Switching to SSE - Direct Debit

XDA

I’m looking to switch to SSE via MSE Cheap Energy Club and have a query regarding direct debit payments.

On the MSE Cheap Energy Club, it says that 1 months direct debit will be taken upfront. I want to pay my energy bill as a variable direct debit (i.e. I only pay for what I actually use every month/quarter).

Are there any recent SSE switchers or current customers paying SSE with a variable direct debit.

The SSE website says you can pay by variable direct debit so I’m wondering how you set this up and how it works when they want 1 month paid upfront?

Any advice is much appreciated!

spiro

How you can pay may depend on the tariff you are on. It may also depend on the type of meter you have.

XDA

spiro said:

How you can pay may depend on the tariff you are on. It may also depend on the type of meter you have.

The tariff says direct debit. The tariff says a smart meter will be required. Neither are an issue.

I just don’t want to sign up to a tariff that requires a fixed monthly direct debit. I don’t mind paying by variable direct debit but I don’t know if that is an option. There’s long queues when I try calling them.

Neil_Jones

Variable direct debit is dropping out of favour in favour of monthly payments.  It still exists to an extent but may not be available on most tariffs around today.  It may be an option on standard/expensive tariffs but often not on fixed rate deals where the only choice is monthly payments into a kitty from which future bills are extracted.

jbuchanangb

Part of the problem may be that SSE bills quarterly not monthly, payment in arrears by DD is going to be a less attractive tariff. I just had a look on Which? comparison site and SSE have a tariff called "SSE Fix and Fibre v3" which allows quarterly payment in arrears by cash/cheque. I would expect them to be willing to switch you to that tariff, and then pay quarterly in arrears by DD.

Oneye12

We changed last year, rather hurredly without checking fully.

Now we see with bills to help:

Gas -We're on the 'cheapest Evergreen tariff' for paying on receipt of a quarterly bill.

"However, paying by Direct Debit, you could save £30.74 a year"

Elect - on SSE 1 Year Fix v2  Economy 7 at the moment; again payment on receipt of a quarterly bill.

"By switching to SSE Fix and Protect v3 Economy 7 (subject to eligibility criteria and limited availability) and paying by Direct Debit, you could save £39.99 a year"

The above is printed on each to obviously encourage the Direct Debit (monthly) option.

XDA

Thanks all. 

I managed to get through to SSE on the phone and they have confirmed that you can pay by variable direct debit. I can’t remember if it wasn’t monthly or quarterly but either is fine with me.

When you sign up/switch, the default option is for a monthly direct debit but SSE have said that as soon as the switch is complete, I just need to contact them again and they’ll setup a variable direct debit.

Hope this helps anyone else who has the same question!