Keep utility bills under control

QUESTION any big increase in direct debit payments. If your account is in credit and a change in tariff doesn’t justify a big rise then contact your supplier. Request an explanation or payment readjustment.

BE clear about your demand for a credit refund. If ten days have lapsed since a final bill and no refund is forthcoming, make a complaint to your supplier in writing or by email.

REFER unsettled disputes to t he Energy Ombudsman. This can be done if a supplier fails to deal with a complaint within eight weeks. Details at: ombudsman-services.org/energy.

TREAT sweet sounding deals and rewards with scepticism. Look at facts and figures behind the marketing when working out the cheapest deal.

COMPARE tariffs using accurate data. Use your supplier’s annual energy statement, or contact your supplier to ask for your actual annual gas and electricity usage figures from the past year.

USE an Ofgem-accredited comparison website to f i nd cheaper deals, such as uSwitch or TheEnergyShop – or energyhelpline, which can also be called on 0800 074 0745.

CONSIDER signing up to an ‘auto-switching’ service which does the hard work of comparing and changing suppliers for you. Examples include Switchcraft, Look After My Bills and Flipper.