NPower gas 'sculpting'

moneysavingwannabe

Ok, so now I'm confused.

I've been with npower for a while dual fuel. So prob involved in all this sculpting.

I looked on a few of the comparison sites and they are all saying npower sign online 11 is the best option.

I really would like to swap away from them but feel like I might just end up with a bad deal elsewhere as all the recommendations are for npower or the national trust (who are npower!)

Way down the list is Atlantic (can save £17 supposedly!) with their standard online charge.HELP! Need advice.

Cardew

moneysavingwannabe wrote: »

Ok, so now I'm confused.

I've been with npower for a while dual fuel. So prob involved in all this sculpting.

I looked on a few of the comparison sites and they are all saying npower sign online 11 is the best option.

I really would like to swap away from them but feel like I might just end up with a bad deal elsewhere as all the recommendations are for npower or the national trust (who are npower!)

Way down the list is Atlantic (can save £17 supposedly!) with their standard online charge.HELP! Need advice.

No need to be confused.

NPower may well be the cheapest company for you according to the predictions.

The main point of this thread is that you almost certainly got ripped off last year(i.e. scammed/robbed/overcharged) and by quite a lot of money.

Sculpting, as such, is not the cause of you being ripped off, but it provides a mechanisim for Npower to scam you by manipulating the tariff.

The worrying thing is that Npower appear to reserve the right to carry out exactly the same scam in future. They do this by 're-starting' a tariff year.

moneysavingwannabe

Thanks,

So therefore I SHOULD change to anyone as long as it is not another Npower tariff??

DirectDebacle

moneysavingwannabe wrote: »

Thanks,

So therefore I SHOULD change to anyone as long as it is not another Npower tariff??

Think of what is important to you as a consumer.

List the reasons why you should stay with npower.

List the reasons why you should leave.

The answer should be obvious to you.

If it is 50/50 then throw in a decider which won't show in a comparison site. E.g. openness, integrity, good customer service, a bill you can understand, how much you like cricket or whatever.

c0113tt3

With all the issues / scams discussed in this thread and the other thread, bad media coverage, energywatch, watchdog, ofgem involvement, anyone would be insane to stay with them.

Npowers response to all of this, they couldnt give a damn, especially us.

Anne3333

Would we have a case under either of these two Acts?
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which prevents manufacturers, retailers or service industry providers from misleading consumers as to what they are spending their money on.
As advertising became a crucial part of successful commercial enterprises and with fierce competition the temptation to push the boundaries of truth when making claims for a product is strong.
This law empowers the judiciary to punish companies or individuals who make false claims about the products or services that they sell. (Or Higher Rate Units as in this case!)

The Unfair Contract Terms 1977
The guidelines in the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 schedule 2 require that, when assessing
whether a term is fair and reasonable in the circumstances, regard is to be had in particular to any of the following that appear to be relevant:
(3) whether the customer knew or ought reasonably to have known of the existence and extent of the term (Or NPower ‘Tariff Year’ as in this case!)

DirectDebacle

Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations (UTCCRs) 1999 are the most recent but will be replaced on 22nd of this month with even more powerful regulations. go here for the 1999 Regs.http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/before_you_buy/think_of/unfair-contracts#named5

From the 1999 Regs this is of interest:

Unfair terms in contracts - what is an unfair term?
An unfair term in a contract covered by the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations (UTCCRs) is not binding on you.
Test of fairness

A term is unfair if:

• Contrary to the requirement of good faith it causes a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations under the contract, to the detriment of consumers.

'Good faith' means that traders must deal fairly and openly with you.
Although standard terms may be drafted to protect commercial needs, they must also take account of your interests and rights by going no further than is necessary to protect those legitimate commercial interests.


The plain language requirement

According to the UTCCRs, a standard term must be expressed in plain and intelligible language. A term is open to challenge if it could put you at a disadvantage because you are not clear about its meaning - even if its meaning could be worked out by a lawyer. If there is doubt as to what a term means, the meaning most favourable to the consumer will apply.

Anne3333

Ooh, you have done your research DirectDebacle, I wouldn't like to be NPower, when you get them to court! Let us know how you get on, I am interested in following your path!

DirectDebacle

The Times Money reporter phoned me. We had a good chat and he hopes to have the article in the paper this Saturday (17th). He has been in touch with several other customers too. He finished by saying he was going to give npower a call and get their side of it. He has had previous dealings with them and is not impressed. Fingers crossed folks.

catnap53

DirectDebacle wrote: »

The Times Money reporter phoned me. We had a good chat and he hopes to have the article in the paper this Saturday (17th). He has been in touch with several other customers too. He finished by saying he was going to give npower a call and get their side of it. He has had previous dealings with them and is not impressed. Fingers crossed folks.:wave:

That's great, I haven't even managed to get my bills together yet. Should make good reading.