Business and Tech Redefined

High inflation rates, growing energy needs and other utility bills drive anyone to switch energy  suppliers and in doing so, if you are like me, you will normally head towards an energy comparison site which you think does a  great job to reduce your headache. But are you sure they really do it in an unbiased way? Okay, let’s  research it as an outsider and try to check that the comparison we get is actually the cheapest .

Before we get on with our job let me clarify, comparison websites let us evaluate prices of hundreds of utility providers in no time for free which would otherwise take  many hours  . These websites generate their revenue every time a customer switches energy or any service based on their referral . It is a huge business in today’s market, thanks to the skyrocketing prices; energy and other utility providers pay huge sums of money to the comparison services, sometimes running well over £50-£100 per customer; not to forget the additional incentives to encourage more sign ups.

It is quite natural for an unsuspecting customer searching for low priced energy provider’s to assume that rates from all providers are in white and black and that the comparison sites, being managed professionally, furnish the most accurate and the ‘up to date’ rate chart. You will be extremely surprised to know that not everything is  as it seems  with energy comparison websites.

I would not quite refer to this a scam but the differing results from different websites can be attributed to different approaches and methodologies they use, although it is not that their intentions are above board. I would recommend you browse the  complaints pending with the industry watchdog, Energy watch, I am  positive you will be more than surprised to know how and why rival energy comparison sites are fighting amongst themselves . Needless to say, most of these complaints are about distorted rates by their rivals with a view to favoring those they are affiliates of.

But if you are intrigued  about blatant and incorrect results, get ready for another shock. The energy comparison sites, motivated to earn their commissions , include any seasonal discounts offered by their supporting energy providers which is completely out of line . Additionally , they are always after baits like cash back offers and other sops.

Okay,  what is  Energy Watch doing about this? Energy Watch has certain guidelines and they resolve complaints of possible breach only after they receive them and guidelines being guidelines are open to subjective interpretations. If you are in doubt, avoid tendencies to believe third party services and seek out quotes from suppliers who do not advertise on those comparison websites , such as the companies like Utility Warehouse Discount Club.