NEW research from independent price comparison website Switcher.ie has found that around half of Irish consumers find it difficult to check their electricity bills, with 49 per cent admitting to struggling, while 56 per cent struggle to check their gas bills.
Broadband bills are equally confusing for users as half of the respondents claim they struggle to understand bills.
One in two consumers simply trust suppliers to get their bills right, whilst one in four (26 per cent) people claim to have been overcharged on at least one household bill last year.
Only half of people (52 per cent) say they are likely to spot an error. For those that claimed to have been overcharged last year, the average amount was €54 for electricity, €36 for broadband and €30 for mobile phone.
Managing Director of Switcher.ie Eoin Clarke, said “Overcomplicated bills are a huge barrier in preventing consumers from engaging in the utility market. A large percentage of people say their bills are difficult to check for accuracy, and this puts them in the vulnerable position of having to trust their suppliers to get it right. As our research shows, this doesn’t always happen, and people can end up out-of-pocket as a result.”
“Direct debit is now the most common method of payment” he said but warned of the importance that consumers are able to check and understand their bills.
