Telecommunication providers rank high on the list, but energy suppliers are the least favourite with British homeowners, finds a new survey.
Millions of British homeowners rely on service providers each and every day, whether it’s hot running water, reliable Internet to stream their favourite TV shows or insuring against things going wrong.
Out of the 10,000 British homeowners included in a survey by Gas & Electric comparison site EnergySwitching, 71 per cent said that they have regular problems with their gas and electric providers, and nearly 65 per cent admitted that they have little to no faith in their suppliers to fix problems when they arise.
When asked which type of supplier they most disliked, the most popular answer was gas and electric providers which accounted for 59 per cent of the respondents.
It seems that customer service is a big deciding factor for consumers when it comes to how they rate firms, with 61 per cent saying that good service is a major buying point. Pricing is also considered paramount, as agreed by 71 per cent.
Homeowners also voted that they think gas and electric providers are most likely to favour profits over treating consumers fairly, with 67 per cent stating that their supplier has increased their prices year on year.
Water suppliers have stung their customers the most, with 78 per cent experiencing an increase in the price they pay for water year on year.
The top most hated service providers, according to homeowners, are those dealing with:
- Gas and electric
- telecoms and broadband
- Water
- House insurance
- Mortgages providers
It’s no surprise that telecommunications providers rank second in the list, with the growing number of people relying on 24/7 access to the Internet, whether it’s for smart devices to control lights and heating, or fast broadband for playing games and streaming TV shows.
Interestingly, only 5 per cent of respondents said that ethical standards are important when choosing a supplier and just 4 per cent were concerned about how well known the supplier is. This could be seen as a customer shift from the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers, the major telecoms firms and other well-known companies that have long dominated the households of many Brits.
Take a look at the infographic and draw your own conclusions.
