Npower "Fix For Free"

maxxy

I am an existing Npower Dual Fuel Customer and am considering signing up to their most recent offer "Fix For Free" (as advertised online and in some Sunday papers).

I have read the terms and conditions at www.npower.com/fixforfree but would appreciate some advice on whether people think there may be a catch or if it seems worth switching to this tariff?

Any advice or comments would be a great help.

Thanks,

Maxxy

Ken68

An obvious try to KEEP customers. Must be desperate.
Barge..pole.

ilikepoints

Don't see why we should criticise companies for wanting to keep customers. This looks like a fairly decent deal to me. Surely we should encourage people who are already N-Power customers to actually take advantage of such a deal?

Perhaps they're not anticipating much of a rise in the wholesale prices of gas/electric and that's why they can make such an offer?

JohnG

We've just left them (thank goodness). They showed no concern when we first called them to question how they could put up our monthly rates by 24% (Elec) and 34% (Gas) as it seemed just a tincy bit more than the 12.7% and 17.2% announced in the press, or didnt seem at all bothered that they were then going to lose a "loyal" customer of four years standing!

So, having just got their parting gift of a £200+ final gas bill for the last quarter :eek: I will now be trying to claw a little bit back (£30) as they have definetly over charged us by exceeding their supposed annual primary unit limit. We are still waiting on the Elec bill with much trepidation.

After our experience and having just heard about their selling tactics we don't trust them at all and will certainly never go back to them even if they were the last energy supplier on earth!

As Ken68 says, "Fix for Three" it's a clear signal that they are becoming desperate. There's little doubt in my mind they will have lost a lot of custom recently.

JohnG

ilikepoints wrote: »

Don't see why we should criticise companies for wanting to keep customers. This looks like a fairly decent deal to me. Surely we should encourage people who are already N-Power customers to actually take advantage of such a deal?

Perhaps they're not anticipating much of a rise in the wholesale prices of gas/electric and that's why they can make such an offer?

It's interesting that this initiative has only just come to light, besides why should existing customers be encouraged to stay when they are almost certainly going to be better of elsewhere?
Also, the more customers who look at switching the better as it should put pressure on NP to be more competitive.
As for future increases - It's hard to imagine that prices can increase much more over the next couple of years - Many of us will have to look at switching off heating altogether - great for the environment but not something you expect in this day and age.

Thomas_Crown

JohnG wrote: »

It's interesting that this initiative has only just come to light, besides why should existing customers be encouraged to stay when they are almost certainly going to be better of elsewhere?
Also, the more customers who look at switching the better as it should put pressure on NP to be more competitive.

''better of(f) elsewhere?''. I am an existing npower customer & I was on the verge of changing to Atlantic. I decided to wait & see by how much Atlantic increased their prices before switching. Once Atlantic announced their new tariff I went on to 3 different price comparison websites & they all came up with the same result ie.Npower is cheapest for me!

NP must currently be more competitive than the other energy suppliers because 3 price comparison websites say so. Theoretically I should have nothing to lose by signing up to their price fix as long as I still have the option to swap to another energy company if I so desire.

Cardew

Thomas_Crown wrote: »

''better of(f) elsewhere?''. I am an existing npower customer & I was on the verge of changing to Atlantic. I decided to wait & see by how much Atlantic increased their prices before switching. Once Atlantic announced their new tariff I went on to 3 different price comparison websites & they all came up with the same result ie.Npower is cheapest for me!

NP must currently be more competitive than the other energy suppliers because 3 price comparison websites say so. Theoretically I should have nothing to lose by signing up to their price fix as long as I still have the option to swap to another energy company if I so desire.

Much as I think NPower's tactics are a disgrace with the primary units/sculpting issue, I have to agree that for myself,(dual fuel, above average consumption, paying by DD in the Midlands) they come out on the comparison sites as cheapest by a considerable margin.

Fortunately I am on a cheaper tariff fixed to 2010 so I don't have the dilemma.

JohnG

My apologies, seems then your location does make a significant difference on what you pay - We found we are looking at saving nearly £300 over the year by switching from NPower .

Incidently, I came across their advert today for existing customers to "Fix for free" - It does wrankle that they now say "We like to show our existing customers how much they're valued" perhaps they should add "Depending on where you are live"

maxxy

Thank you for all of the responses.

I have looked at a few comparison sites and they put npower at the top of the list for my usage and location.

I haven't had any major customer service/billing issues with npower in the past and I am now in the process of trying to "fix for free" by phone, however I may give up as I have been waiting on the phone for about 25 minutes now!

I may try again later as I am quite keen on the idea of having no further increases, however I can't help but wonder why they would offer it - are they likely to cut their rates for new customers once they have subscribed the required number of existing customers to this package?

Maxxy

maxxy

I have now completed the "fix for free" offer and was informed that if prices go down I can withdraw from the scheme without any problem.

My prices are now fixed until 31 March 2009. It also does not affect my dual fuel discount.

I was slightly concerned that the customer service representative had not heard of the "fix for free" offer when I rang and had to put me on hold to call the sales team for further information, however it seems to be sorted now!

Thanks again for your comments.

Maxxy

ilikepoints

Npower now saying I can only get the fixed prices on the standard tariff - any idea what's going on?

Did other people get fixed prices on better value tariffs or has the offer maybe changed?

thanks