Household bills on the increase
(28 February 2007)

The average number of bills to be paid per household is increasing year-on-year, according to new research.

An Apacs payments association report has shown that the numbers of direct debits, standing orders and telephone and internet banking payments are continuing to grow, while there is a decline in bills being paid by cash and cheque.

The Way We Pay: Bills has claimed that each household had 166 bills to pay in 2005, compared to 159 in 2000.

Direct debits account for over half of all regular bill payments, with telephone and online banking payments rising from 36.7 million in 2000 to 118.1 million in 2005.

Sandra Quinn, director of communications at Apacs, said that Britons are making use of "the full range of options" when handling their bills.

She added: "While the ease of direct debits, standing orders and telephone and internet banking have prompted people to make increasing use of these types of payment, it is clear that consumers are finding a way to pay bills which best fits their individual need or lifestyle."

Meanwhile, the Financial Services Authority recently warned that there has been an 8,000 per cent increase in fake internet banking scams over the past two years.