20 Sep 2006
Dixons.co.uk and uswitch.com team up
Dixons.co.uk, the leading UK e-tailer of consumer electricals, is to offer instant access to uSwitch.com via its website. uSwitch.com is the impartial comparison and switching service, which advises customers on how to slash their household utility bills. Recent research by uSwitch.com and Dixons.co.uk confirmed some 10 million UK customers are losing £3.2 billion a year¹ by failing to switch their utility suppliers.
"A Dixons.co.uk customer is a savvy customer who wants the best value from the best product range," comments group managing director Nick Wilkinson. "We guarantee the best value for electricals online² and a quick visit to uSwitch.com will help them save even more money."
He adds, "uSwitch.com and Dixons.co.uk offer the ultimate in convenience – the best savings are online and just a few clicks away. I was inspired to team up with uSwitch after using the site myself. I identified nearly £170 in savings for my family - enough to buy me a quality A-rated fridge online!"
uSwitch.com is a free, impartial online and phone based comparison and switching service that compares prices on a range of services including gas, electricity, home phone, broadband providers and personal finance products. The company has developed a series of calculators that evaluate a number of key factors including price, location, service and payment method, and advises customers on the best deal to suit their needs.
Barry Holloway, marketing director at uSwitch.com comments, "We approached Dixons.co.uk because like ourselves, they are dedicated to helping customers save money. Too many of us still don't spend any time researching online before buying. If they did they would invariably identify huge savings to be had on electrical products."
- "There are 10 million British customers who have never switched" - Ofgem press release, 6th February 2006. A medium usage (20,500 kWhs of gas and 3,300 kWhs of electricity) customer paying quarterly by cash or cheque, on British Gas' standard tariff for gas and the incumbent electricity supplier's standard tariff for electricity will save £321, when averaged across all regions, when they switch to the cheapest plan on the market and switch to paying by monthly direct debit. USwitch.com assumes the 10 million customers who have never switched fit this profile, then 10 million multiplied by £321 is £3.21 billion.
- At Dixons.co.uk we check over 10,000 prices every week with all of our key competitors. If we find a lower price, we lower ours.
More information:
Mark Webb 01727 205 019 / 07834 256 779
Hamish Thompson 01727 203195 / 07702 684290
About uSwitch.com
uSwitch.com is a free, impartial online and phone based comparison and switching service which helps consumers compare prices on gas, electricity, water, heating cover, home telephone, digital television, broadband, credit cards, personal loans, secured loans and current accounts. Our aim is to help customers take advantage of the best tariffs and services on offer from every supplier. The company has developed a calculator, which evaluates a number of factors including price, location, service and payment method, and help consumers find the best deal to suit their needs.
If they choose to, consumers can switch while they're online or phone customer services direct.
The service is also available via telephone, fax and post. Consumers can call on 0800 093 06 07, fax 020 7233 5933 or write to Customer Services, uSwitch.com, 10th Floor, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5BH, with their postcode and usage details.
uSwitch.com is not a supplier but acts as an independent advisor, giving consumers an impartial view of what's on offer. Unlike traditional brokers, it compares prices from all energy suppliers, not just those it has a commercial relationship with. The service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by the supplier companies and industry regulators.