Confusing entry policy raises eyebrows and questions*. Heather and her husband wanted to round off a pleasant weekend in Sussex with an entertaining film. They chose The Secret Life of Pets they’d heard about from friends. Heather bought tickets online to be picked up later at the box-office of Cineworld in Eastbourne. It was then their day took an unexpected and […]
CAB persistence secures full refund. Our client Jennifer* paid a travel agent £1100 for flights to South Africa for her 2 sons. Soon afterwards she was told the flight was overbooked but could transfer to South African Airways (SAA) for a £100 price supplement. When the e-tickets arrived one of her son’s names was spelt […]
Ofgem’s new data. The energy regulator today launched a fresh attempt to improve the transparency of gas and electricity prices and persuade more customers to switch suppliers. Ofgem issued information about the Standard Variable Tariffs of the biggest companies and the customers who pay those tariffs. For each company they show: the number of its customers paying SVTs; the proportion of customers on SVTs; and data about average prices and potential […]
Longer-term solution needed. Good news. One by one the Big Six energy suppliers are announcing a freeze on standard tariffs until Spring next year. Citizens Advice says savings made when wholesale prices were lower are being used to help customers – it’s now time for firms who haven’t announced to make their intentions clear*. Gillian Guy, national chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “A […]
Know your rights and persist. That’s the message to shoppers stuck with faulty electrical and other home appliances at the start of National Consumer Week. Citizens Advice is releasing new research showing 2 in 3 people had a problem with faulty electrical goods in the last 2 years and many retailers refused to give them redress. National Consumer Week is a […]
It’s National Consumer Week 2016. Be Switched On to your rights with faulty or unsafe electrical goods. Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead is promoting the latest ‘know-your-rights’ campaign in partnership with colleagues across the country, Chartered Institute of Trading Standards and the Consumer Protection Partnership. We want consumers to be #SwitchedOn and know how to ask for a […]
Reforms not enough. Energy suppliers are working on reforms required by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofgem to protect customers from overcharging. They need to. The CMA reports the annual rip-off is £1.4 billion. But already the reforms look too timid and too late. The Sun (1) claims to have seen a secret industry […]
Big Energy Saving Week. 31 October-6 November. Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead is supporting this campaign to help people manage their fuel bills. Lots of people pay more than they need to. Many also find it hard to pay. BESW aims to spread awareness of how to save energy and money. Throughout the week, we’ll be signposting people to information and trying […]
Why not. You don’t have to try very hard to find advice on how to get a better energy deal. Citizens Advice online is thorough, up-to-date and impartial. Broadcast, print and social media offer advice everyday. But most of us don’t switch, as the prime minister pointed out in a speech last week. Why not? Here’s one suggestion. On 9 […]
The Sun comes out. The UK’s biggest selling daily newspaper has launched a campaign for fairer energy prices. It says seven out of ten customers are on standard variable tariffs – the most expensive kind. This means families are paying £6 billion more than they would on the cheapest tariffs. The Sun wants suppliers to […]