Homeowners have made their views known, revealing they have zero love for energy suppliers, with 71% reporting regular problems with gas and electricity providers. Even more worrying - 65% have no faith in their suppliers to fix problems when they happen.
Energy Switching conducted a survey of 10,000 British homeowners asking which utility provider they disliked the most. Gas and electricity providers prop up the top of the dislike table with a rate of 59%.
The biggest deciding factors when it comes to likability is how much the providers care, and how much they cost. Customer service is key, with 61% citing good service as a major buying point, with 71% saying price is paramount.
Around 67% think energy suppliers have placed profits over people, increasing their prices year on year. Water suppliers have been hung out to dry by customers, with 78% reporting continuous price rises each year.
Connectivity, awareness and ethics
Telecommunications, broadband, home insurance and mortgage providers also rank highly among those most-hated. Telecom companies are second only to energy suppliers, with homes becoming ever-more connected and entertainment now streamed - reliable and speedy internet access is considered mandatory by much of the nation.
When it comes to big name branding, the likes of Apple and Nike may reign supreme in their sectors, but ‘brand power’ is almost meaningless when it comes to utilities. Only 4% are concerned about brand awareness.
Ethics is low on the list too, with just 5% of people bothered about the ethos of a supplier. This is worrying for the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers (British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power, and SSE).
Customers no longer care who you are, they care how you treat them. View this
infographic and draw your own conclusions.
