Press & PR

The number of Britons in debt to their fuel supplier has reached 6.8 million, according to price comparison service uSwitch.

Such a figure amounts to a quarter of the population owing money to their providers, with the firm asserting that the number of people in fuel debt is likely to grow further as a result of recent price hikes.

The average debt experienced by those struggling with energy costs is around £114, with consumers said to be largely in the dark about the effect that recent price increases in will have on their bills.

Less than a third of people were said to have been informed by their supplier about the likely extent fuel cost rises.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, comments: "As well as the misery and uncertainty that debt can cause, owing money to an energy supplier can prevent consumers from being able to reduce household expenditure."

In other recent developments, uSwitch has also revealed that consumer satisfaction with phone companies is at its lowest level since 2006, with BT identified as the worst performer in terms of customer care.

Vonage is committed to providing cheap calls which allow people to take control of telecoms costs, with the V-Plan 1 available for £5.99 per month.