Electricity contract rollover ripoff

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   Hi,
We are a month away from our Npower supply contract coming to its end.
However in order to switch to another supplier, who by the way is half the price, we apparently should have informed Npower of our intention two months ago.
Their notice period is 90 days.
Does anybody know of a way around this or are we simply stuffed for another year?

Has the FSB done any lobbying on this issue?
Rick

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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Topic: Electricity contract rollover ripoff Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 5:52pm
	Hi, We are a month away from our Npower supply contract coming to its end. However in order to switch to another supplier, who by the way is half the price, we apparently should have informed Npower of our intention two months ago. Their notice period is 90 days. Does anybody know of a way around this or are we simply stuffed for another year? Has the FSB done any lobbying on this issue? Rick

Hawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1421	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 6:19pm
	Check the legal help line 08705133307. They are open 24 hours. You will need your membership number. Edited by Hawk - 06 Feb 2008 at 6:19pm
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 7:52pm
	I have just been talking to the legal helpline. It would appear that Npower can put us on whatever rate they want to as long as they stated that in the terms and conditions I signed up to 5 or so years ago. They have also changed those terms during the contract period as well. I am going to have to take a look right through all the small print. Ripoff Britain?

stairman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 173	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 8:09pm
	so if you signed 5 years ago and had to give 90 days notice are you signed to another 5 years or is it a roling 90 days notice
	Gordon Moir Stairs By Design Ltd Aberdeen N E Scotland Region

Hawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1421	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 8:23pm
	Thanks for posting back so that everyone can benefit. Appreciated. The FSB legal line being available evenings is quite a good thing I always feel because the day job does tend to over fill the time allotted. There is a member here that runs a sort of Best Buy in gas and electricity suppliers. Maybe they would like to come in here ???
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 8:28pm
	As far as I can see Npower want us to accept another 1 year supply contract. At more than double the cost of a price quoted by E4B. I tried to talk to someone at Npower today to clarify our position but could not get through to that department or even leave a voice mail message since the machine was full. The problem with all these rolling contracts issues is that you think the contract ends but of course it just spawns itself again. But much more expensively of course! The contract period is then presumably determined by what was in the small print on the original. At present I am trying to determine exactly what contract I am currently in since some of the documents from 5 years ago have dates that do not tally. I reckon I will not get much help from Npower in my quest... It would have been nice if the FSB had sent monthly reminders out cajoling us all to check our supplier contract status. We were far too busy to bother with 5 year old contracts!

Old Welsh Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 777	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2008 at 10:49pm
	If they are altering a material fact then the contract can not renew automatically. It can only renew automatically on the terms of the contract, and the terms you are saying would most likely not be enforceable as in law a contract has to be fair to be legal.
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 07 Feb 2008 at 1:21pm
	It looks like our way forward is to write to Npower cancelling our contract. That contract will of course be the one that we will be in from March onwards. I suspect we will have to pay an early cancellation charge. It will still be cheaper in the long run though. None of the above has been finally determined of course. I will let you know how we get on. Meanwhile check your contract expiry dates!!!

Old Welsh Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 777	Quote Reply Posted: 07 Feb 2008 at 1:30pm
	Have you spoken to Energywatch? they are the official regulators and will fight your case for you. I setup and sold a utility brokerage a few years back, and found them very helpful.
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 3:30pm
	This issue is still rolling on. Npower have not allowed us to transfer our account. They are merely saying that we cannot transfer since we left it too late. I have written to them pointing out that their contract allegedly allows us to pay a penalty and get out of their contract. They write back quoting other parts of the contract. They are supposed to contact me tomorrow to talk about these issues and presumably try to get us to sign up to a new contract. Meanwhile we are on their emergency tariff. Double that of E4B. I suspect they will continue to stonewall. Check your contract end date!!!!! !!!!!

Old Welsh Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 777	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 3:36pm
	At the risk of repeating myself, have you spoken to Energywatch?
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 3:46pm
	No. But I will do so this minute. If not sooner. I suspect they will say it all depends on the initial contract. And of course how that is interpreted and by who..

Old Welsh Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 777	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 3:55pm
	The beauty of using energywatch is that they really have teeth. As I said earlier, we used to get people out of unfair contracts as a matter of course. Before I get accused of touting for business, I sold the utility company and website a few years ago, so have no interest in this field any longer. :)
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 4:06pm
	On the phone to them now. 0845 number !! Their initial take on it is that we have been stuffed. The contract is the contract. Now I am waiting for a business advisor to advise. And I am on an 0845 number...

Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 4:18pm
	The EnergyWatch adviser reckons that Npower are amongst the worst for holding people to the Npower interpretation of the contract. There is a clause for paying penalties to Npower as damages if we can get another company to sign us up and supply us. How can we get another company to supply us though?

Old Welsh Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 777	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 4:26pm
	Told you they would help you ;) What tariff are you on? IE on your bill will be a box with a load of numbers on it. there will be one large number at the start it will be one of the following:~ NB. even though you are a business, sometimes due to property mods, you can be on a domestic tarrif. 01 = domestic standard 02 = domestic cheap rate (E7) 03 (most common) = business standard 04 = business evening and weekend (ideal for pubs or businesses that use most pwer at those times 05, 06, 07 , 08, 00 are all seriously heavy tarrifs. In many cases people are paying the higher tarrif and don't need to be. Post your tarrif code and I will shout you out who used to be the best rate suppliers, I can probably dig out the contact numbers and advise you then Cheers OWG Edited by Old Welsh Guy - 28 May 2008 at 4:26pm
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Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2008 at 4:46pm
	I cannot identify what tariff we are on except it is 15.2 (day) and 9.06 (night) pence per unit. We have already determined that E4B have the best deal. But - they cannot sign us up since we are in contract with Npower. Nobody will touch us. Now I know what Lepers had to put up with...

Electric Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List FSB Member Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2008 at 2:06pm
	The phone call from an Npower advisor did not materialize despite me making sure I was at work on the allotted day and there always being at least one incoming line free. Presumably Npower are quite happy to have unhappy customers as long as they pay. Meanwhile I have had a PM from an Npower rep who want me to contact him so that he can arrange for someone to talk to me. Er, I thought that was what I had already arranged..

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2008 at 2:31pm
	I take it from your last post that an N- Power rep contacted you after reading this forum. <((I have had a PM from an Npower rep.))> .I would think they would be more proactive if that is the situation, after all they have a captive audience here just waiting for them to make an offer we cannot refuse.. Dave

Old Welsh Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 777	Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2008 at 4:34pm
	I thought I had replied to this thread, I noticed a forum error so the post must be lost in cyberspace. The procedure is simple. 1. Tell Npower you have spoken to energywatch and that they say you CAN get out of your contract if you pay the penalty charge. Ask them to confirm IN WRITING within 7 days, what the penalty will be, and that they will not object to the transfer if you request it on these terms. Inform them that if they do not comply with the terms of THEIR contract then you will consider THEM to be in breach of contract and will seek legal advice. 2. Get letter. 3. Contact new supplier (Personally I am not so sure that E4B are the cheapest for evening weekend, but that is another story). Agree price and tell them you want to move to them, provide a copy of the Npower letter 4. Move to new supplier./get move blocked by Npower, then take legal action via energy watch & solicitor. As an aside, N power ARE difficult, but withut a SHADOW of doubt, British Gas are THE worse of the lot ;)
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