Direct Debit or Pre-payment meter?

[whirlybird]

Hi Everyone,
Can anyone help with this?
Having fallen into arrears last year I came to an agreement with Npower that i would pay set amount per month.This worked fine until i didnt receive a bill and carried on paying my instalments as usual, believing i would be in credit.
Last month i missed payment and this month carried on as normal.
To cut long story short, rang CS,lady was lovely and told me to ring collections and explain i would continue payments as usual.
Collections however told me that i would either have to set up DD (no chance)or have pre payment meter installed.
Whichever,the arrears were being passed to a DCA and he wouldnt discuss any other option. Cue floods of tears at thought of dealing with a DCA again over a bill im not refusing to pay but dont need any extra charges.

Have sent email to CS asking them to reconsider but dont know what else to do i really cant afford any more each month.
Any suggestions gratefully received
Whirly

[Clare_L]

Could you not set up a standing order? Same as a DD except you have control and they cant suddenly up your payments.

[whirlybird]

Thanks for reply Clare

I dont know if they'll let me,was caught off guard by dca threat and blubbing like a girl. Conversation ended with him saying it was going to dca and it was dd or pp meter, he was clearly not going to help me and it was yes/no answers even when i reduced myself to begging with the scrote!
Will try again tomorrow and ask about SO

Thanks again
Whirly x

[jimo2002]

My advise would be to call their complaints department. Complaint about the persons attitude and explain your circumstances clearly. I myself work for credit management for PGen (its the same as collections) and have to make decisions on peoples payments based on their payment history. I would have seen that you have been making regular payments and only missing one payment is hardly cause to limit your payment options.

Be strong, and good luck!

[whirlybird]

Thanks jimo

Spoken to complaints dept this morning.Their system is down so she couldnt check on who it was i spoke to.
Complaint now logged and she verbally agreed that the threatened course of action was a bit heavy handed.
Npower no longer accept SOs as payment method but she has agreed i can go back to original payment i was making (which was in excess of the amount they were asking me to pay)

Alls well that ends well, just need it in writing.....

Thanks again x