E.on Next customers hit by billing blunder with direct debit payments delayed - make sure you put aside enough cash to cover your bill

MoneySavingExpert (MSE) has seen dozens of complaints on social media and the MSE Forum about the delay, which E.on has blamed on a "technical issue". E.on said only a "relatively small number" of customers that were supposed to have their payments taken on 1 March have been impacted. It has more than three million UK customers. 

Direct debit payments due to be taken by E.on, on behalf of its E.on Next and Sainsbury's Energy brands on 1 March will now be taken on or around 15 March instead. E.on said it is contacting affected customers to notify them of the issue and to tell them how much they owe, adding that they don't need to do anything as their payments will be taken automatically - just ensure you have enough cash in your account to cover the bill.

If you manually paid your bill after your direct debit to E.on Next or Sainsbury's Energy failed, E.on has confirmed that you will not have your direct debit taken on 15 March. If it does mistakenly go out though, meaning you've paid the same bill twice, contact E.on. The following month's payment will then be taken as normal at the start of April. 

This isn't the first time E.on has experienced problems with its direct debit payments. It apologised to customers in December 2020 after payments were taken two weeks early, leaving many without cash in their accounts just before Christmas.

The blunder comes as the energy price cap is set to be hiked on 1 April pushing up bills for millions - though MSE founder Martin Lewis has three tips on how to prepare for the increase.

A spokesperson for E.on said: “This issue is being resolved and we are contacting affected customers to apologise and inform them that their payment will now be taken on or around 15 March. This will not affect payments going forward.”