Hi there, I have always been a Npower customer paying a monthly direct debit to cover my bills, I moved into a property in Sept 05 and set up a DD for duel fuel when I sold this property in Sept 06 rang them up with meter readings for this property and was told although the DD was in place Npwer had not been collecting payments for my gas usage, but not to worry when I moved into the new property they would increase my payments to cover what was then owed.The seller I was buying from pulled out of the sale the day before the move leaving my family and me effectively homeless, when I rang Npower and notified them of this they again told me not to worry when I found a new property they would then put the repayment in place, This I did in Dec 2006 they then informed me that my new proprety wasn't supplied duel fuel by them and I had to give the current supplier 28 days notice to quit before I could go back to duel Fuel with Npower after doing this I again was supplied duel fuel by NPower in Jan 2007, I set up the DD to cover my duel fuel usage and to cover the outsatnding bill from my previous property. I had to contact NPower in the spring of 2007 as agian they failed to take payments from the DD set up and by this time my bill was mounting, I once again rang them up and they told me not to worry I could pay money owed over a period of 2 year, only for 2 weeks later to recieve a phone call at work saying I then had to pay of the bill then standing at around £750 pound in 2 payments as there was no record of this agreement on their files if I couldn't do this my only other option was to have a prepayment meter. After arguing my case with the rep on the phone and speaking to her rude supervisor they informed me that although they could see the DD set up and admitted it was their fault I had no other option other than have a prepaymnet meter, stupidly I agreed to this after being told this was my last option I informed them I was by no means a high earner and couldn't pay the bill in 2 installments I have now been paying extortionate rates for the last 10 month through a prepayment meter with very little coming of my outsatnding bill

joannea751,

The first thing to highlight here is that Npower, or any energy provider for that fact, can only "back charge" you for the previous 12-months. If they are trying to charge you for more than this then this is not allowed and you need to speak to energywatch about this. (Tel: 08459 06 07 08)

With regards to the prepayment meter, this is a real hot-topic at the moment as the government and Ofgem (the energy regulator) are being pushed to address the fact that prepayment customers are paying approx. £250 more per year than people on normal credit meters paying by direct debit.

It really doesn't make sense that providers put you on a prepayment meter that is more expensive at the same time as asking you to repay debt.

If you wish to email me your contact details I will ask someone at Npower to call you and look into your case.

Email: scott.byrom AT moneysupermarket.com

Hope this helps.