NPower gas 'sculpting'

Sterling

Donnajunkie #903 – I would just like to second DD’s request. Some of us are poised, with our spreadsheets at the ready, to descend on your bill figures from Npower with the frenzy of a bunch of feeding piranhas. And it could mean some extra dosh for you from Npower depending on what we find. I would be very surprised indeed if they only owed you £1.

Meggsy #904 – you are a born researcher; I don’t know how you do it, but yet again you have most definitely come up trumps with your links, especially the Guardian’s story. I can’t speak for other contributors to this thread, but I had no idea of the Guardian’s interest, let alone the excellent efforts of Mr Bramwell covered in the report. I see he even took the matter up with the Energy Ombudsman, who didn’t want to know. What do these bureaucrats think they’re there for?

Ideally, all of us who are concerned and/or affected by this scam should be fighting under the same banner. At least we now know that two national newspapers (plus a lesser known) are providing some coverage of this issue; that’s at least double what I thought is was.

DD – unless you have already done so (or anyone else for that matter), I propose to write to Mr Bramwell C/o the Guardian and to Miles Brignall the Guardian’s reporter who wrote the story, to make them aware that they are not (as it were) alone in uncovering (a) Npower’s chicanery, and (b) the scandalous failure by any the relevant authorities to hold Npower to full account.

1carminestocky

Maybe the journos who are 'on the case' so to speak should be directing the public to this thread? I know this is never going to add up to the sort of wonga the bank charges reclaiming has but this could potentially run into many many millions that npower have, for want of a better word, 'misappropriated' from, most disgustingly, their most loyal customers.

Now we know that npower would have to spend way more than £1300 to defend just one case (their summation, not mine), I'm assuming any claim for less than that/a similar amount would be settled after a bit of 'postering'? It's clear they have absolutely no desire to test their legal integrity in this matter in a court of law. I wonder why...:rolleyes:

DirectDebacle

I haven't been in touch with Guardian. The Times has some integrity and will not publish anything that they cannot verify. On occasions I have found this frustrating as I have my own view as to what has really gone on here. As it is just opinion and cannot be verified to the standards they require, the Times won't publish them. I suspect the Guardian will be similar. Some of the more popular tabloids might not be so fussy. Someone else may be inclined to try one of them. A bit of the old 'publish and be damned' attitude wouldn't go amiss.

I know the Times regard MSE as a sort of rival and definitely regard the Guardian as one. It is most unlikely that the Times is going to recommend other sites/publications to its' readers. I did ask for a link to MSE to be included in an early article. Politely declined. A shame, but they are, after all, concerned with increasing their circulation. I will continue with the Times. So far they have been at the forefront of publicising this issue for which I am grateful. Having said that I would like to see much wider coverage as the Times does not have the widest readership, but so far the best articles.

donnajunkie

DirectDebacle wrote: »

donnajunkie, thank you for the info. If you are able could I ask you to post your bills for the relevant year npower say you were disadvantaged. Not having had the benefit of seeing how a low user was overcharged I would find it useful. Did their letter say the period for which the overcharging took place. If you wouldn't mind posting the letter that would be useful too. Leave out all personal/identification details of course. Thank you.

heres the letter, i hope it doesnt take up too much room. i cant post the bill coz we dont keep them for long so it will have been binned a while ago.

1carminestocky

I think the major problem you have here, DD, is the subject matter's relatively high complexity to 'get over' to the general public. (Snobby mode engaged) Probably why it hasn't hit the red tops yet (snobby mode dis-engaged)

DirectDebacle

donnajunkie wrote: »

i cant post the bill coz we dont keep them for long so it will have been binned a while ago.

Thank you so much for going to the trouble of posting the letter. Shame about the bills. They have identified you as a low user of gas. Have you any idea how much gas you use in kWh per annum or failing that if you pay by D.D. what is it for gas per month.

In the meantime I will try to back calculate to see how they arrived at this figure. Advanced maths is not one of my strong points.

In the meantime I suggest you follow their advice at your peril.
'Relax.
You don't need to do anything.'

Very similar to March 2008 when they enclosed a leaflet with their bills stating that no-one would be charged more than 4572 Primary Block units a year.

Coming from npower advice such as this usually means you should be on full alert and watching them like a hawk.

DirectDebacle

1carminestocky wrote: »

I think the major problem you have here, DD, is the subject matter's relatively high complexity to 'get over' to the general public. (Snobby mode engaged) Probably why it hasn't hit the red tops yet (snobby mode dis-engaged)

I agree but a red top banner

ENERGY COMPANY RIPS OFF MILLIONS FOR SQUILLIONS

would help. They could do a pro-forma letter to Ed (Go easy on the) Mayo at Consumer Focus to do the rest for them.

DirectDebacle

How about 'GASTRONOMICAL' or

CUSTOMERS AGHAST AT GAS CON.

I now declare the Red Top Banner Headline comp. open.

1st prize the npower Official 2009 calendar which started on 18th October 2008 and finishes New Years Eve 11th February 2009 or is it 2010. They haven't decided yet.

1carminestocky

HENRY MOORE HAD NOTHING ON NPOWER.

(I'm not very good at this )

meggsy

1carminestocky wrote: »

HENRY MOORE HAD NOTHING ON NPOWER.

(I'm not very good at this )

Agree but I couldn't do any better

Maybe we should make Peter Snow aware of this 'sculpting' thread

http://www.npower.com/web/At_home/index.htm