Three in ten Irish people were overcharged on household bills last year (Report)

The average amount overcharged on essential bills was €53.

Three in ten Irish consumers claim to have been overcharged for at least one essential household bill in 2016, according to research from independent price comparison and switching service, Switcher.ie. The average amount overcharged on utility bills such as energy, TV, phone, broadband and bins/recycling in the last year was €53, with refunds taking over five weeks on average. If the claims by consumers are accurate, then Irish households may potentially have been overcharged by millions of euro in 2016. The research by Switcher.ie also revealed that over half of Irish energy (57%) and broadband (53%) customers simply trust their suppliers to get their bills right, while just under six in ten (58%) find at least one of their household bills difficult to understand. A little under four in ten Irish consumers aren’t sure if they were overcharged or not in the last year, while as far as energy bills are concerned, less than half of Irish consumers (49%) actually check to see if their bill is correct, with four in ten (38%) just looking at the total amount due. Commenting on the research, Eoin Clarke, Managing Director of Switcher.ie, said: “Households are already paying thousands a year on household essentials, so consumers simply can’t afford to pay extra because of errors, or to wait weeks for a refund because they’ve been overcharged. “A large percentage of people say their bills are too complicated, which puts them in the vulnerable position of having to trust their suppliers to get it right. Aside from the risk of overcharging, complicated bills are a huge barrier in preventing consumers from engaging in the utility market. This could mean they’re missing out on opportunities to save by changing their usage habits, or by switching to a better deal.” “Over the last few years, suppliers have made a real effort to provide their customers with helpful information on how to read their bills, and what the various charges mean for them, so there are great resources out there for anyone that is struggling to understand their bills,” Clarke added. “If you are one of the many consumers who is confused about items on your household bills, don’t be afraid to ask your supplier as they’ll be more than happy to help you. Getting a handle on the information in your bills will help you to be confident that your bills are correct, allow you to take control of your spending, and help you to save money in the long-run.”