Ban sneaky late payment fees on your energy bills.
Author: www.campaigns.choice.com.au Date Posted:14 July 2018
Big energy companies are charging people exorbitant prices to keep their lights on and warm their homes. What’s more, retailers are disguising massive late payment fees as “discounts” to trick people into thinking they’re getting a good deal.
While energy companies are trying to convince us that they’re doing us a favour, these “discounts” are actually sneaky late payment fees designed to punish people so they end up paying more than they should. If people pay their electricity bill just one day late they could end up paying 58% more on their bill, costing them hundreds of dollars in late fees.*
Graphic illustration based on figures from an actual electricity bill.
The ACCC’s retail electricity report has called for a ban on unreasonable late payment fees, making a series of recommendations to stop this bad practice. But until the recommendations are adopted, big energy companies can continue to hurt people with late payment penalties that cost them hundreds of dollars.
Now’s our chance to convince Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg to act. Join us in calling for an end to sneaky late payment fees that hurt consumers.
* Figure based on a 37% discount off an entire bill, offered by Amaysim in Victoria, January 2018.
