Dull thread: do you object to paying utility bills by direct debit?

[BrainInAJar]

Hey,

I've been reading online about an issue with EDF bills and some in the comments wrote that they point blank refuse to pay their utility bills by direct debit because they object on principle that a company can "help themselves" to however much they see fit. And if your account is in credit, the utility company is getting interest on YOUR MONEY. And because utility companies have shit customer service so it's hard to get the money back and you end up having to use the direct debit guarantee with your bank if they take way too much due to their frequent "computer errors".

Some folk pay by standing order instead where the customer controls the amount transferred. Some folk just manually pay the bill each month or quarter after taking their own readings. I suppose the issue is it's harder to spread the cost this way and you don't benefit from the discount you get by paying by direct debit.

I've so far never had an issue but I was interested (because I am very dull) in thoughts here?

Thanks

I prefer direct debit. If it is set well, half the year you are in debit and half the year you are in credit. So no interest is a wash because there is no interest charged on debt which means no interest earned on credit. My income doesn’t go up in the winter, so direct debit evens out the annual cost which makes it much easier to budget.