Npower Having a Laugh!!!

AAARRRGGGHHHHH

Done it. Had to take meter readings every day for a week at the same time. As sson as the heating clicked n the dial was spinning like made. We had alledgedly used between 16 and 20 units a day every day. Even though the water and heating are on for less than 4 hours a day. It just seems that they are happy now to say theres a problem but they wont do anything about it!!! They said my next bill will be about two weeks! I cant wait for another nervous breakdown! I told them I am getting seriously frightened to run the heating or have a bath coz it is costing nearly £6 a day and I dont have that sort of money for a bath!!! The woman said "Oh please dont worry like that" Easy for her to say, shes not getting a near £300 bill!

Energised

The obvious question...

How old's the boiler?

smscat

Npower are totally incompetent, it seems they have expanded at such a rate they are unable to cope with their customers.

I had a meter changed in December 2007 from Economy 7 etc to standard meter. We haven't lived in the property since August 07 as it is having major structural work doing to it, so only power is for lighting and builders tools. Have had three bills since for amounts varying from £140 to £390. I still haven't had the final reading. Phoned it in three times, assured it was taken down accurately by various staff. Finally spoke to someone in May( who was obviously in possession of more brain power than the previous people) about the ongoing situation - she found that the final reading had never been documented on the account! Have since had a letter of apology from Npower but still no final bill - they have admitted the account is in credit and I am owed money but haven't been able to work out how much or refund me! For people thinking of changing to them - Think very carefully before you do it!

AAARRRGGGHHHHH

about 2 years and its a housing assocaitaion house so gets services every year. It was only done in Feb. Npower also now say the person before me had a high useage rates and the one before that didn't but the meter was renewed just after he moved out. Am i the only one who thinks that may be a hint and clue to the problem???

SwanJon

It is possible they have the meter details wrong on their system.
Check your meter serial number (near a barcode) and the one on the bill.
Are they the same?
Does your new meter measure in cubic meters (m3)? (Usually mainly white)

If they think it is an older meter (hundreds of cubit feet), then they will be charging you 2.83 times what you are using.

Other option is that while the boiler is being services, the rest of the house is inefficient (insulation, draughts etc).

AAARRRGGGHHHHH

They know its a m3 meter. It was fitted in 2004 which is when the previous tennant also moved in and they said she had a high useage to. The bungalow has double glazing, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. The npower energy efficiency team said the useage was showing as far to high and there is definately a problem, although to be honest, god knows if anything will happen. The insulation is fantastic in the bungalow because when we have a warm morning, the house stays hot till next morning. The meter doesn't move until something goes on and then it literally spins! I am convinced the meter is naff. They are gonna change it and sent it to be examined. Thank the lord. People have told me they cant go too fast but having spoken to 3 people i know who had faulty meters, that is rubbish.!

SwanJon

AAARRRGGGHHHHH wrote: »

People have told me they cant go too fast but having spoken to 3 people i know who had faulty meters, that is rubbish.!

If you know three people who have had their meters confirmed as faulty (and too high), then you are not a lucky person to know!

The figures I've been give are about 1 in 10,000 being faulty. They only count faulty as being out by more than (I think 3-4%, differs for too high and too low).

Some new meters are ultrasonic so it is possible for the electronics to become faulty, but this is more a feature of age (which is why they need to be changed sooner than the mechanical ones).

So your meter could be faulty by 10%, but that would leave you with a bill of £237. To be more than 10% out would be incredible.

AAARRRGGGHHHHH

When the boiler comes on the meter literally spins like mad. Its stupid. I had the water on for 1 hour today because i am petrified of using anything now and it use 7 units. Npowers energy effieciency told me that 7 units would be excessive use for a whole day with the heating and water on all day! Its mad, its getting stupid and they dont seem in any hurry to sort it!

AAARRRGGGHHHHH

The first guy at Npower said 1 in 3 million go wrong. The second woman told be that categorically the cannot go wrong.. I give up because if they dont know and they have to lie about the figures they should at least lie and lie from the same hymn sheet!

SwanJon

Ok, next step is to ask for a meter test. This is carried out independently, and if there is a fault you will be reimbursed the cost of the test.
As the meters are so rarely miles out they may ask you to pay 3/4 of the bill before they do it.

How sure are you it is the meter and not anything in the house using the gas? There's no point getting the mter swapped if that is not the problem.
Have you tried turning everything off that you can and checking if the meter is still turning?