contesting an electricity bill... where do I stand?

Joebob

Joebob

Joebob

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Burbage, Hinckley
I have a bill from npower which I want to contest and I want to know if anyone can offer advice etc.

Here's where I'm at:-

I moved into my flat, with my girlfriend, at the beginning of Nov last year, who we rent via a letting agent.

Anyway, after several months had passed we never received an electricity bill, so I went into the agents and asked them to notify the default electricity provider that we were the occupier. Several more months went by and I again asked the agent to let our supplier know we are here.

When our 6 month agreement came up for renewal our agent asked if we had sorted the electricity so we explained that we hadn't.

npower eventually wrote to us about two months ago saying they were our supplier and then we heard nothing again - so I contacted them last week and gave them a meter read so we can finally receive a bill.

I received the bill today and it's just as I thought it would be - they are charging us an extortionate rate for the electricity used over the past 8 months.

Now I'm fairly certain I have a case for contesting this bill, as if they had actually written to us a month or so after we moved in (even just addressed to 'the occupier') then I would have negotiated for a better rate or moved the supply elsewhere - as it stands though they expect me to pay an unreasonable bill because they are the supplier by default.

As far as I'm aware there is no way to know who supplies your electricity until the supplier actually notifies you.

Has anyone had similar dealings or can anyone offer advice?
 
did you read the meter when you moved in? if its correct then you have to pay, and its your own fault for not changing leccy company really. its not upto the letting agents to do it for you, although they usually do.
 
contesting an electricity bill... where do I stand?
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Bent over. With your pants down.


So you've gone for the best part of a year, paying no bills, and thinking it will all be rosey when the supplier contacts you?

Why get the agent to do it? they don't give a toss, it's your resposibility. I suggest you pay up and realise if you want to be some kind of a homeowner you have to take these things into your own hands! You certainly can't contest a bill because 'I wasn't aware you were the default supplier, and now I do know, I don't like your rates'.
 
Good luck with nPower!

They just make up debts and chase people after them, this really did happen with me yes. I had never even had an account with them!

Bunch of illiterate intellectually devoid morons.
 
zipp0r said:
did you read the meter when you moved in? if its correct then you have to pay, and its your own fault for not changing leccy company really. its not upto the letting agents to do it for you, although they usually do.
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The letting agent said they would - also they at no time told us who the supplier was. There are currently over 22 domestic suppliers in my area for electricity... am I suppose to ring them all to find out who the default supplier is?

Stupot_ said:
So you've gone for the best part of a year, paying no bills, and thinking it will all be rosey when the supplier contacts you?

Why get the agent to do it? they don't give a toss, it's your resposibility. I suggest you pay up and realise if you want to be some kind of a homeowner you have to take these things into your own hands! You certainly can't contest a bill because 'I wasn't aware you were the default supplier, and now I do know, I don't like your rates'.
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Tbh I had a lot on my plate over the past year so tracking down my default supplier was the last thing on my list... not sure why you are getting sarky about it though - have I done something to offend you? And for your info I am 38 years old and have had over 18 years experience of being 'some kind of home owner'.

As for not contesting the bill, let me ask you this. If there was a newsagent in your area which started dropping newspapers into your letterbox daily - would you contact all your local newsagents to see who has been dropping it off or would you expect them to contact you to agree a rate going forward?

I know it's not the same thing but I'm sure you get my point.

AcidHell2 said:
I doubt you have any rights, as Npower is just expensive anyway.

Phone CAB though.
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/bureau_detail.html?serialnumber=100245
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Someone with some genuine advice - thanks.
 
Moses99p said:
Can I shove a question in here?

When we move into our new place, we're probably going to use a different supplier to the one which currently supplies the house (nPower)... do I need to contact them, or do I just start an account with EDF/Eon/whoever?
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just switch to your new supplier
 
Joebob said:
The letting agent said they would - also they at no time told us who the supplier was. There are currently over 22 domestic suppliers in my area for electricity... am I suppose to ring them all to find out who the default supplier is?
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How do I find out my gas and electricity suppliers?

When you move into a new home, your landlord or letting agent may be able to tell you who supplies the gas or electricity to the property.

Also, if the previous occupiers have informed the energy companies that they have left, then the companies should automatically send you a letter addressed “To the new occupier” which will confirm who your current supplier is.

However, if you have been in the property for a few weeks and still don’t know who supplies your energy, you can find out who does by doing the following:

To find out your gas supplier – Call the ‘M number enquiry line’ on 0870 608 1524.

To find out your electricity supplier – Contact your local electricity distribution company. If you are not sure who your local electricity distribution company is, see our guide, which energy distribution area do I live in?
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15p/10p seems to be there standard rate, I doubt you have any come back. Something you should have sorted.
 
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You need not have rung every supplier. If you had rung one and gave your meter number they would have said who you were with.

To be honest, since you were a new customer, you should have tried a site like switch, selected the cheapest supplier and started with them from day one.

Npower are notoriously bad to deal with. For almost 5 years we have not had a bill from them despite them being our supplier. I have failed depite numerous phone calls and an inch pile of letters to get it sorted. I;ve given up by now tbh.
 
When we moved in, the developer signed up to Scottish power - on the most expensive tariff they had! Because it was Christmas and they messed up the meter registration, it was about 4 months to get the first correct bill, which was massive.
I contested and they reduced it inline with the tariff that I actually wanted to be one from them which wiped quite a lot off of the bill. Just ask them :) if they say no, you've got a starting point, if they say yes - well then, happy days :)
 
Check the terms of your agreement with the agency I am willing to bet it explicitly states utility bills are the reponsibility of the tenant(s).

You weren't paying anything for electricity for 8 months and are now suprised you have large bill? :rolleyes: What next...
 
wozencl said:
Check the terms of your agreement with the agency I am willing to bet it explicitly states utility bills are the reponsibility of the tenant(s).

You weren't paying anything for electricity for 8 months and are now suprised you have large bill? :rolleyes: What next...
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Greebo said:
You need not have rung every supplier. If you had rung one and gave your meter number they would have said who you were with.
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Yes we did the same when we moved in. Didn't have to give a meter reading though just our address and they told us who we were with.

I also found this as well
http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas/
Very easy to find your gas there just one number and its not much harder for the electric just depends on your region.

I know this won't help you now but, just for future reference.
 
Greebo said:
You need not have rung every supplier. If you had rung one and gave your meter number they would have said who you were with.

To be honest, since you were a new customer, you should have tried a site like switch, selected the cheapest supplier and started with them from day one.

Npower are notoriously bad to deal with. For almost 5 years we have not had a bill from them despite them being our supplier. I have failed depite numerous phone calls and an inch pile of letters to get it sorted. I;ve given up by now tbh.
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Quoted for common sense
 
Moses99p said:
Can I shove a question in here?

When we move into our new place, we're probably going to use a different supplier to the one which currently supplies the house (nPower)... do I need to contact them, or do I just start an account with EDF/Eon/whoever?
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Notify the current provider of the date you moved in and the reading, then contact whichever new provider you wish.

If you don't let your current provider know the reading when you move in, you could be setting yourself up for trouble down the line, as they'll probably just estimate the reading.

With regards to letting agencies, I would never leave anything up to them. I work for one of the 'Big 6' energy companies, and we are lucky if letting agencies even let us know when tenants move in/out, never mind what the readings were. Creates a world of hassle for both the tenants and ourselves.:mad:
 
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