Press releases

Water 

COMPETITION IN WATER: INDUSTRY CANNOT AFFORD A ‘TERMINAL 5’

Ofwat, the water watchdog, has set out proposals to open up the water and sewerage industry to competition. Tim Wolfenden, Head of Home Services, comments.

Car Insurance 

Ashton Berkhauer, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, the independent online price comparison and switching service, comments on the decision by LV= to remove unfair administration charges for car insurance customers:

“Recent research conducted by uSwitch.com has revealed that over 14 million motorists across Britain are being hit with additional fees amounting to £333 million a year, just for amending simple details to their car insurance policy.

News 

NUMBER OF STAY AT HOME PARENTS HITS LOWEST LEVEL IN 15 YEARS: COST OF LIVING PUSHES OVER 1 MILLION NEW PARENTS BACK TO WORK

The choice of caring for your own children is rapidly turning into a luxury available only to those who can afford it. A new study by uSwitch.com reveals that more than 1 in 3 (38%) new parents (those with children under 2 years old) are forced to return to work to make ends meet. In fact, the number of stay at home parents has hit its lowest level in 15 years with just 7% of all parents now staying at home to look after their children.

Gas & Electricity 

NEW RECORD: CONSUMERS COULD SEE LARGEST EVER INCREASE IN HOUSEHOLD ENERGY BILLS THIS YEAR

Centrica’s Interim Management statement today has lifted the lid on the pricing pressure energy suppliers are coming under. As a result the outlook for consumers looks bleak, with uSwitch.com predicting that if households are ‘lucky’ they will see a 10% or £105 price rise by late summer with a further 15% or £173 hike in January 2009.

Car Insurance 

PASS PLUS – THING OF THE PAST?

Following yesterday’s announcement by the Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, to introduce tougher driving tests uSwitch.com asks what this could mean for the future of the Pass Plus training scheme. The Pass Plus was introduced in November 1995 to give new drivers valuable driving experience and to build on existing skills, with the aim of reducing fatalities and the cost of insurance. However, with poor take up (13%), the scheme has not succeeded in this aim and analysis from uSwitch.com shows that insurance providers offer vastly varying discounts for those who have passed the test.

Car Insurance 

Comments on the Transport Secretary’s plans to shake up driving tests

Ashton Berkhauer, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, the independent online price comparison and switching service, comments on the Transport Secretary’s plans to shake up driving tests:

BANKRUPT BRITAIN

New figures published today by The Insolvency Service reveal that just three months into 2008 and 25,264[1] people have already fallen victim to the insolvency epidemic with 9,614[1] IVAs and 15,651[1] bankruptcies reported. According to price comparison and switching service uSwitch.com, individual insolvencies could reach 101,056[3] by the end of the year.

Car Insurance 

PETROL PRICES HIT 20 YEAR HIGH

Last week petrol prices reached a 20 year high across the country (109.8p per litre[3]) and the average cost of filling up a tank soared to £61. But things are set to get worse. Petrol prices are predicted to reach their highest ever level at £1.50 per litre by 2009[3], meaning motorists pulling onto forecourts will be forking out £84[1] on average to fill up their cars. Consumers will be facing annual petrol bills of £2,637[1] a year – 14% of the average net salary in the UK of £19,167.98[2]. The Government will reap 63% of the pump price through duty and VAT[3].

Gas & Electricity 

USWITCH.COM: TOP UTILITIES WEBSITE 2007

uSwitch.com, has won an award for being the leading utilities website in 2007. Its number one ranking in the Hitwise Top 10 Awards - based on the number of visits it attracted throughout 2007 - saw it take the top slot above major suppliers and rival comparison sites too.

Car Insurance 

CAR MAKERS MANUFACTURE THE COST OF INSURANCE

However, new research from uSwitch.com has uncovered that the cost of manufacturer insurance carries an average mark up of 10% - consumers would get the same cover £30 cheaper by going directly to the underwriter providing the cover.