PEOPLE POWER CAMPAIGN SEEKS 20,000 PEOPLE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST IRISH COST OF LIVING CRISIS

PRESS RELEASE

MONDAY 2 OCTOBER 2017

PEOPLE POWER CAMPAIGN SEEKS 20,000 PEOPLE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST IRISH COST OF LIVING CRISIS
 

One Big Switch is back, and is looking for 20,000 people to join their Big Cost of Living Switch campaign to fight back against the cost of living crisis currently gripping Ireland.

The Big Cost of Living Switch aims to ease cost of living pressure by empowering consumers and encouraging them to make sure they’re not paying more than they have to on their big-ticket bills.

Ireland is now the second most expensive country in the EU, with goods and services costing 25% above the EU average. Coupled with slow wage growth, this has made for a cost of living crisis.

This crisis was shown evident by a recent Aviva report showing 1 in 4 adults are struggling financially.

The Big Cost of Living Switch will help people fight back and save on their household bills by:

• Registering 20,000 individuals to the campaign by October 30.
• Using that combined buying power to negotiate big discounts on Energy and Insurances.
• Provide these offers to registrants so they can switch or use them to shop around

The campaign is timely given major energy retailers have just announced upcoming rate rises. Making matters worse, yesterday the introduction of the increase in the PSO levy on energy bills.

The PSO levy will be increased for all energy consumers by €25 to €104.50 annually, pressure to a bill that far too many people are still paying too much for simply because they haven’t switched.

Switching from standard electricity and gas offers can save people up to about €300, and recent research has shown that switching home insurers can save some people nearly €300.

One Big Switch Co-Founder Oliver Tattan launched the campaign and commented on the crisis:

“While there’s some degree of economic recovery in Ireland, average earnings are increasing at somewhere between a quarter and third of the rate they did the last time employment was this high.

“People still need to save where they can, and the best way to do this is shopping around for your big ticket items; insurance and energy. A whopping 86% of people didn’t switch their energy last year.

This campaign hopes to increase awareness around switching and unlock offers to help people save

“I would encourage everyone to join the campaign at OneBigSwitch.ie. It’s cost and obligation free!”.

One Big Switch has nearly 100,000 members nationally and uses their combined buying power to unlock group discounted offer on household bills. It’s free to join at www.onebigswitch.ie.

Case studies and comment by Oliver Tattan are available to media outlets

MEDIA ENQUIRIES - David Liston, Director of Campaigns
EMAIL: David@onebigswitch.com