Pay via Variable Direct Debit

t4ure4n

Hi

Can someone please advise me if an energy supplier can refuse to allow me to pay bill via variable direct debit? Is it legal for them?

I was with First Utility who gave me option to supply meter reading every month via their App and pay the exact bill amount via direct debit. Now I am switching because First Utility are no longer the cheapest supplier for me.

I have spoken to Eversmart Energy (for Electricity) who didn't give me option to pay actual bill via DD.
I have also checked websites of various suppliers but I don't see any option to pay viavariable direct debit - almost every one only shows fixed amount DD?

Thanks

matelodave

Your contract with an energy company is an agreement between them and you.

You can ask them for certain method of payment and they can refuse in exactly the same way that you can. They have terms and conditions and you either agree with them or go somewhere else.

Alter_ego

All direct debit mandates are variable. No such thing as fixed as far as banks are concerned.

t4ure4n

What about Ofgem rules? Is it legally wrong for an energy supplier to refuse variable direct debit I.e direct debit based on bill and not average based on yearly usage estimate.

Dobbibill

This may help.

There is a link on the page for their fact-sheet.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/direct-debits-what-you-need-know

If you don't want to review it every 6 months, you may be better to change your method of payment.

Xbigman

Simply choose a tariff that allows you to pay by whatever method you choose. If you choose a tariff that is set up to be paid by monthly direct debit then it is entirely reasonable for the supplier to insist on its terms and conditions being honoured.



Darren