Martin Lewis comparison site RIP OFF – websites are HIDING cheapest results

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how trusted comparison sites are hiding some of the best deals from users – all because these companies don’t pay them.

The shocking news means that consumers seeking out the best deals on the comparison sites could potentially save more cash, but sites are not transparent about the best deals.

However, energy companies that pay commission to the comparison sites have their tariffs prioritised –  even if they aren’t the best deals. When consumers fill in their details the sites will take them to a page with the deals that they make commission from listed. Only by clicking another button will customers be taken to a comparison across the whole market.

Martin warned This Morning viewers about the practice on the ITV show, although the issue has been debated many times in the past.

Martin said on yesterday’s This Morning show: “Switching is actually relatively easy, you get yourself onto a comparison site.”

However, the expert added: “I have to do one warning about some comparison sites. They are now allowed to hide tariffs that don’t pay them.”

“There is an argument to say it’s expensive to run comparison sites and if all the cheapest tariffs don’t pay they don’t make any money and they can’t afford to run the service.”

Martin specified that it was “some of the bigger ones” that do this practise, but added that he was not allowed to say which do and which don’t because of regulations. 

He said: “There are some that don’t do it and people need to work out for themselves which of them do.”

The Competition and Markets Authority currently allows the sites to hide the best deals and favour deals they earn commission on. While this practise was banned, that ruling was overturned successfully after uSwitch, GoCompare, Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket petitioned them.

In 2014 a switching website The Big Deal accused rival companies using the practice to make money from commission on the deals. It wrote a letter of complaint to Compare the Market, Go Compare, uSwitch, MoneySuperMarket and Confused.com.

The website claimed this meant a third of deals were hidden, and families weren’t being shown the best potential deals for them.

Since March the Competition and Markets Authority has allowed the practise, reversing a two-year ban.

In April it was revealed that the large comparison sites had quadrupled their takings, and between them made  £161million in a year, most recent figures form 2014 show. 

This sum was reported to have been made in a year by CompareTheMarket, GoCompare, MoneySuperMarket, uSwitch and Confused.com. MoneySupermarket.com made the most, taking home £61.6million after tax in that year.

Martin, creator of site Money Saving Expert, which aims to help consumers save cash, has spoken about this issue before.

In 2014 the expert, who sold the site in 2012, said: “When we built the Cheap Energy Club in 2013 I made sure that we defaulted to all tariffs – so people get to see all options. I think that’s something that saves our 1.2 million Cheap Energy Club users a decent whack of cash. 

“Ultimately the problem here is that the Ofgem Confidence Code allows this to happen – that’s where the focus of change should be.”

In 2015 Brits were found to have lost £500 with Confused.com by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme.

The investigation prompted Confused.com to remove the savings section from their sites, and the company said: “We recognise our savings comparison solution didn’t meet our high standards and we’ve taken the decision to suspend our offering as we look for ways to make improvements.”

Currently the Ofgem confidence code means comparison sites can default to what is called “full syllable”, which allows them to priorities the deals they get commission from.

However, the rules also stipulate that the sites must still have a clear link at the top of the page that gives consumers the choice to see deals in the wider market.

Express.co.uk contacted CompareTheMarket, GoCompare, MoneySuperMarket, uSwitch and Confused.com,

A MoneySuperMarket spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “As an accredited member of the Ofgem Confidence code, we offer a default view on our results page where customers see switchable tariffs available through MoneySuperMarket, but also have the clear option, within one click, to see all the deals on the market.”

A uSwitch spokesperson said: “Our mission is to ensure it is as easy as possible for consumers to get a better energy deal.  We are very clear on the options customers have for comparing prices and the deals we’re able to help them switch to. 

“We need to get as many households as possible off expensive standard tariffs and our free service plays a crucial role in making this happen.” 

Martin also recently revealed you might have a huge sum in pensions savings you had no idea about.

The expert revealed how using a pensions tracing scheme could help you recoup lost cash.

A representative for Go Compare, Anders Nilsson, told Express.co.uk he didn’t have time to look at the request but “anyone visiting our website can see exactly how our energy comparison service operates right on our website. I’ve included the links below: http://www.gocompare.com/gas-and-electricity/energy-suppliers.”

A spokesperson at Confused.com says: “We show prices for energy tariffs that can be purchased via Confused.com as well as other deals which are available elsewhere, meaning shoppers have a whole of market view.”

CompareTheMarket have not responded.