Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
One in four consumers encounters a problem when switching energy provider, in the past two years, according to new analysis by Resolver.
Resolver surveyed its users and found that a quarter of people had encountered problems concerning blocked switches, meter reading discrepancies and demands for payment long after the switch had been completed – and one in ten had experienced multiple problems.
The survey also revealed that 80% of people were unaware of compensation rules introduced last year to help ensure that energy switching is a smooth process.
Resolver says that this is particularly frustrating as the benefits of switching energy providers are considerable, with the average consumer potentially saving hundreds of pounds. In 2020, just under 6 million people took the plunge, though millions of people are still stuck on tariffs that are expensive or not reflective of their energy consumption.
Resolver’s complaints data reveals the scale of the problem. Of the 51,000 complaints made to energy companies through Resolver in the past two years, one in ten concerned contract disputes, transfer issues and credit problems related directly to switching energy suppliers.
Resolver’s CEO, Alex Neill, said “While it’s frustrating that some energy firms are still getting the switching process wrong, people should not be put off changing providers. The savings far outweigh the problems. That’s important to remember is there are clear rules set by the regulator on switching – and if things go wrong, you can turn to the free energy ombudsman service for help.”