Non DD payers-what about us?

pilchard_3

We are currently with Southern Electric for both gas and electric. One of their representatives knocked on our door a couple of days ago and asked why we were still on their 'more expensive' tariff? After a short discussion, it was clear that unless we switched to paying by direct debit, we couldn't actually have a cheaper tariff. I kind of guessed this anyway because I have done online searches for cheaper tariffs and every time it seems that unless we have DD, we can't get cheaper fuel.

Partly because of debt problems (we were advised by National Debtline to withdraw from all DD's except the mortgage) and partly because of my husband's work, we are not able to have direct debits. My H is a self employed taxi driver and we cannot guarantee that money will be available in the bank on a given date....we have copped a load of bank fines in the past as a result of money not being there when a DD was due to go out. I currently pay utility bills by means of PayPoint cards or payment books, which enable us to make payments as and when we can. But it does appear that we are losing out financially with gas and electric because of our choice not to have DD's.

Are we stuck with higher tariffs as non-DD payers or is there someone out there for us? I don't mind whether we have a dual fuel tariff or not, just not British Gas (bad experience with them in the past). Any help would be appreciated.

rocket_socks_2

pilchard wrote: »

We are currently with Southern Electric for both gas and electric. One of their representatives knocked on our door a couple of days ago and asked why we were still on their 'more expensive' tariff? After a short discussion, it was clear that unless we switched to paying by direct debit, we couldn't actually have a cheaper tariff. I kind of guessed this anyway because I have done online searches for cheaper tariffs and every time it seems that unless we have DD, we can't get cheaper fuel.

Partly because of debt problems (we were advised by National Debtline to withdraw from all DD's except the mortgage) and partly because of my husband's work, we are not able to have direct debits. My H is a self employed taxi driver and we cannot guarantee that money will be available in the bank on a given date....we have copped a load of bank fines in the past as a result of money not being there when a DD was due to go out. I currently pay utility bills by means of PayPoint cards or payment books, which enable us to make payments as and when we can. But it does appear that we are losing out financially with gas and electric because of our choice not to have DD's.

Are we stuck with higher tariffs as non-DD payers or is there someone out there for us? I don't mind whether we have a dual fuel tariff or not, just not British Gas (bad experience with them in the past). Any help would be appreciated.

with southern electric you used to get a discount by paying early / on time, you had 2 have one paid on time, and you got the discount on the 2nd bill paid on time, and each subsequent bill after that, might be worth checking out :money:

Bufflowbill

pilchard wrote: »

Are we stuck with higher tariffs as non-DD payers or is there someone out there for us?

Niche Supplier www.ebico.co.uk
charge the same price regardless of how you choose to pay.

Their Customer Service / Billing is dealt with by Scottish & Southern.

They recently increased prices http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/x_news_self.php?subaction=showfull&id=1222764911&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2,3&

so see how they stack up against your current rates.

http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/g_rates.php and

http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/e_rates.php

spiro

A suggestion, open another bank account purely for your fuel. Set up the DD on that account and put money in it every week as you would do with PayPoint cards or payment books. Not only does it reduce your pence per unit but it also smooths the bills out over the 12 months, no big bills after the winter. If you do this ensure that every, and I mean every time you get the bill check the reading on the bill and if it is over the value used on the bill phone your supplier with the reading. Hope that helps.