. It accepted that, during this time, Mr Hill was charged for more higher-rate units than he would have anticipated and that, even allowing for some reductions elsewhere in his bill, he suffered a net loss of £8.82. However, npower says that in April 2004 and November 2007, when it made other changes to its charging structure, it did notify customers.
Mr Hill argued in his claim that on neither occasion did npower spell out clearly how it was applying its monthly “seasonal weighting” method of charging, which had the effect of charging customers for more higher-rate units in the winter and fewer in the summer. He says that it was not until November 2008 that npower finally gave a proper explanation.
In April npower offered to settle Mr Hill’s claim by paying him £400, which Mr Hill declined. A fresh offer of £695 in May was also declined. Last week, although it had admitted an overcharge of only £8.82, npower finally agreed to settle Mr Hill’s claim of £2,093 in full. In fact, it paid him £2,444 — £351 more than he had asked for.'

More details in the article and comment re Consumer Focus pressing for compensation for all 2 million customers plus David Kidney (former energy Minister) also calling for compensation to affected customers.

Still not dead yet and thanks to The Times and Mark Atherton for continuing to persue this injustice.

sofa-spud

DirectDebacle wrote: »

It is here : http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/money/consumeraffairs/article2705216.ece

or buy/borrow the paper tomorrow.

Looks like I'll have to buy a copy! that link is into their subscriber area:p