[Margaret Pilkington]

When you are on a limited budget...as most pensioners are, you sometimes have to prioritise the bills that you pay....no I am not saying don't pay the bills, but what I am saying is that sometimes pensioners will pay a bill a few days later....with direct debit that option would not be available.It is about having control of your money. If it becomes a choice between paying the gas bill and eating....then the gas bill may have to wait....and this is becoming ever more likely in the current energy(no pun intended) situation. I have had a bad experience with Direct debit....and although it was the fault of the bank I will not use direct debit again