High inflation rates, growing energy needs and other utility bills drive anyone to switch energy providers and in doing so, if you are like me, you will normally head towards an energy comparison site which you think does a neat job to reduce your headache. But are you sure they really do it in an unbiased way? Okay, let’s explore it as an outsider and try to check that the comparison we get is actually the best. Before we get on with our job let me clarify, comparison websites let us evaluate prices of hundreds of utility providers in no time for free which would otherwise take hours. These sites generate their revenue every time a customer switches energy or any service based on their recommendation. It is a big business today, thanks to the skyrocketing prices; energy and other utility providers pay huge sums of money to the comparison services, sometimes running well over £50-£100 per customer; not to forget the additional incentives to encourage more sign ups. It is quite natural for an unsuspecting customer searching for cheap energy provider’s to assume that rates from all providers are in white and black and that the comparison sites, being managed professionally, furnish the most accurate and the ‘up to date’ rate chart. You will be shocked to know that not everything is alright with energy comparison websites. I would not quite call this a scam but the differing results from different sites can be attributed to different approaches and methodologies they use, although it is not that their intentions are above board. I would suggest you to take a look at complaints pending with the industry watchdog, Energy watch, I am sure you will be more than surprised to know how and why rival energy comparison sites are fighting amongst themselves. Needless to say, most of these complaints are about distorted rates by their rivals with a view to favoring those they are affiliates of. But if you are intrigued about blatant and fake results, get ready for another shock. The energy comparison sites, motivated to earn their commissions, include any seasonal discounts offered by their supporting energy providers which is unfair. In addition, they are always after baits like cash back offers and other sops. Okay, but what is Energy Watch doing about this? Energy Watch has certain guidelines and they resolve complaints of possible breach only after they receive them and guidelines being guidelines are open to subjective interpretations. If you are in doubt, avoid tendencies to believe third party services and seek out quotes from suppliers who do not advertise on those sites, such as the Utility Warehouse Discount Club.