Debt help news: Energy bills affecting income

21/12/2009

The personal income worries of millions of Britons are only being made worse by the behaviour of large energy suppliers, it has been claimed.

Despite recent promises of lower bills, utilities providers once again came bottom in a league for consumer confidence.

According to the research carried out for the Consumer Focus annual league table, many UK families struggling with their high gas and electricity bills, with a significant proportion likely to be seeking out professional debt advice as a result.

In addition, many are also continuing to have strained relationships with their suppliers, with one in three having been forced to make a formal complaint to a utilities firm in the last year alone.

To make matters worse for ordinary consumers, private pension plans were also found to be faring badly when it comes to gaining the public's confidence, suggesting that many people could be facing longer-term personal income worries.

Commenting, Prashant Vaze, chief economist at Consumer Focus, said: "There is only one way that energy suppliers can move up the league table and avoid another frosty reception in 2010.

"They must act immediately and dramatically improve the quality of service they offer to their paying customers."

According to National Energy Action, deaths over the winter months in the UK are 19 per cent higher than those recorded at other times of year, with fuel poverty cited as a major factor behind this difference.

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills,

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