NPower gas 'sculpting'

notbritishgas

fiddling_flower_petals wrote: »

Hi Guys

In answer to several questions raised on this thread:-

Cardew:- I'm not on commerial tarriff, my bill clearly states "Sign Online 8/ monthly Direct debit"

RM5 :- I switched to Npower on 17th Dec 07, so this is my first bill. When Npower increased charges in Jan, I received a letter saying this wouldn't apply to myself. Sorry I can't remember whether this was for all Online VS 8 or just myself as only just recently signed up to Npower. I'll check if I've still kept letter on file but seriously doubt it.

Direct Debarcle :- It isn't fixed tarriff, however I've recently taken advantage of Npower fix for free, which means my tariff is now fixed at rates previously mention until 31st March 09 with no additional premiums.(copy of my bill in post today)

I say flower, can you clear up some confusion. I thought the fix for free to Mar 09 was only fixed on the standard tariff. For example I am on SoL 10 with rates of 5.480/1.71 inc VAT (East Mids). When I look at the price fix to Mar09 on npower website for eastmids it gives the rates as 7.022/2.09.
Hope you haven't let yourself in for something unexpected.
Edit
Just pulled this from npower site:
Offer only available to existing residential npower dual fuel or existing single fuel customers who sign up to take their second fuel with npower. Offer also available to single fuel electricity customers where no mains gas supply is available. To qualify for the offer, payment type must be changed to Direct Debit for all fuels and you must continue to pay that way between 01/04/08 and 31/03/09 inclusive. Prices will be fixed at npower's standard electricity and gas tariffs (including discounts) as at 31/03/08 with a 0% premium on both fuels. Prices will be fixed until 31/03/09 providing there are no increases imposed by any governmental, statutory or licensing authority. Offer is limited, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer not available to new customers, existing npower internet, Juice, National Trust, Prepayment, Fixed 2009, Fixed 2011 and Tracker customers.

RM5_2

fiddling flower petals, thanks for your clarifications. I can understand that they did not increase rates for customers that have just signed up.
Obviously customers joining after 1/11/07 would not be affected by the on/off/on scam even if they were on a sculpted tariff, and the full scale of the scam only applied to those who joined before march 2007.
So it is quite telling that npower did not bother to use sculpting on newer customers at all. Maybe they were already starting to get complaints and decided to do damage limitation by not using sculpting on new customers?
3.639p high rate fixed until april 2009 sounded to good to be true, and ffp,you are very welcome to join the 'I hate npower' club if notbritishgas is right.

DirectDebacle

Just thought I'd let those who might be affected know that 'sculpting' commenced on 1st October 2004. The profile used was the one quoted on here for 2006/7. The sculpting operated on this profile without a break until 31st April, 2007. Then as most of us know was increased to a 381 per month rate until 1st November 2007.
I did this by re-calculating my bills from 1st April, 2003. From then to the 1st October, 2004 the high rate was calculated on the flat daily rate.(12.526)

So much for the letter npower sent telling me that 'sculpting' was introduced on either 1st April, 2006 or 4th December, 2006.

fiddling_flower_petals

notbritishgas wrote: »

Hope you haven't let yourself in for something unexpected.
Edit
Just pulled this from npower site:
Offer only available to existing residential npower dual fuel or existing single fuel customers who sign up to take their second fuel with npower. Offer also available to single fuel electricity customers where no mains gas supply is available. To qualify for the offer, payment type must be changed to Direct Debit for all fuels and you must continue to pay that way between 01/04/08 and 31/03/09 inclusive. Prices will be fixed at npower's standard electricity and gas tariffs (including discounts) as at 31/03/08 with a 0% premium on both fuels. Prices will be fixed until 31/03/09 providing there are no increases imposed by any governmental, statutory or licensing authority. Offer is limited, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer not available to new customers, existing npower internet, Juice, National Trust, Prepayment, Fixed 2009, Fixed 2011 and Tracker customers.

I rang Npower and enquired about fix for free deal, I was told it was on my current tarriff, which I couldn't believe!! (As the best fixed duel fuel deal currently available would cost me an additional £240 pa)

I sort further clarification on deal, asked operative to confirm tariff charges were as per my tariff rates on my current bill, which were confirmed by operative at Npower. However after reading this thread the standard and quality of information from customer services seems to range greatly and often inconsistant.

In which case I will be joining the I hate Nopwer club, if you'll allow me!

I'm currently awaiting a confirmation notification, which I presume will include tariff. If I have been mis sold/ mis informed I certainly will be writing to NPower and using 14 day cooling off period to cancel and return to my original tariff.

Anne3333

Ooh that is interesting DirectDebacle, I joined them on 31st September 2004, do you think they brought Sculpting in especially in my honour????
Funnily enough I have my original contract and there is definitely no mention of sculpting, nor was it ever mentioned to me.

DirectDebacle

Anne3333 wrote: »

Ooh that is interesting DirectDebacle, I joined them on 31st September 2004, do you think they brought Sculpting in especially in my honour????
Funnily enough I have my original contract and there is definitely no mention of sculpting, nor was it ever mentioned to me.

Of course they brought it in especially for you and now we know who to blame. Expect my summons shortly and I look forward to meeting you and your npower co-defendant very soon.

Anne3333

Hands up, it was me! They could obviously see that I was a consumer who would escape the full amount of Higher Rate Units, due to my frugality in Summer months. I can't help it if I am naturally warm in the sunny weather!

Anne3333

DirectDebacle wrote: »

Of course they brought it in especially for you and now we know who to blame. Expect my summons shortly and I look forward to meeting you and your npower co-defendant very soon.

If I were against you in court DD, I would definitely advise my NPower co-defendant to pay you off BIG TIME. I believe you have a very strong case and would not like to be subjected to your wrath and cross questioning!

DirectDebacle

fiddling_flower_petals wrote: »

In which case I will be joining the I hate Nopwer club, if you'll allow me!

I propose that anyone who posts on this thread is automatically admitted to the 'I Hate (should we call it npower or conpower or Nopwer ) Club' subject to the following rules.

Rule 1. There are no rules

Rule 2. See rule 1.

Anne3333

Yes of course you are welcome Fiddling Petals, however I think it only fair DirectDebacle, that anyone in the 'We Adore NPower Club' is also allowed to post here without intimidation to join us. Life is far more interesting when you have variety of opinions!
Anybody like to stick up for NPower??? C'mon anybody???