Consumer Focus: Switching to online bill paying will save money - Money News
Consumer Focus: Switching to online bill paying will save money
Fri 19th Jun 2009
Following the revelation from energy regulator Ofgem that people on prepaid energy meters have been paying too much for their power, Consumer Focus has recommended that consumers change to online payments wherever possible.
Editor's Note: And I can't think of a better way to pay for these utility bills than with HomeATM's personal card reader and PIN Pad. When it comes to paying utility bills, such as gas, water, electric, etc. it seems to me that these companies would be eager to distribute our PCI 2.0 Certified devices to their customers in order to increase online payment security, decrease their Interchange Fees and provide a direct customer to provider conduit. (i.e. eliminate the middleman) PINless debit is fine, but TRUE PIN debit is finer.
The statutory organization's principal policy advocate Zoe McLeod said that those who swap the meter for direct debit payments could save a significant sum - up to £110 annually.
Furthermore, she added, those who switch to online direct debit payments could even save as much as £190.
Ms McLeod continued: "People should be aware that if they have a debt of £100 or less and are on a prepayment meter they still have the right to switch under something called the debt assignment protocol."
The National Housing Federation's lawyers revealed this month that energy firms overcharging their customers could be breaching EU law. According to official statistics, E.ON, British Gas, Scottish Power and SSE all charge prepaid meter owners more than the average price required to supply a meter.
