Martin Lewis’ urgent warning to direct debit energy payers who may be forking out more | Personal Finance | Finance

Martin Lewis has issued a series of warnings to direct debit energy payers who may be forking out too much.

Speaking on his ITV show, Mr Lewis warned that many direct debits had increased despite rates falling on the first day of the month.

Mr Lewis offered a series of tips on what direct debit customers could do to check or change their rates.

His advice comes as the UK heads into a winter full of uncertainty after an autumn full of unpredictable weather.

Mr Lewis said: “Rates fell on the first of October, but a lot of direct debits have increased, so get your meter reading up to date, make sure you’re not in energy debt. Go online and use my direct debit calculator.

“If it’s too high you have a right under the energy company’s license conditions to fair direct damage.

“Get on the phone ask ‘Can you justify why the debit is just so high when I’m not using anywhere near that much and the calculation shows I shouldn’t be paying as much that and I want you to take it down’.”

Mr Lewis also discussed what buyers could do when on the phone with their energy company and what they could do afterwards.

He said: “You come to an agreement about where it should be dropped.

“If they refuse you you can take them to the energy ombudsman if you think it’s unfair as an alternative, what a lot of people do is they get a bill and then pay.

“The problem with that is you pay more. If you want to do that try going for a variable direct debit which is the same rate as a normal direct debit and that’s where you use the amount you want, they just take that amount every month from your debit just.

“What that means is that you’ll pay a lot more in the winter than in the summer because the usage is higher than the normal direct debit that explains your usage throughout the year but if you hate what you’re getting They take your direct damage, that’s it. a better option than payment to receive bills.”

This is not the first warning Mr Lewis has issued this year.

Speaking to ITV about the Government’s cost of living payment, Mr Lewis warned: “The most important message I have for people is about the cost of living payment. There is a benefit called Pension Credit, which is aimed specifically at low income pensioners.

“On that one, you can backdate the claim for three months, which means if you don’t get Pension Credit and you’re eligible for it, you can get that extra £300 (living expenses payment) still, even if you are eligible. claim now or next week or the week after.

“And there are almost a million pensioners in this country who are not receiving that vital benefit.”