Use plain language and signpost social tariffs new household bills report urges – Martin Lewis says it's 'a great start' but 'more can be done'
Households should have clearer information about social tariffs and a simpler system for sharing vulnerability information across utility providers, according to a new cross-party
By MoneySavingExpert
Households should have clearer information about social tariffs and a simpler system for sharing vulnerability information across utility providers, according to a new cross-party report.
The Public Accounts Committee published its “Regulation of water, energy and broadband” report on Friday 11 September, and said regulators are not doing enough for consumers in need. It said Ofcom, Ofgem and Ofwat should do more to improve communications with customers and help vulnerable people access support.
The committee also backed a “tell us once” approach, so consumers would only need to share their circumstances once across multiple sectors. It recommended that social tariffs for telecoms and water be advertised more clearly, with more consistent eligibility criteria.
Martin Lewis said the report was “a great start” but that “more can be done”. The source report said several of the committee’s recommendations reflected his earlier calls.
The report also suggested creating a central debt register across the water, telecoms and energy sectors within 12 months, and said the three regulators should look at making the definition of “vulnerable” more consistent.