State pensioners urged to set up Direct Debit or have £100 'taken'
State pensioners have been told to "ditch" their energy company for a new supplier in a bid to save money. The warnings could save state pensioners who switch to Direct Debit a cool £100 each and every year, rather than paying by cash or cheque.
Greg Marsh, CEO of energy saving tool Nous.co, offered the first tip that could bring down your costs. He explained: "Most households are out of contract right now and can save by switching providers with Nous.co.
"The majority can save the better part of £150 on their energy bills, without having to commit to a fixed deal." He explained: "If you think your direct debit is too low or too high, don’t ditch it entirely – it’s the cheapest way to pay for energy.
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"Customers who pay by standard credit – cash or cheque – currently pay around £100 per year more than direct debit customers." Nicholas Auckland, heating and energy expert at Trade Radiators, had a handy tip, trick and hack which will save you £150.
He said: "Reduce your heating thermostat by just 1C - this can cut heating bills by up to 10 percent, which saves an average household around £100 - £150 per year." He warned that "it's important to note however that pensioners especially should ensure that their homes are heated."
Mr Nous encouraged pensioners to do a manual meter reading on September 30 ahead of the new price cap "so your supplier doesn’t think you’ve used extra energy under the new higher rates". He warned: "There are 880,000 pensioner households eligible for Pension Credit and not receiving it. These households are also eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
"Make sure you’re not one of those losing out on significant sums – check whether you could be getting the payment on the Government website."