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Energy firms could face massive fines in a crackdown on the practice of hiking customers’ direct debits by more than is necessary.
Millions of households saw bills rise by 54 per cent last month to an average £1,971 as energy regulator Ofgem’s price cap rise came into force – to reflect the soaring cost of wholesale gas and electricity.
But many consumers have complained that their suppliers have increased their monthly direct debit demands by even more than this – doubling them in some cases.
Ofgem’s chief executive Jonathan Brearley last month said there were ‘troubling signs’ of direct debits being hiked ‘by more than is necessary’.
There have been warnings that energy suppliers who are caught raising customers' direct debits by more than they should be could face fines
