Customers being hit with 'wrong' exit fee by energy suppliers - 17/08/2011
Energy suppliers could be breaching regulations set out by the industry regulator by charging customers when they move onto a different cheap energy tariff.
According to Money Mail, many consumers are being hit by exit fees when they switch energy provider after a price hike, despite Ofgem rules stating suppliers cannot levy a £50 exit charge within 30 days of announcing an increase.
James Tallack, energy expert at Which?, told the newspaper: "There's no excuse for this behaviour.
"Ofgem has set out the circumstances under which customers can break their contracts without paying an exit fee - and this includes an increase in prices."
The publication reportedly received letters from former customers of E.ON and British Gas who claim they were told they'd be charged if they tried to switch in the wake of the energy suppliers' price rises this summer.
However, when both companies were challenged, they admitted they had been wrong to issue an exit fee because the customers' requests were within the 30-day period.
Five of the Big Six have now increased their prices this summer.
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