The energy broker Bionic has come under scrutiny for its recent practices in renewing energy contracts on behalf of UK businesses.
In a recent feature, BBC Watchdog highlighted the “sneaky” tactics Bionic has allegedly used to lock businesses into energy contracts that may not be suitable for them.
According to energy litigation experts Business Energy Claims (BEC), this issue is more widespread than many businesses realise. BEC reports that numerous Bionic customers have reached out, claiming they were tied into renewal contracts without prior notice or communication.
The “Do It For You” Clause: A Hidden Risk
As discussed in the BBC segment, Bionic often has businesses electronically sign a “Do It For You” contract when arranging their initial energy agreements. This clause allows Bionic to automatically sign renewal contracts on behalf of the business within a set timeframe, without further approval.
While Bionic claims to send renewal quotes via email and text, many businesses contacting BEC say they never received any communication. In fact, the first time they became aware of the renewal was after the contract had already been locked in.
BEC estimates that around two-thirds of its recent enquiries involve issues related to Bionic in some form.
Lack of Transparency and Support
Although Bionic states that businesses are given time to object to renewal quotes under the “Do It For You” terms, BBC Watchdog alleged that this process is not always followed. Many businesses were unaware that contracts had been renewed on their behalf.
Hannah Ramshaw, Head of Claims at Business Energy Claims, said:
“Many businesses are contacting us seeking help to have their unwanted renewal contracts cancelled, as they feel Bionic and their contracted supplier have not offered enough support and they subsequently do not know where to turn.”
“A solicitor quoted as part of BBC Watchdog’s investigation advised businesses to contact the energy ombudsman with any complaints. However, in our experience, the ombudsman does not offer the level of redress sought by businesses and is only applicable for microbusinesses.”
“This is not sufficient, and we urge any businesses who are unhappy with their energy contracts to contact Business Energy Claims to see how we can help on a more personal level.”
Have You Been Mis-Sold an Energy Contract?
If this situation sounds familiar, Business Energy Claims is here to help. We encourage businesses to hold brokers and suppliers accountable and to challenge any aspect of their energy contract that feels unfair or unclear.
Our team of energy and legal experts specialises in recovering hidden commissions and losses from mis-sold energy contracts.
Call us on 0800 689 4259
Or get in touch here to start your claim.