Which? slams energy bills 'jargon'

24/09/2009

Britain's gas and electricity firms should aim to make their energy bills easier for customers to understand, Which? Switch has said.

Members of the consumer group were polled on the issue, with many saying that they were currently having difficulty with the "jargon" being used by the firms.

Terms such as "calorific value" and "normal primary units" are used on the bills, leaving customers unsure of how the costs are actually calculated.

Martyn Hocking, editor of Which? magazine, commented: "Consumers aren't going to be able to reduce their energy use or find the best deal if they don't understand what's going on. Bills need to be much clearer, and better customer service from the energy companies wouldn't go amiss either."

Recent data from the consumer group showed that customer satisfaction rates at the "big six" energy providers - who between them supply the vast majority of UK customers - were running as low as 28 per cent.

Only 38 per cent of customers of market leader British Gas said that they were happy with the firm.

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills, Young Family Finances, Retirement Money Problems,

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