Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 26421

quote:

---

Originally posted by Berbatov
We live in a place that is serviced for electricity only on Economy 7 (total of 4 storage heaters plus a towel heater). Having only moved in February, the bill came in June and it was enormous, £320 for a quarter through Powergen. Bearing in mind that all the storage heaters were turned off in March, I argued that there must have been a miscalculation and the meters were changed. Following this, another bill came in ADDING another £25 to the initial bill! I looked at Uswitch, and the site confirmed that Powergen were higher than most. The following day, and this was only two weeks ago, a man knocked at my door and suggested NPower were able to save me at least 30% on my bill for one year. I signed up there and then, but made him write these facts and sign his name to endorse that this was the deal for one year. Yesterday, I got a letter saying that NPower has put it's prices up with effect from October 1st 2006, even though as an existing customer I haven't even had a bill yet! I contacted Npower who confirmed this and said that the price hike wasn't expected by them and I could leave straight away. The Uswitch website has an error message today, so cannot check which provider can offer a solution. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I need some help here.

---

Reply ID 26422

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ewoowar

quote:

---

Originally posted by Berbatov
We live in a place that is serviced for electricity only on Economy 7 (total of 4 storage heaters plus a towel heater). Having only moved in February, the bill came in June and it was enormous, £320 for a quarter through Powergen. Bearing in mind that all the storage heaters were turned off in March, I argued that there must have been a miscalculation and the meters were changed. Following this, another bill came in ADDING another £25 to the initial bill! I looked at Uswitch, and the site confirmed that Powergen were higher than most. The following day, and this was only two weeks ago, a man knocked at my door and suggested NPower were able to save me at least 30% on my bill for one year. I signed up there and then, but made him write these facts and sign his name to endorse that this was the deal for one year. Yesterday, I got a letter saying that NPower has put it's prices up with effect from October 1st 2006, even though as an existing customer I haven't even had a bill yet! I contacted Npower who confirmed this and said that the price hike wasn't expected by them and I could leave straight away. The Uswitch website has an error message today, so cannot check which provider can offer a solution. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I need some help here.

---

Never sign anything at the door!

---

Reply ID 26477

quote:

---

Originally posted by Berbatov

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ewoowar

quote:

---

Originally posted by Berbatov
We live in a place that is serviced for electricity only on Economy 7 (total of 4 storage heaters plus a towel heater). Having only moved in February, the bill came in June and it was enormous, £320 for a quarter through Powergen. Bearing in mind that all the storage heaters were turned off in March, I argued that there must have been a miscalculation and the meters were changed. Following this, another bill came in ADDING another £25 to the initial bill! I looked at Uswitch, and the site confirmed that Powergen were higher than most. The following day, and this was only two weeks ago, a man knocked at my door and suggested NPower were able to save me at least 30% on my bill for one year. I signed up there and then, but made him write these facts and sign his name to endorse that this was the deal for one year. Yesterday, I got a letter saying that NPower has put it's prices up with effect from October 1st 2006, even though as an existing customer I haven't even had a bill yet! I contacted Npower who confirmed this and said that the price hike wasn't expected by them and I could leave straight away. The Uswitch website has an error message today, so cannot check which provider can offer a solution. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I need some help here.

---

Never sign anything at the door!

---

I never have before and I am normally on top of their game but I made him sign his name and the guarantee. At least I can jump ship. Who else is better on price? Barsteward!!!

---

Reply ID 26481

I did a search with Uswitch (they recommended Atlantic Power) and confused.com (they recommended British Gas). Looks like gregb's advice is right, check the websites yourself.

Reply ID 26528

"Good evening Sir, we're going to be writing to British Gas on your behalf and telling them they can no longer charge you such high prices for gas. We'd also like to show you some interesting alternatives to British Gas..." And so began a door step sale to a friend of mine in East London. After much talking and looking at prices & plans he was reassured that that by signing a document he would only be receiving further information and nothing else would happen...... until he received a "sorry to see you go" disconnection letter from British Gas and his 1st bill from the new provider! Needless to say he put pen to paper and ripped strips of the new provider, later receiving an apology and re-signed with British Gas. He didn't care about cheaper costs he may have received, it was the sheer audacity of hoodwinking him on the doorstep that annoyed him so much and made him determined to undo the salesman's trick. I'll add my ha'peth to the above advice, do your research, talk to family & friends etc and make up your own mind, not have it made up for you on the doorstep, on the phone or anywhere else. Now, where's the coal scuttle gone?

Reply ID 26541

I had a young lad call at my door a couple of years ago. He asked who I was with and why. Told him that I had compared prices on the net and gone with the cheapest. He pretty much said I'd been foolish doing that. End of conversation and door closed.

Reply ID 26589

We had 2 people at our door about 6 months ago who started the conversation with, "we need to check the number on the back of your electricity bill to see if it matches the number on our list". They were quite insistent that they were in some way official. I eventually got them to admit they were trying to get me to switch and I sent them on their way. Bit cheeky, I'd say!

Reply ID 26724

Powergen - they're great. We've consistently had estimated bills in the 7 years we've lived in our house - despite giving the little Siemens man access to read the meter. Got our latest bill last week (I must admit I'm not good a looking at bills coz they're all on direct debit). Anyway, we're £2174.00 in credit. How did that happen? I'm thinking of demanding my own sub-station. (this is all true apart from the substation bit)

Reply ID 26737

Herbert my wee friend. Are you the shades of Dennis Maynard? I never thought you'd actually get away with the old electricity syphoning trick. Well done. Can I have some? I'll come round with a bucket.

Reply ID 26771

quote:

---

Originally posted by Herbert Lemons
Powergen - they're great. We've consistently had estimated bills in the 7 years we've lived in our house - despite giving the little Siemens man access to read the meter. Got our latest bill last week (I must admit I'm not good a looking at bills coz they're all on direct debit). Anyway, we're £2174.00 in credit. How did that happen? I'm thinking of demanding my own sub-station. (this is all true apart from the substation bit)

---

Reply ID 26833

" Had you not noticed all the pylons and cables that you've been dragging around with you lately?" !! I prefer to call it 'Utility Bling!'

Reply ID 26842

quote:

---

Originally posted by Herbert Lemons
Powergen - they're great. We've consistently had estimated bills in the 7 years we've lived in our house - despite giving the little Siemens man access to read the meter. Got our latest bill last week (I must admit I'm not good a looking at bills coz they're all on direct debit). Anyway, we're £2174.00 in credit. How did that happen? I'm thinking of demanding my own sub-station. (this is all true apart from the substation bit)

---