Payment of utility bills by Direct Debit or Standing Order

Ellie 2 · Post by **Ellie 2** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 9:21 pm

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to pay Electricity, Water, Rates and Telephone by Standing Order or Direct Debit? Our electricity meter is inside the house and most of the time the meter reader cannot get access and we have estimated bills. I would appreciate any info if anyone knows.

Ellie 2.

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:46 am

Ellie 2,

all these utilities can be paid by standing order. I am not sure about the rates, I have never heard of a direct debit possibility for rates.

Be warned though, mistakes are made and the money will be gone a while before these mistakes are corrected. For that reason I have an aversion against giving EDP and such a carte blanche to my bank account.

The easiest way is to get online banking - with the multibanco refernce on the bills you can then pay these from the comfort of your own home.

I would not worry too much about the meter reading. If you contact EDP they should schedule a day when the reader comes by, all you have to do is stay at the house and let him/her in.

Ranger · Post by **Ranger** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 12:18 pm

Far be it from me to tell Gambrinus how it should be done, but my concern would be getting the bills in time to pay them on-line, if I was not in Portugal. If the payment is not paid in a reasonable time, it cannot be paid on-line, and has to be taken to Lagoa. I currently pay my electricity, water, and telephone, by standing order, and in April each year, I get either a credit or a debit. (No problems - so far!) The rates are slightly different, but it might be possible to get the account sent to a home address.

Ellie 2 · Post by **Ellie 2** » Fri May 07, 2004 3:27 pm

Thank you for the replies to my enquiry. Your information has been most helpful and I will look into this when we are next in Carvoeiro. Sounds as if we can make some arrangements which removes another reason for paying a large amount to our Agent.

Regards Ellie 2.

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Sat May 08, 2004 4:05 pm

Rates can't be paid by direct debit but they can be paid using a Multibanco card in an ATM or online. Banco EspiritoSanto has online banking in English which allows you to manage your account from the UK. Their website allows you to carry out a full range banking tasks including making payments