Sign our ePetition
Change the way that energy suppliers engage with you
We've been campaigning against Rollover Contracts since 2007
when we organised a roundtable in Westminster for Mark Prisk MP
(then Shadow Enterprise Minister) to grill the 'Big 6' about how
expensive and unfair they can be. Several Ofgem consultations later
and we seem no nearer to seeing them being outlawed (even though
Ofcom have managed to do it for phone contracts) so we are pushing
instead for simple measures to help businesses & charities spot
the Rollover Trap and avoid it… basically putting information in
customer correspondence to warn you. For example, 95.7% of
businesses want to see their Contract-End-Dates printed on
bills.
You can play a part in making this happen by signing our HM
Government epetition:
'Rollover Trap' Explained
Businesses typically pay fixed price tariffs for one, two or
three years and it is not unusual to see prices going up by 50% as
they come up for renewal at the end of their contract. However a
typical renewal window for a business energy contract will be
between 120-30 days BEFORE the contract end date, and it is usually
ONLY during this period that you can apply to switch or look to
negotiate a better deal. If a business fails to act before
the end of the renewal window, its contract will automatically
'rollover' on to renewal rates for at least another 12 months. In
other words… cheaper prices are only available to those who know
about their renewal window, are proactive about shopping around
DURING it and then manage to avoid being rolled - by sending a
termination letter to their supplier. Make It Cheaper offers free
and impartial help with this - even if it's just to remind you each
time your renewal window opens.
More on Rollovers
