NPower Refund

[Brassed off]

A few days before pay day last month, I went to the Cashpoint to see if I could maybe squeeze a tenner out. However, when I checked my balance, it was considerably more than a tenner

 

I wasn’t able to get a mini-statement as the Cashpoint had run out of paper (no surprise there) and I don’t do online banking so I had no idea where the money had come from.

 

I resisted the temptation to withdraw more than my initial tenner and my conscience got the better of me – perhaps someone had paid money into the wrong account by mistake? Perhaps it was someone’s benefit money?

 

So I had a little dilemma that night as to whether I rang the bank to find out where it had come from or whether to just keep quiet and spend it and see whether they caught up with me or not But me, being me, just had to ring them.

 

Apparently, it was a refund on my gas bill from NPower. I had never requested this refund as it’s been so long since I was in credit with them but when I rang, I was informed that it must’ve been a computer error as they only normally refund overpayments if you request it.

 

I checked my electricity bill only to discover that I was in credit with that too. One more ‘phone call to NPower and that was refunded aswell. One wonders whether it’s a little something to keep me sweet before they hammer me with their increases.

 

They have also decreased my monthly payments to them by £35. However, this is a little worrying in view of the fact that gas and electricity prices are increasing considerably so no doubt I will get the shock of my life when they next review my payments.

 

On reflection, perhaps I should’ve asked them to take the money back and keep it in reserve for when they next review my payments which will no doubt go through the roof. However, it’s paid for an upgrade on an old laptop and my car insurance for the year with a little left over for a donation to CAG and it was really good to speak to a nice Geordie lady instead of the call centre numpties at AOL

 

Just thought I’d share that with you

 

Bo

 

Got enough left over for a modest donation to CAG too

Edited August 29, 2008 by Brassed off

[JOSH_IOU]

Nice to here a good story for a change at the start of the thread

 

josh

[Brassed off]

Well it was nice for me Josh but somehow I suspect that I will get hammered when my NPower dual fuel payments are next reviewed

 

Believe me, the refund couldn't have come at a better time for me though

 

I just thought it would be interesting for those who aren't used to checking their statements - like me. I'm still thinking I should have left it in credit because I so know it's going to be sky high next time it's reviewed - I'll just have to stop Mr Bo turning the heating on and persuade him to just put a jumper on

[kennythecelt]

Excellent news Bo. Very pleased for you as I know you have probs with lappy. Great that the car car insurance is resolved as well.

 

Might be an idea to check your useage and possibly increase DD as you don't want a problem to emerge later.

 

Better still, consider shopping around and see if you can access a better deal off someone else.

 

Mr Bo might not need a jumper- plenty of other ways to keep warm. Mrs KTC and me saving money on the bath water!!

[Brassed off]

Thanks Kenny - I will definitely be watching the useage and will increase the payments if I need to

 

Mr Bo might not need a jumper- plenty of other ways to keep warm. Mrs KTC and me saving money on the bath water!!

 

:eek:

 

(we have a very large bath :grin:)

[Psycho Bob :o)]

wowser.. i am £200 in credit on my gas since i switched it off 3 months back but kept on paying ... ( building up credit for th ewinter spell ) wonder if I should ask for a partial refund as I'm strapped now?

[Brassed off]

If you are strapped Bob, give them a ring

 

Oooo and welcome to CAG

[MARTIN3030]

Great Result...nice to read stuff like this after some of the others here on CAG.

 

I cant see it breaking Npowers bank:D

[Brassed off]

Thanks

 

I can't wait to see how much they increase it by

 

I know they are lulling me into a false sense of security and then they're going to wack the payments up but at this point in time, I'm not really bothered if I'm honest. I'm used to the "give it with one hand and take it away with the other" mentality

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Oh dear, this is a very common ploy in the energy industry and NPower are way out in front with this type of thing, which is quite simply a [problem].

 

To the point-why on earth would your gas supplier refund you a credit on your gas, during the summer! (and actually at the end of summer), instead of keeping you in credit with the colder months around the corner and, of course, more gas usage with central heating?

 

And they would obviously have known that gas prices would be rising by a huge amount too.

 

Why? So you will now build up a debit and NPower will be able to block any transfer to another supplier you may request unless you pay off your balance.

 

You have been mugged as if you were walking down a dark lane late at night.

[Brassed off]

Yeah I guessed that Al

 

Having been in debit with them for some years and only getting into credit through a large rise in payments, I'll be keeping an eye on my useage as Kenny advised.

 

I must admit though, I do love speaking to their Geordie call centre though - they have a wicked sense of humour

[Weird Al Yankovic]

wowser.. i am £200 in credit on my gas since i switched it off 3 months back but kept on paying ... ( building up credit for th ewinter spell ) wonder if I should ask for a partial refund as I'm strapped now?

 

Well, depends who you are with and what tariff you are on.

 

If, like the OP, you are with NPower then kiss that £200 goodbye and find some more money too as you will not be in credit for long, unless, of course, you increase your dd's by more than 40%.

[poppynurse]

They did this to me too....

then remembered that they had forgotten to bill me for electric for 15 months so all my DDs had been wrongly credited to the gas...even though I phoned them umpteen times to check the refund was correct before I spent it. They insisted on decreasing my DD to £35 per month...

They then sent me a bill for £900 and said pay within 7 days. In the end they increased my DD to a whopping £147 per month which is extortionate and I can't change supplier coz I owe them money.

I went to energy watch and all I got was a £50 credit for the inconvenience.

[Brassed off]

That's ridiculous Poppy, especially when you had contacted them to check whether it was correct or not.

 

Did you request their complaints procedure and follow it through or did you go straight to Energy Watch?

[poppynurse]

I went through the complaints procedure until I got their final response (basically we messed up but tough pay) then energywatch

[Brassed off]

All that stress and hassle and all you got was a measly £50