Salon owners are being warned to prepare themselves for dramatic rises in their energy bills unless they shop around for the best deals – and give adequate notice on their current contracts. A recent ruevey by website makeitcheaper.com found that, while 84% of small business owners were unhappy with their current supplier, only 14% knew when their contract was due to end. Most providers insist on 90 days’ notice before the end of a contract.
Commented Eileen Lawson, secretary general of the National Hairdressers’Federation (NHF): “This is an issue which the NHF has been on top of for a good while now. Just before industry watchdog, Energywatch, was disbanded in October, it told the NHF that it received more complaints form small businesses on renewals than anything alse.
“the NHF advises salons to write to the company at any stage during the concract asking for notice of cancellation to be effected 90 days, or any other notice period that may be stipulated, before the contract ends. That way owners can continue with them if they want but they can also choose not to”. Renewal tariffs are typically expected to double.