Oh pricey Ovo. The nation is dealing with an power disaster that would trigger the typical invoice to sky-rocket to an alarming £2,000 a 12 months.
Greater than two dozen energy companies have gone bust, and ministers are frantically poring over methods they may cushion the blow of looming worth hikes, reminiscent of eradicating VAT on payments, boosting winter gasoline funds and delaying tax rises.
With out pressing intervention, thousands and thousands of weak households may very well be pressured to make the devastating selection between shopping for meals and heating their houses.
Feeling the warmth: Complaints about power suppliers are at a record-high and it’s evident some billing programs are simply not match for objective
So it’s mind-boggling {that a} main provider may very well be so indifferent from actuality to assume it acceptable to ship clients an e mail with ‘easy’ energy-saving ideas reminiscent of having ‘a cuddle along with your pets and family members’, consuming ‘hearty bowls of porridge’ and ‘doing a couple of star jumps’.
A spokesman for Ovo Vitality has since apologised for its poor judgment. However its embarrassing error ought to function a wake-up name to all power suppliers.
As we report, the best way many companies deal with their clients is nothing in need of a shame. Complaints are at a report excessive and it is clear some billing programs are simply not match for objective.
Corporations could not be capable to management wholesale costs. However, given clients are anxious sick about how they are going to afford their payments this winter, companies may on the very least make sure the calls for they dish out are appropriate.
As a substitute, again and again, we hear from readers who’ve been hit with shock statements wrongly claiming they owe a whole bunch and even hundreds of kilos.
And once they attempt to problem these, they’re pressured to spend months chasing to get the errors mounted.
Even clients with good meters — which have been supposed to ensure that you just solely pay for the facility you employ — are struggling to get correct payments.
Many of those errors pre-date the present disaster. So it is excessive time that power watchdog Ofgem investigated the problem of shambolic customer support on this trade.
Within the meantime, companies should make certain clients obtain month-to-month statements to allow them to keep away from racking up giant money owed.
Funding fears
Ouch. My funding portfolio has taken a battering because the begin of the 12 months, after a number of technology-heavy funds plummeted in worth.
Fearful that I used to be over-exposed, I used Hargreaves Lansdown’s helpful ‘portfolio evaluation’ instrument to get a precise breakdown of the place my financial savings have been invested.
The pie chart outcomes recommend my cash is properly diversified amongst completely different sectors and international locations.
So, for now, I’m doing my greatest to disregard the alarming pink minus numbers and can persist with my common investing technique within the hope that my funds bounce again.
To panic and promote now will solely end in actual money losses. However this has served as a prudent reminder of the chance of being too invested in anybody trade.
Premium palaver
It has taken weeks of listening to tedious maintain music to get by to Esure to replace my card particulars and problem my house insurance coverage renewal quote.
For the primary time ever, my premium had truly gone down — by an unimpressive £2.86.
However a fast search on-line urged there have been higher bargains available. A spokesman for Esure says greater than a fifth of its workers are on sick depart, which is why name ready occasions are longer than standard.
But, as nobody picked up till after January 1 — when guidelines have been launched to cease insurers providing cheaper offers to new clients — it meant I misplaced a lot of my haggling energy. With simply two days to go till my coverage expired, I had little selection however to remain put.
I might have an interest to listen to if any readers have bartered down their automotive or house insurance coverage premiums because the New 12 months. Write to me on the e mail handle beneath.
Combined blessings
Lastly, a hearty pat on the again to Virgin Media O2 for being the one main cell supplier to not convey again pricey roaming expenses for purchasers travelling within the European Union.
If solely the agency would cease charging house movers unfair exit charges of as much as £240 if they can not get its broadband service at their new property, too.
v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk