Npower to the People!

[martin.sarrionandia]

Hello,

I have a slight problem with Npower and need some advice, as I really don't feel like paying them £927.05.

I MAY have signed over to Npower in March 2007 at my previous address. I paid and settled the final bill with Swalec. I say MAY becuase they may have just signed me over without my permission.

2 months later Npower called round to my house stating they "problems" with the agent that signed me and ask me to sign again. I MAY have signed this and sent them on their way.

For the next 6 months I received no bills. When I phoned Npower that said that a bill would arrive soon at the end of the quarter. I waiting and no bills arrived.

I finally got of my backside, stopped renting and baught a house which I moved into January 2008.

Still mildly concerned about my electric bill, I phoned Npower providing them with a meter reading and my new address.

2 weeks later I still had no $£"$£" bills. I phoned back and they stated they did not have my new address, and that I have not provided any readings, so I gave up. I mean I don't work for them so why should I spend my time trying to fix their mistakes


Now they have managed to find me and kindly sent me request for £927 pounds, which I would kindly like to refuse.

Here is the letter;

N.B. The REF number does not match the agreement number that I MAY have. I beleive it be the current owners / tennants agreement ref.





DOMESTICFINAL COLLECTIONS
0845 1663605

Mr M Sarrionandia

!!!ADDRESS REMOVED!!!


08 JuL 2008
Dear Customer,
Ectricify Service Account Number 83513173 - Debt £ 927.05

RE:17 Bronwydd Birchgrove West Glamorgan SwanSea SA79QJ

I note from our records that a Fuel Account from a previous address remains unpaid,
According to our records you also failed to provide us with a forwarding address, therefore in accordance with
nPower Ltd Terms and Conditions of Supply, a charge of £ 7.00 (incl 17.5% VAT) will be added to your
account to cover the costs we have incurred in tracing your new address.
Please pay the full outstanding amount without delay, as failure to do so will result in a County Court Summons
being issued against you

We can be contacted on 0845 1663605 between 8.30am to 16.45pm Monday to Friday.
Yours sincerely
CARMEL YOLING
Accounts Collection

I stuipedly requested a copy of the Credit Agreement, not realising they held gestapo status, were above the law, and didn't have to comply to the Credit Act 1978.

WHOOPS! Oh well it was worth a try.

I now have some specific questions which I would very gratefully like answered if possible.

Questions.
1. Do they have to provide me with bills, and can they forge these?
2. Why didn't they cut me off, should I ask them this?
3. Do they have to have any sort of contract / right to demand this money?
4. Can I/Should I deny that I was ever with Npower?, I really don't beleive they have any contract and they have lost it, or the goldfish/dog has smoked it.?
5. Can they take me to Court and what is the likely outcome?
6. And Most importantly WHAT THE HELL SHOULD I DO?


P.S. All addresses and names are entirely fictional and made up.

[ATD]

Originally Posted by martin.sarrionandia

I now have some specific questions which I would very gratefully like answered if possible.

Questions.
1. Do they have to provide me with bills, and can they forge these?
2. Why didn't they cut me off, should I ask them this?
3. Do they have to have any sort of contract / right to demand this money?
4. Can I/Should I deny that I was ever with Npower?, I really don't beleive they have any contract and they have lost it, or the goldfish/dog has smoked it.?
5. Can they take me to Court and what is the likely outcome?
6. And Most importantly WHAT THE HELL SHOULD I DO?

I'll try and give some answers, although I don't think that you will like them...

1. Yes they do have to provide you with a bill - no they can't forge it. You will have your final reading from the bill you paid to Swalec, this will be the start read with Npower, and you have your move out read that you gave to Npower. Any bill should be for the difference between these two readings.

2. The didn't cut you off because they hadn't billed you whilst you were at the property, only on your move out. Disconnection is a right of sanction giving in law, but only to live accounts. Once you move they can't disconnect your new property for a debt at the old one.

3. If they were registered as the supplier with MPAS, and you have made no attempt to transfer to a new supplier or have the supply taken back by the old supplier because you believed you were erroneously transfered to Npower, then yes, they have a contract (even if only a deemed contract under the electricity act), and can/will persue it.

4. It would be very difficult to deny you were with them as you have contacted them and provided a final reading...why would you do that if you belive you were with another company. Contact the the MPAS Helpline for your local electricity distributor and check who was your supplier after Swalec until the point you moved out. If Npower are registered as the supplier, denying you were ever with them would be totally pointless

5. Yep, they can take you to court and unless you can prove that your supply was with another company for the period being billed, or that the meter readings used for the billing period were incorrect, they will get judgement in thier favour.

6. Confirm you are being billed to the correct readings (as above). Inform Npower you have NEVER recieved a bill despite having given them your correct forwarding address, so will not pay the "trace" charge - which is rubbish anyway.
If the amount of the bill is correct, then you should be allowed to repay it over the same period that it accrued (a little under 12 months from the dates you quoted), after all it is not your fault that they did not bill you. I'd also push for at least 10% knocked of as a goodwill gesture.

[martin.sarrionandia]

Hi, Thank you very much ATD! Appreciated!, Although not liked