grim rita:

I couldnt change my tariff because I was on the standard tariff, the ONLY tariff they offer customers who move into a property that they(any supplier) provide power to - meaning that as a consumer, I dont get the best deal.

Almost certainly there is a big misunderstanding going on there. Given that (probably) you are in a position to switch (just by going online to a comparison website), it would not have been in NPower's interest not to attempt to sign you up (and lock you in) to a more competitive tariff.

Don't be a victim, but until you post the name of your current tariff as printed on your most recent bill it won't be certain that you can switch penalty free.

Assuming you're a domestic customer you will intially be placed on a standard tarriff untill such time as you selected something different (if you didn't have the appropriate disucssion in the first place) - whomever told you you were unable to switch lied - pure and simple.

As for online tarriffs being cheaper this is for a very good reason. Suppliers save huge costs. They do not have to physically arrange for the bills to be printed, so that's material cost and labours costs saved. Secondly they do not have to pay distribution costs again again more cost savings for your supplier which they return in the form of larger discounts.

This is in addition to regular meter readings being provided by the customer enabling all your bills to be billed to an actual meter reading first time every time, thus preventing repetition of work (ie. re-billing your account to correct an estimation). It also means that more oftne than not other thigns such as direct debit adjustments being more accurate - agian preventing duplication.

All in all online tarriffs cut so many costs, for your supplier enabling these to be passed on to the consumer.

grim rita:

I couldnt change my tariff because I was on the standard tariff,

If you post the name of the tariff as it appears on your bill you will get better help here.

Npower told me that I couldnt switch tariff because I was still under contract for the standard tariff - which is automatic. But my point is, if you are happy with your supplier, you are being charged over the odds, when you could simply go online and change tarriff and save hundreds a year.

It stuns me that this practice is allowed

- Did all your bills start and end on an actual meter reading, including more importantly the opening meter reading for your account, with Npower.

- Who informed you you weren't able to change supplier? Was this Npower themselves? Whomever it was was giving you grossly inaccurate infomation. You are free to change tarriff (in general terms) providing you meet the critieria for the tarriff i.e. have internet access for an internet tarriff etc. Although these generally require direct debit payments. Even so there are still plenty of tarriffs available on all suppliers for non-direct debit payments.

- If you weren't given a choice when signing up that's just bad customer service. You should be talked through the best options for you (this goe son in the organisation I work for). Energy Suppliers do advertise this way (comparrison sites for example).

- You can and should always be asking your current supplier if you're on the right tarriff for you and swapping accordingly. Like most industries if you're apparently content to pay over the odd's for a service they'll happily charge you over the odd's. Its up to you to be pro-active. It comes down to simple business practices making the most profit form the least resources.

Sorry - maybe I am thick - but why can't you change your supplier ?
I believe that anyone is entitled to pick whichever supplier and tarrif they choose ?

I currently have my power supplied by npower. Last year I received my first bill - £600 for just 4 months electric.I live in a 1 bed flat, all electric and as I was at work, I was out the house some 60 hours a week. I was so angry at the prices, I visited moneysupermarket back in Oct 08 and npower came out cheaper (to npower) by some £450 a year!

I couldnt change my tariff because I was on the standard tariff, the ONLY tariff they offer customers who move into a property that they(any supplier) provide power to - meaning that as a consumer, I dont get the best deal. The cheaper prices are only online, so if you are someone who is happy with their supplier, you are being overcharged by some £5-£10 a week when you could simply go online and sign up to a cheaper tariff by the same supplier.

I am angry because this is something that they NEVER tell customers signing up. At least with companies like BT, they give you a choice whether to either telephone in, or sign up online and get a free home hub(for example) - so why cant the electric companies advertise the same way?

Unless you are looking to switch supplier, you will be totally unware of the savings you could make, which can run into hundreds of pounds a year