WATCHDOGS are failing to stop loyal broadband, mobile, mortgage and insurance customers being ripped off, auditors warned.
They said the “loyalty penalty”, where a contract automatically rolls on to a higher price, is costing households £877 a year — a UK-wide total of £4.1billion.
Savvy customers can save money by switching providers, but the elderly and people with mental health problems lose out most, the National Audit Office found.
Citizens Advice says four in five people pay “a significantly higher price” for at least one bill for mobile, broadband, insurance, mortgage or savings.
The NAO found six per cent of homes with no internet access switched energy suppliers — compared to an average of 18 per cent.
Only 12 per cent of over-65s switch — the same as in the most deprived areas.
The report also found nearly one in six broadband customers complained last year.
The NAO recommended regulators do more to measure their performance to “understand what is working well for consumers and what isn’t”.
Ofgem agreed and said it had already launched its first Consumer Impact Report.
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