Martin Lewis has warned people to be wary after receiving complaints that energy companies are doubling customer direct debits. The financial expert spoke as a witness during the UK Government's business, energy and industrial strategy committee at around 10.30am on Tuesday.
He said: "There were worrying issues of companies increasing people's direct debits disproportionately to the rate that's being increased - even for those in credit. There is no reason to double someone's direct debit when they're in credit and the price cap is going up 54%. That's not mathematically sound and that's a breach of licensing conditions.
"And I have been very concerned that a number of companies are doing it to improve their own cash flow situation at the expense of their own customers and we would like to see the regulator crack down on that quite substantially." Martin told the parliament committee he did not have the names of specific companies doing this to customers to hand. However, he said the issue was happening "across the board".
