Moving into a new student house is an exciting time, but sorting out your bills and understanding exactly what you need to pay and who’s going to pay them can feel overwhelming.  

Splitting bills fairly is important for keeping the peace in your house and preventing arguments over unpaid bills or leaving one person out of pocket. Using a student bill splitting service is a simple way to sort your bills out so you can focus on getting to know your new housemates and the area you’ll be living in.  

Before you sign up, it’s important to know what you’re committing to. So, here’s a list of questions we recommend you ask to help you find the best student bill splitting service for you and your housemates and make sure you’ve got your household bills sorted. . . 

1. What services are included in the bill splitting package?  

Before you use a bill splitting company, make sure you know exactly which utilities and services will be covered.  

Most services include:  

  • Electricity 
  • Gas 
  • Water 
  • Broadband  
  • TV Licence 

At Split The Bills, you choose the package that suits you. You might already have some bills sorted so you can choose which bills you want to split through us.  

2. How is the bill split between you and your housemates? 

Find out how the bill splitting service divides the costs of your bills between you and your housemates. Some services divide the bill equally, while others might allow you to customise the service based on room size or usage.  

Always make sure the service you choose meets the needs of your housemates and agree on a fair way of splitting bills with your housemates before you sign up to anything.  

With Split The Bills, utilities are split evenly between you and your housemates, as we believe this is the simplest solution. You’ll all pay the same amount every month, so you know exactly how much you’ll be paying and when.  

3. Are there any hidden fees? 

Watch out for hidden fees! These fees can switch your bills from affordable to unaffordable!  

Ask about additional charges such as setup fees, service fees or cancellation charges. Reputable services such as Split The Bills will always be honest about any costs involved with signing up for the service.  

With Split The Bills, there are no setup fees, upfront deposits or hidden charges, and we provide an Uncapped Gas & Electricity Plan, which gives you the freedom to responsibly use what you need with no unexpected surprises.  

4. How do you pay? 

Some will take a direct debit from each housemate’s bank account, while others might allow you to pay via a bank transfer.  

Choose the service with the payment method that suits everyone in your household and that no one is going to miss!  

When you use Split The Bills, all of your bills are paid via a monthly direct debit so you know exactly when your payment will be taken and how much it’s going to be – this is perfect for monthly budgeting!  

5. What happens if one of your housemates misses a payment?  

When you’re living in a shared house, there’s always a risk that someone might miss a payment. Find out how the bill splitting service handles late or missed payments. Do they cover the cost temporarily, or do other housemates have to cover it? Understanding this policy can avoid arguments and ensure no one is left out of pocket or covering other housemate’s bills.  

6. What customer support is available?  

If you come up against any issues with your bills, having access to reliable customer support is essential. Do some research and see whether your chosen bill splitting service provides responsive customer support. You can read reviews or when you’re researching each service, you might find which services are more responsive and which aren’t!  

Check the support hours and the channels available, such as phone, email or live chat, to ensure you can get help when you need it. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to get in touch when you’ve got a problem.  

To ensure you’re using a credible service be sure to check out review platforms such as Trustpilot. Split The Bills are proud to currently hold a 4.8-star (Excellent) rating on the platform, with over 3,000 reviews. 

7. Is there a contract or minimum term? 

Before you sign up for anything, you need to understand if there are any contractual obligations. Some services might require a minimum term commitment, while others might offer more flexible month-to-month options. Knowing the contract terms can help you avoid any unexpected costs if your living situation changes.  

8. Do I need to track and manage my bills?     

By using a bill splitting service, such as Split The Bills, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re paying the same amount every month, which means you dont need to track varying costs throughout the year. We set up and manage all bills on your behalf, which means you’ll pay one simple amount to us each month. 

9. What happens if someone moves out? 

Occasionally, someone in a shared house wants to move out. Find out how your bill splitting service would handle this. Knowing how this process works can ensure a smooth transition and avoid unpaid bills or surprise costs if someone moves out of your house. 

With Split The Bills, if someone is moving out and someone else is replacing them, all you need to do is let us know and we’ll add and remove the relevant people from your account. If no one replaces the person moving out, everyone left in the house is still responsible for their share of the bills.  

How Split The Bills can help  

If you want to get your bills set up and managed so you can completely enjoy your uni experience, a bill splitting service is the best option!  

Split The Bills is a bill-splitting service trusted by thousands of students nationwide. We handle the responsibility of setting up your utility accounts, managing direct debits, and ensuring everyone pays their share! You don’t need to worry about when or how to set up each bill; you just need to create an account with us, and we’ll do the rest. 

If you want to make your uni experience as simple as possible, learn more about how Split The Bills works or get a price today!  

Hannah Martin-Singh

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