NPower gas 'sculpting'

SimpleDave_2

W_s_n there is there is this link here where you can lobby your MP:

(w)ww.noshockdoctrine.iparl.com/lobby/50 (sorry still can't post links)


Dave

W_s_n

Just filled in the letter to my MP. Thanks for the link.

meggsy

No longer an NDPB - Government will consider the outcome of ongoing sectoral reviews and consult early next year on proposals to abolish Consumer Focus and transfer its function to Citizens Advice

List of quangos
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191543.pdf

Martin has a blog 'Don't kill Consumer Focus' here ...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/37419270#Comment_37419270

meggsy

I hope you are receiving your refunds ?

I received a goodwill payment in 2008 and they have now sent
a refund of almost the same amount

DirectDebacle

I have posted a question to the npower rep, Sally, to explain how they calculate payments: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/37531258#Comment_37531258. Post No. 31

Their method is not clear to me.

<H3>How did we calculate the payment amount?

We’ve taken the maximum possible number of higher-priced units a customer could have been charged following the changes made in 2007. We’ve compared this with 4,572 units per year using 12 month periods around this time based on the anniversary of the date they first joined npower. The payment amount is based on any excess higher-priced units, multiplied by the difference between the rate for the higher and lower priced units applicable at the time. We’ve taken the additional step of including VAT and a sum in lieu of interest in this payment.

</H3>

davidgmmafan

I'll fill in the letter when I get chance, I really don't want to rip on th CAB as they do a fine job most of them for no reward. The problem is they are already swamped by debt enquires at the moment.

retired_cricketer

I recently challenged npower for overcharging me and eventually received a payment of £220 - slightly more than I requested.In fact I now realise that I made a mistake (honestly !) in my calculation and asked for more than I should have.It seems from this thread that they pay what you request just to get rid of you and hope that you keep it quiet.
I originally thought that the mistake was only on my account until I found this thread after I'd received the payment. How naive was that !
The thread has really opened my eyes. It's interesting that RM5 (1504#) advises that all refunds were because handling the complaints took too long and there was no admission of overcharging and topographic (1462#) had the original claim refuted by a standard letter. My experience was exactly the same.

I have several questions :
1. Did they deliberately ignore my second letter so that I would have to send a third and therefore they could pay me for a delayed response rather than admit overcharging ?
2.Will I get a further refund as a result of the recent agreement confirmed in their press release ?
3. If I don't get this, could I submit a claim on the basis that the refund I received was for a delayed response not an overcharge ?
4.The letter with the cheque said it was "in full and final settlement" - does this prevent a further claim being submitted ?

Thank you (in advance) for your help

DirectDebacle

retired_cricketer wrote: »

I have several questions :
1. Did they deliberately ignore my second letter so that I would have to send a third and therefore they could pay me for a delayed response rather than admit overcharging ?
2.Will I get a further refund as a result of the recent agreement confirmed in their press release ?
3. If I don't get this, could I submit a claim on the basis that the refund I received was for a delayed response not an overcharge ?
4.The letter with the cheque said it was "in full and final settlement" - does this prevent a further claim being submitted ?

Thank you (in advance) for your help

1.No idea. It is possible, but almost anything is possible in npowerland.

2. You need to call the helpline or email. I have evidence that a previous 'goodwill' payment has also been followed by a payment under the current scheme. This may not be applicable to all cases.

3. I do not see why not. They are separate issues. Be interesting though. Probable they would settle before it arrived before the court.

4. Unable to comment without seeing the letter. npower letters are often deliberately ambiguous in an attempt to cover all bases.

Just spotted posts from other claimants that received 'goodwill' payments in 08/09. They are now reporting further payments as a result of the C.F/npower arrangement. So you should be treated the same.

meggsy

Post #55

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/37782144#Comment_37782144

Sterling

Here is an extract from the article referred to in Meggsy’s post.

An npower spokesman says: “We believe that the years 2004-05 and 2007-08 are completely different cases. In 2007-08 we made two changes to the way we charged for our higher-rate units. In 2004-05 we made only one change.” He adds: “As for the question of time limits, it would be for customers to determine whether they were within the six-year time limit and whether there were any exceptions to this.”

Two points spring immediately to mind.

Firstly, Npower is wrongly attempting to draw a distinction between the two changes of 2007, and the single change of 2004, as if in some miraculous way, the single change of 2004 did not result in customers being overcharged.

Well, affected customers were overcharged in 2004, and that is a fact beyond dispute. This misleading statement is typical of the shabby tactics used by Npower in trying to get itself off the hook.

Secondly, because Npower deliberately failed to inform its affected customers of the 2004 change at the time, those customers had no way of knowing they were being overcharged until much later. So clearly, the six year limitation can only begin to run from when they could reasonably be expected to have discovered they had been overcharged. That may turn out to be a grey area.

Some may argue that customers could not have known until as late as 2008. Npower may attempt to argue that it was always open to customers to check their bills every twelve months, and had they done so, they could have discovered their cause of action at that point.

I hope a court (when considering this) would take into account Npower’s poor conduct, and recognise that its customers trusted Npower to treat them honestly and fairly; and that Npower deliberately breached that trust.