Press & PR

Switching broadband, telephone and utility companies is still a difficult process for some groups, it has been noted.

According to a recent report by the National Audit Office (NAO), around half of consumers have changed supplier to take advantage of better prices.

The NAO study found that while 90 per cent expressed satisfaction with the process, there were still some groups classed as vulnerable who were experiencing difficulties because of complex billing tariffs and bundled services.

As a result, they were unable to benefit from the best deals, with many who did switch finding themselves worse off as a result.

Nearly a third (32 per cent) of electricity companies moved to a more expensive plan, paying between £14 and £35 per year more on average.

Tim Burr, head of the NAO, called on UK industry regulators to focus on ensuring these consumer groups were protected and could benefit from the increased market competition seen in recent years.

A recent article in the Times has advised that switching broadband supplier should take no longer than 10 days in total.

For consumers wanting to save money on their phone bills, Vonage's broadband phone services offer an easy way to make cheap calls over the internet.