Energy companies must have a price on Martin Lewis' head

boatman

How much money do you think Martin Lewis has cost the energy industry?

Ken68

Millions probably, and more to come if people take up last nights TV challenge to chase up unpaid credits on energy bills.

Nada666

Hasn't cost them a penny. The cost to customers on standard tariffs, though...

redux

They've probably paid him a million or two in commission for all the switching customers he's brought them, but presumably the terms are fairly similar to other affiliates and brokers.

captainhindsight_2

Probably nothing they just pass the burden on to their customers, so how much had Martin cost the average consumer?

Ken68

The fines levied on the energy industry (and finance sector too) go to the Treasury and supposedly reduce our overall tax burden, but then the gas and electric companies (and banks) have to raise prices to satisfy the shareholders. See what you mean, just a circle.

Pincher

There is the possibility that the utility companies used to be fairly benign, but due to Martin's upping the game on the consumer side, have mutated into a more virulent form of customer snaring, cash cow machine, heartless and cruel.


If you have ever tried to sell your own car, you will know that there are hagglers out there that will never pay the asking price.
You just learn to add a haggle margin, which obviously disadvantages the simple punter who complain why do they have to jump through hoops to get the fair price.

Richie-from-the-Boro

The cancer that is unregulated capitalism does not - never did - and never will work. It just an evil an malignant tumour that spreads sucking the ife out of the poor. Look at the UK since it was let loose with gas, telecomms, energy, banking, water etc. See the food banks, the in-employment subsidies, zero hour contracts, people working for barter, child poverty .. .. need I go on.

On energy we will never get rid of the 'stickies' till a single one kW delivered to your home tariff price is introduced in law for gas and electricity. At that point all obfuscation is removed and people can choose additional [paid for] delivery preferences.

Ken68

There are unregulated labour unions too, Richie, the other side of the coin. What I like about this site, it represents the mass of people caught in the middle, the CONSUMERS. We can, if organised enough sort out the world. Sort out poverty, sort out bad politicians, sort out anything. I am pleased that this site has helped sort out some of the expensive supermarkets.

sheffield_lad

We really should remember that we have some of the cheapest gas and electricity in the whole of Europe. So was deregulation that bad? Imagine a world where energy was still nationalised (as France where they pay more), can you really imagine cheaper fuel? err nope instead picture militant unionised staff demanding pay rises or the lights will be out by xmas.

As for Mr Lewis my biggest gripe I have with him is with energy. At best 35% of the population switch. Yes we do but we are the minority. 'if' Martin had advised people to ask for the cheapest tariff from their own provider many more would be benefiting from cheaper tariffs.

The figure roughly per big 6 in commission to comparison websites is around £32m per year!! So almost £200m spent no wonder so many 'experts' prefer us to move supplier.

Ken68

WOW...£200m......... called "churning" , not a new thing, started in the insurance field, I think.