Paying your electricity bill by direct debit

[Bristolian]

Every month my electricity bill appears in my mailbox and when I see it we go to the local 7/11 and pay over the counter. Generally this is not an issue but my job in BKK means that sometimes I am travelling and not able to be in HH within the payment window.

Consequently once in a while a bill is overdue and payment needs to be made at the main office. I have asked many times if I can set up a DD or can the bill be charged directly to my credit card. The answer is always the same, mai dai. Has anyone actually solved the issue? If so....please share your secret. How did you do it?

[dtaai-maai]

It's certainly possible, as we knew a Norwegian couple who set up such an arrangement a number of years ago. They are no longer here, so I can't ask for details. Mrs D-M is quite happy to pay as we go, so I've left it alone.

[Vital Spark]

I'd also like to know, Bristolian. I've asked the same question here and got the same (rather annoying) answer. 'Mai dai' and 'Mai mee', especially when said without a millisecond of thought, are two phrases that really get my hackles rising.

We pay our phone bill by direct debit, and it was just an easy process of filling in a small form. Surely the electricity lot can do the same.

VS

[buksida]

Yes, you can pay electric bills by direct debit ours is done at SCB - you just need bank staff with an ounce of intelligence to set it up for you and maybe a form from the electricity dept.

[georgy]

It is possible, I just arranged it.

Get the formsheet at the PEA, goto your bank and get the form filled and signed, then return to PEA.
All can be done easily within 1h.

Your bill will not show the barcode anymore on bottom if payed by direct debit.

[Nereus]

Yes, as per above. Mine in Hua Hin is with KBank, and in Bangkok with Bangkok Bank.
But you will need the person who`s name is on the account to sign it, and that means both the PEA or MEA meter account, plus the same name Bank account.

[Vital Spark]

Why do they make it so difficult for us to give them money? Our bill's in our landlord's name, so this option is obviously a no-no for us. However, the ToT were happy to oblige. I might try it again when I next pay the bill at the PEA counter in Tescos - you never know, different day, different sales assistant, different answer.

VS

[chaspul]

I use Bangkok bank #2 on the main road just outside MV.

Very different experiences in setting up direct debits for my utilities, they have a list of companies who they deal directly with for DDs.

As an aside HSBC Bangkok (now defunct) could only pay utilities in the city not provincial Hua Hin.

Back to my experiences.

1. Electricity, no problem, did this many years ago just took a current bill in builders name, the girl in the bank filled a form putting the account in my name and set up a DD, after signature nothing more for me to do.

2. TOT, much more difficult, a lot of running backward and forwards. Bangkok Bank have no arrangement. So after a visit to the bank a DD form had to be obtained from TOT, this then had to go to the bank and back to TOT, finally ending up at the bank.

3. We have recently been connected to Pranburi water and the DD debit, obtained from Pranburi, took around 3 to 4 months to action but was all done at the bank. The delay was because it was outside the direct area of BKB HH.
Also because of this it needed both signatures on the account!

Slightly off topic but relevant, when we first went on Pranburi water a Thai neighbor had to guarantee, in case we as foreigners defaulted, we also paid at a different, higher rate for meter installation and water from the Thai users on the street.

For the first few months paid bill at 7/11.

My DD came into effect but water account still in neighbors name.

Recently due to a policy change, maybe with the new government. I was allowed to put the water account in my name (with the permission and signature of my neighbor) and I am now charged as a Thai.

In fact when changing the account I was handed just slightly more than 5,000 Baht cash money by the water company for the overcharging.

Hope this last snippet of information may help other readers who had a small informative (in Thai) slip along with their water bill.

Chas

[Bristolian]

Thanks to all for the information.
Let me try one more time. Our house is in my wife's name the electricity bill is also in her name so hopefully they can accept the bank account being in my name

[brianks]

Bank account being in your name should not be a problem as we have done that with our Condo in BKK that is in my wife's name.

[georgy]

Thanks to all for the information.
Let me try one more time. Our house is in my wife's name the electricity bill is also in her name so hopefully they can accept the bank account being in my name

no problem at all, both need sign