Switching services and tariff optimizers promise to make it easier for customers to find the best offers. But how useful are these service providers really?
Customers save time and effort
Given the volatile gas and electricity prices, many consumers are faced with the decision of whether it makes sense to change provider. Since a change always involves a considerable amount of research and bureaucracy, many customers want to avoid having to deal with the search. This is where tariff optimizers come into play – these service providers specialize in finding the best offers for their customers. While some switching services carry out the entire switching process autonomously, others simply pass on suggestions to their customers. Some services take over the complete implementation of the change and then inform the customers, who can then object within a certain period of time. They take on time-consuming bureaucratic tasks such as canceling and concluding a new contract, which would normally have to be carried out by the customer themselves.
Switching services receive commission on the savings
Even if the switching service takes over a large part of the bureaucratic effort, it should be noted that when using a switching service, the end customer still remains a contractual partner of the electricity or energy supplier. The customer is therefore still responsible for handling correspondence. Another disadvantage is that customers hand over a lot of power to the providers and, depending on the service, do not always get the best tariff in return for the convenient transaction. The switching services and tariff optimizers are usually financed through a commission, which represents a percentage of the savings achieved through the switch. For example, at Cheapenergy24, one of the best-known switching services, the commission is 30 percent of the first savings for the first optimization, 25 percent for the second optimization and 20 percent for the third optimization.
Customers usually don’t get the best rate
The consumer advice center emphasizes that it is unlikely that consumers will achieve greater savings with a switching service than by searching for the best offers themselves. However, using a switching service can be worthwhile, especially if you would otherwise stay with one provider for a longer period of time and not switch, as in most cases you can save money by switching. The consumer advice center also points out that switching services collect a lot of personal data. Therefore, it is important to read the terms and conditions carefully as the optimizers often work with third parties.
Editorial team finanzen.net