Nine out of ten British families believe price comparison websites should automatically show all deals
Websites should automatically show all options to users instead of being allowed to push pricier deals
NINE in ten families think energy price comparison sites should automatically show all deals to users, new research shows.
It is a firm message to competition regulators who have caved into demands from the sites - by agreeing it is OK for the sites to hide deals.
Power swap sites want to be allowed to do this so they can push pricier deals - for which they get paid hefty commission. It is currently against rules for sites to do this.
The survey by One Poll found that 86 per cent think that price comparison sites should automatically ensure users always see the lowest priced deals - backing The Sun's campaign.
The poll also found that 29 per cent of the British public are unaware that price comparison sites get paid a commission.
In fact, they get as much as £100 every time a household swaps energy suppliers.
Seven in ten think it’s a good idea that the sites publish the amount of commission they receive.
Almost double as many people think price comparison sites are untrustworthy than trustworthy.
Despite criticism from politicians and charities, regulators have said that price comparison sites should be allowed to hide deals.
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Will Hodson of the Big Deal said: “Showing all the deals including the very cheapest is quite rightly expected by the public. It’s fair, transparent and obviously the right thing to do. The public are also clear that the level of commission these sites receive should be published. Trust in the energy market is dangerously low and we need more transparency to restore it.”
The Competitions and Markets Authority is probing whether the services are good for consumers - and has issued an update to its investigation.
At the time we told how the CMA has vowed to allow energy switch sites to hide the best deals - after pathetically caving in to lobbying.
The regulator has been convinced by the sites who bizarrely claimed families switching power do not want the “best deal on the market”.
Sun analysis showed that if these sites are allowed to hide deals then 50 per cent of all energy deals - including the very cheapest - would be hidden to boost profits.
At the moment rules from energy watchdog Ofgem state sites must show all deals up front.
As part of our enquiries into the world of energy price comparison sites, we discovered that one site was already breaching those Ofgem rules on hiding deals.
It meant cheaper deals were hidden - unless users clicked on a small box to show every tariff.
This could have cost customers as much as £120 if they swap to the deal uSwitch recommends rather than the cheapest on the market.
Number crunching
- 29 per cent of Brits unaware price comparison websites get paid a commission
- 86 per cent think PCWs should ensure every user sees lowest price tariff regardless of commission
- 69 per cent say PCWs should publish the amount of commission they make
- 37 per cent think PCWs are untrustworthy and do not provide impartial information
Big Six putting up prices
FAMILIES already reeling from sky-high gas and electricity costs face even bigger bills in coming months as £100-plus price hikes kick in.
Those on standard tariffs with EDF, nPower and Scottish Power have seen prices go up already in March. NPower’s went up a huge £110 a year on
March 16 and on Saturday Scottish Power put it up to £97.
SSE’s price rise of £58 is due to come in on April 28 and E.On’s £97 hike will hit bill payers sooner on April 26.
The only Big Six company not to have announced price rises is British Gas - who have frozen their prices until August.
But they are expected to raise their prices after that.
The Sun has taken action to cut your bills by bargaining an exclusive energy deal that will save the average family £238 and if you’re with Npower £299.
What’s more it’s price is fixed for 12 months so you don’t need to worry about rising prices.
Will Hodson of The Big Deal said: “The Big Six don’t think twice about shoving your bills up. If you’re with the Big Six you need to take action and switch away. The Sun’s great exclusive deal could save you a lot of money and hit the Big Six where it hurts - in the pocket.”
There are even cheaper deals on the market than ours - we will show you them when you sign up for the deal.
How to take the deal
The Sun’s People Power campaign to save you £££s on your gas and electricity launched this week.
Using the collective bargaining power of thousands of Sun readers we negotiated a great exclusive deal with Green Star Energy that will save the average family £238.
Much more if you pay by cash or cheque.
21,000 Sun readers have already switched with our people power campaigns saving an incredible £5.7 million in total.
Here’s how to join them.
It’s quick, easy, and free to take the deal.
Go to
Enter your email address and postcode -
Enter a few simple details like the size of your house -
You’ll be told exactly how much you will save and how our deal compares to every other deal in the market -
You decide if you want to take it. There’s no obligation.
But act fast - the deal is limited to the first 5,000 customers! -
The Big Deal handles the entire switching process for you.
You can sit back, relax and save.