@npowerhelp Switch from NPower?

[JoeyJoeC]

Moved to a new build a couple of weeks ago, Took a number of calls to get the NPower billing set up for Electricity (as apparently their systems were offline at 7:30PM on a Friday ). but all is done now. Living in a 1 bed new build flat, that they estimated as around £24 a month. I've given two readings and used about £5 in a week or two.

 

Their website estimates my usage to be around £100+ a month. Then they set up a direct debit for £52 a month.

 

Called them again (I have a recording), and the lady said it was an estimate (!?). I told her I have a call recording of the man that set up the account saying it would be £24, then she verified it should be £24, and changed the DD for me.

 

I asked her why it would have been set to £52, and she said it must have been a typo.

 

Seems like they're being intentionally crafty here.

 

My question here, is that now everything seems to be set up, and sorted, should I just stick with them, or should I expect problems with them down the line? There are many threads about them here.

[citizenB]

I too was quoted a lowish monthly DD only to find that it had pretty much doubled when they started taking money. It seems to me they increase the price every September/October and then after they make their profit announcements, they then give me a huge refund around about May/June.

[JoeyJoeC]

Do they also refund the interest?

[unclebulgaria67]

NPower are OK if you give them regular meter readings say atleast once every 3 months. Then as long as you have a competitive tariff with relevant monthly payments, you should not have a problem.

 

I am with SSE via Ebico and it is easy to manage the account online. Ebico don't apply standing charges, so if you are a low energy user they are cheaper. When i was with NPower, i was paying over £100 more per year and always had a credit balance running. NPower like having customers runnning credit balances, enough that if there is a payment hiccup, there will not be a debt. They always like adjusting direct debits up and down depending on usage to maintain the credit balance.

[citizenB]

Do they also refund the interest?

 

 

Nope.

[citizenB]

Uncle B, they take meter readings twice a year. I think I have worked out what they are doing.

 

I perhaps have one month of high usage, so they up the DD to cover that, except they then keep the same DD in place for 6 months, which of course then builds up an excess of credit.

 

I am thinking that the next time they write and say they are increasing the DD, I will tell them , no they wont - I will pay any excess for that month and see what the next reading is.