“Rip off” energy firms make public angry in new poll

Energy companies have got a drubbing in a new top ten poll of brands which make people angry – with British Gas singled out for the focus of public irritation. […]

Energy companies have got a drubbing in a new top ten poll of brands which make people angry – with British Gas singled out for the focus of public irritation.

The Centrica-owned supplier, which is the largest energy provider in the UK came sixth, after all banks, the supermarket Tesco, fast food chain McDonalds and BT.

Complaints against British Gas in the poll range from “over-pricing” to “poor customer service”.

Compiled by YouGov, utilities and energy firms are joint eighth in the poll with Sir Richard Branson’s television business Virgin Media.

Some of the responses in the poll criticise “rip off” energy companies, utilities for “pushing up prices”, while one person criticised energy firms “who value their bonuses/shareholders far more than their customers and the most vulnerable in society”.

A British Gas spokesman said: “Providing customers with a good service is very important to us. We’ve been working hard to improve the way customers experience British Gas; listening and responding to feedback from our independent customer board.  Which? recognised our customer focus awarding British Gas a five star rating for the clearest, top-rated bills, payment policies and account management in the energy sector.”

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