Understanding utility bills getting harder

It has been claimed by officials from consumer watchdog group Consumer Focus that understanding gas and electricity bills is actually getting more difficult for some people, despite the fact that the energy regulator Ofgem has issued new rules that are aimed at making it easier for consumers to understand their utility bills from energy companies.

Around 10 percent of income is spent on gas and electricity, and officials are concerned that with the most expensive time of the year nearly upon us, where consumers will be using more energy due to the weather, many could end up paying over the odds because they are unable to work out what they should be paying.

The concerns come after it was revealed that one of the big six energy giants in the UK, Npower, had been inadvertently overcharging over one million households across the country, and those affected had not even noticed that they were paying too much for their energy usage.

Officials from Consumer Focus said that whilst Ofgem was trying to make it easier for consumers to understand their energy bills and avoid paying over the odds the situation actually appeared to be getting worse. This could be a combination of people finding it hard to work out what they should be paying or people simply not bothering to check their energy bills.

A spokesperson for Consumer Focus said: “If anything, we are seeing more complexity than before the rules came in. If I was an Npower customer, I would never have noticed that I was being overcharged. People don’t want their energy to be confusing – they want to be able to switch the lights on and forget it, but instead there are all these ridiculous structures.”

Tags: combination, Consumer Focus, energy bills, energy giants, consumer watchdog, electricity bills, ofgem

Energy salesmen preying on vulnerable customers

It has been reported that in the run up to the winter, when many households and consumers may be concerned about their energy bills, unscrupulous energy salesmen may be preying on vulnerable consumers. Whilst regulators have tried to crack down on doorstep sales, it appears that many salesmen working on commission are still talking consumers into switching.

More worryingly is the fact that many of the vulnerable consumers that these salesmen are preying on end up on more expensive deals. Many of those that are being targeted by these salesmen are elderly or low income consumers, and this makes the situation even worse.

Tough new rules were imposed with regards to doorstep selling around eight months ago, but despite these new regulations the practice still continues. It is thought that last year around two and a half million consumers switched their energy supplier after sales staff from energy suppliers approached them on their doorsteps, in public places, or by phone in order to persuade them to switch.

The energy regulator Ofgem brought in new regulation with regards to these sales at the start of this year, and this involved the energy firms having to provide a written estimate before any sale or switch was concluded. However, consumer campaign groups are adamant that mis-selling of energy is still going on.           

An official from the consumer group Consumer Focus said: ‘We are very concerned that consumers are continuing to report being hit by bad sales practices. If any company is encouraging their employees to break the rules and talk customers into taking up an energy deal that leaves them worse off, there should be strict action from the regulator.’

Tags: energy regulator, half million consumers, Tough new rules, energy firms, energy suppliers

Consumers could start shunning post offices

A recently released report has suggested that consumers are going to start shunning post offices and the services that they offer, adding that the whole post office service could ‘go the way of Woolworths’. The report raises concerns that the Post Office Service is offering poor products, poor service, and poor accessibility due to branch closures, and that this will lead to more and more people shunning the post office altogether sending what has become a national institution the same way as Woolworths. Read more

Tags: David Cooper, Consumer Focus, United States Postal Service, post office, Woolworths Group, Woolworth

Watchdog said regulators dithered over intervention

A consumer watchdog has recently claimed that regulators spent too much time dithering over intervention when it came to regulations, which resulted in failure to protect consumers when it came to sectors such as finance, food, energy, and water. Read more

Tags: regulation, Rating Regulators report, moment, number, report, finance, Consumer Focus, watchdog's head

Rows erupt over energy bills increases

According to recent report a number of rows have erupted over direct debit payments on energy bills, with many concerned that people are being charged way over the odds on their direct debits by the energy giants, which is resulting in increased profits for the energy firms but leaving many consumers unable to keep on top of their monthly direct debits for their energy bills. Read more

Tags: use, Financial services, scale, debit payments, hiking

Recent revelations from energy satisfaction survey

The big six energy firms in the UK have faced controversy for quite some time, with problems relating to customers service and billing, inaccurate prices, and of course in relation to the huge price hikes enforced, with two rounds of price increases having taken effect over the space of this year. Many households are facing fuel poverty, with officials claiming that since the start of this year gas bills have increased by over 50% and electricity bills by close to 30%. Read more

Tags: Consumer Focus, satisfaction tables, research, energy, satisfaction, oil, petrol

OFT helps to ‘Save Xmas’

A scheme aimed at advising people on their Christmas saving options launched earlier this year is to be continued.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced new funding for the “Save Xmas” campaign, through which community groups and consumer bodies explain directly to people in their areas what their options are for saving safely and wisely over the year.

The scheme was in July in the wake of the collapse of the Farepak Christmas hamper savings scheme late last year, which saw many people lose all the money that they had put away over the year for Christmas presents when the company went bust.

Save Xmas helps savers to identify the most suitable schemes for them, and the OFT has produced a leaflet, a short film and background research to support the local training sessions.

Sue Cook, OFT head of consumer and business education, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide additional funding to our partners at grass roots level. Citizens Advice’s involvement has been fundamental in delivering the Save Xmas campaign to local communities.

“We would urge groups and organisations who are interested in delivering Save Xmas training and helping people make choices that best suit their needs when saving for Christmas training to contact us promptly.”

Tags: best suit, suit, Hamper, Christmas saving options, advice, local training, Consumer Focus