Tuesday 24th of November 2009
Britons could be hampering their debt management efforts by not reviewing the payment method they use for their energy bills, a claim suggests.
Switching from a supplier’s standard tariff paid by quarterly cash or cheque to an online offer via monthly direct debit could save an average household £253.33 a year, moneysupermarket.com states.
People who are on a debt management plan in order to reduce their unsecured borrowings could find the extra cash saved off their energy bills can be used to support their repayments.
Households should also move away from the traditional electricity and gas provider for their region, as the average home can save £316 by swapping to the best online deal for their area, the website advises.
Scott Byrom, utilities manager at moneysupermarket.com, says the amount which can be saved "provides a clear call to action for bill payers - apathy won’t be rewarded here so taking action and swapping to the best deal possible is crucial".
A debt management plan adviser can help borrowers discover which areas of expenditure can be reduced - such as utility bills - leaving more money to be put towards paying off unsecured loan and credit card bills.
By Hayley Jones
