Gas and electric complaints on the rise
09 December 2011 15:57:14
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| Complaints are up at five of the 'Big Six' suppliers. |
Majority of suppliers hit by rise in complaints
Five of the 'Big Six' gas and electric suppliers recorded a rise in complaints between July and September 2011, according to the latest figures compiled by Consumer Focus. EDF Energy experienced the biggest rise in complaints, from 126.4 per 100,000 customers in April-June 2011 to 219.4 per 100,000 in July-September. SSE, British Gas, E.ON and npower also recorded increases in complaints. The only member of the Big Six not to do so was ScottishPower, which saw complaints fall from 89.2 per 100,000 customers to just 81.4.
Surge coincides with price rises
Adam Scorer, director of external affairs at Consumer Focus, said the almost universal rise in complaints was unsurprising as Britons are contending with increasing energy bills. "Energy companies have repeatedly said they want to rebuild consumer trust," he observed. "Good customer service and complaints handling are key ingredients to building consumer trust but suppliers still have a long way to go."
Dissatisfied customers advised to shop around
Britons who are unhappy with their existing supplier and are dissatisfied with the way their complaint is handled should consider switching to a different company. Suppliers have also put up their tariffs by varying degrees in recent weeks, so it is worth considering other deals before the winter months take hold. Fortunately, it is now easier than ever to compare gas and electric deals, simply by visiting a price comparison site.
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Please ensure that you fully read the terms & conditions of any product or policy before you decide to proceed and are fully aware of the total costs and the benefits and any exclusions or limitations applicable to the product or plan.
Please note that the product links will take you direct to the Issuer or Insurer's site direct and we cannot be held responsible for the information which they provide within their own sites. On some comparison tables we use a star rating which rates products by visitor popularity.