Equaliser direct debit

Sigourney

Is it true that customers with the household benefits package can no longer avail of the equaliser direct debit scheme?

EI: Una

Hi Sigourney,

I have double-checked this for you and it is not the case. Equaliser is still available for Household Budget customers.

Regards,
Una

Sigourney

Electric Ireland: Una wrote: »

Hi Sigourney,

I have double-checked this for you and it is not the case. Equaliser is still available for Household Budget customers.

Regards,
Una

Hi Una
My mother's account had an equaliser direct debit for years. I took a look at her bill that issued before Christmas and the DD amount was for the full amount of the bill, without any of the usual information about the amount of future instalments. After many phone calls, I was told last week by Electric Ireland that the equaliser DD is no longer available to customers who avail of the household benefits package.
My original hunch was that the problem was due to her switching her gas account to EI late last year.
Any ideas?

EI: Una

Hi again Sigourney,

The Household Budget system is one where the customer makes payments themselves every week. Are you referring to FEA maybe (Free Electricity Allowance)? Because the Equaliser has been discontinued for that, due to the implementation of a new system, which has commenced this year.

Regards,
Una

Sigourney

Electric Ireland: Una wrote: »

Hi again Sigourney,

The Household Budget system is one where the customer makes payments themselves every week. Are you referring to FEA maybe (Free Electricity Allowance)? Because the Equaliser has been discontinued for that, due to the implementation of a new system, which has commenced this year.

Regards,
Una

Sorry- I meant the FEA.

EI: Una

That's no problem at all Sigourney. Yes, it has been discontinued for the FEA.

Sigourney

Sigourney wrote: »

Sorry- I meant the FEA.

So her only option is to stick with the regular direct debit payment every two months?

EI: Una

How long is she a customer with Electric Ireland, Sigourney?

Sigourney

Electric Ireland: Una wrote: »

How long is she a customer with Electric Ireland, Sigourney?

In her own name, almost 20 years. Before that, the account was in my late father's name.

EI: Una

Hi again Sigourney,

I was asking senior colleagues just now about more on the FEA/Equaliser and they said it may be possible to have it reapplied, but it would not be recommended, due to the new system.

Your mother could make manual payments onto the account between bills via paperless means (such as the EasyPay card) in order to reduce the direct debit amount significantly, so long as sufficient time is given between the last payment and the direct debit. Because she is a customer with us that length of time, she could also cancel the direct debit all together, but she would lose the direct debit discount if she is on a discount price-plan.

Regards,
Una

Sigourney

Electric Ireland: Una wrote: »

Hi again Sigourney,

I was asking senior colleagues just now about more on the FEA/Equaliser and they said it may be possible to have it reapplied, but it would not be recommended, due to the new system.

Your mother could make manual payments onto the account between bills via paperless means (such as the EasyPay card) in order to reduce the direct debit amount significantly, so long as sufficient time is given between the last payment and the direct debit. Because she is a customer with us that length of time, she could also cancel the direct debit all together, but she would lose the direct debit discount if she is on a discount price-plan.

Regards,
Una

Thanks,Una
We'll see how it goes with the regular direct debit. I'd say she'll probably make some extra online payments during the summer when (hopefully) her heating costs should be a bit lower.