Competition watchdog caves in to price comparison sites such as USwitch which want to HIDE the best energy deals
uSwitch and fellow comparison sites GoCompare, Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket bizarrely claim families do not want the best deal
THE competition regulator has meekly caved in to price comparison sites which want to hide the best energy deals.
The sites successfully lobbied the Competition and Markets Authority, bizarrely claiming families do not want the best deal.
We revealed yesterday that uSwitch is costing customers up to £120 more a year by at first only showing deals from firms paying commission.
The practice was banned two years ago.
But uSwitch and fellow comparison sites GoCompare, Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket have lobbied the CMA to overturn the ban.
MOST READ IN MONEY
uSwitch said customers could struggle with “too much choice”.
According to an update paper from the CMA, which is probing comparison sites, a “whole of the market” requirement would not be a benefit for consumers.
Ed Molyneux, of consumer campaigners The Big Deal, said “This is a kick in the teeth for all those trying to save money.”
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By Daniel Jones
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The Sun Says
THIS perverse and shameful ruling is hard to believe.
The Competition and Markets Authority is meant “to promote competition for the benefit of consumers”.
How, then, does it justify allowing them to be duped by price comparison sites whose sole motive in hiding cheaper deals is their own profit?
These sneaky sites should be made to display a huge health warning: “We will NOT show you all the best available tariffs.”
First uSwitch . . .
Now U Stitched-Up.