Sainsburys Energy direct debit

frostyspice

I changed to Sainsburys Energy this year on the dual fuel Nectar points thing and pay £60/month for gas and £40/month electric by Direct Debit.

Sainsburys were quick to set up the gas DD but slow with the electricity, and we seemed to have used a lot of electric so paying £40/month has left us trailing by over £100 on the bill. Sainsburys Energy don't appear to mind but I'm worried about it.

Should I phone them and offer to up the DD to £50 or will they say "actually please pay the shortfall now!"

All advice gratefully accepted.

Cardew

It is often the case that a a DD is set too low - often to 'lure' customers.

They will normally carry out a review after a while and based on your consumption to date, the 'computer' works out a predicted new DD to have your balance at zero after a year. They will not ask you for a lump sum payment.

I would just treat your underpayment as an interest free loan and put a few pounds away in a bank account for the time when your DD payments catch up.

Underpayment is their problem, not yours. If I could pay a DD of £1 a month it would be great - as long as I appreciated that I would eventually have to pay back.