What is a Business Energy Claim?
If your business used an energy broker to arrange your gas or electricity contract, you could be one of thousands of UK companies that were mis-sold business energy.
Energy brokers (also called Third-Party Intermediaries, or TPIs) act as the go-between for your business and energy suppliers. They’re meant to find you the best deal — but many have been caught hiding secret commissions and inflating prices without disclosing the full costs.
The regulator, Ofgem, has warned that lack of transparency in business energy sales has caused thousands of small and micro-businesses to overpay for years. In recent rulings, courts have confirmed that brokers must clearly disclose their commissions — and failing to do so could make your contract legally challengeable.
If your business signed an energy deal through a broker, you may be entitled to reclaim hidden fees and unfair costs.
Learn more about Our Fees and How Our Fees Work.
How Hidden Commissions Work
Supplier Cost
12p per kWh
The genuine rate offered by the energy supplier to the broker.
Broker Adds Hidden Commission
+2p per kWh
The broker adds their own cut, often without telling you.
Your Business Pays
14p per kWh
You’re charged the inflated price, unaware of the hidden fees built in.
Broker’s Profit
£24,000 over 2 years
That small 2p/kWh difference adds up fast - this is what your broker pockets.
How Were Businesses Mis-Sold Energy Contracts?
Here are some of the most common signs of business energy mis-selling:
Am I Eligible to Make a Business Energy Claim?
Many businesses don’t realise they’ve been mis-sold. If any of the following sound familiar, you could have grounds to make a claim.
You used an energy broker to find your business deal
If a broker arranged your contract and didn’t explain how they were paid, there’s a good chance hidden commissions were built into your rates — increasing what you paid overall.
You weren’t shown a breakdown of fees or commissions
Energy brokers must clearly state how they’re paid and how much commission is included in your contract. If you weren’t told this upfront, it’s considered a lack of transparency — and potentially mis-selling.
Your contract was fixed for several years at a high rate
Many businesses were locked into long-term contracts that looked competitive initially but included hidden mark-ups. If your rates stayed unusually high while wholesale prices dropped, it may be worth investigating.
You were told you had to act quickly or risk losing the deal
Pressure selling is another red flag. If you were urged to sign immediately, you might not have been given time to understand the true costs and fees involved.
Your broker claimed to be independent, but wasn’t
Some brokers present themselves as impartial while actually working closely with one or two suppliers. If your broker didn’t offer genuine choice or comparison, you may have been misled.
How Courmacs Legal Can Help
At Courmacs Legal, we specialise in helping UK businesses uncover hidden costs and reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.
Here’s what we can do for your business:
- Review your energy contracts and broker communications to identify signs of mis-selling.
- Calculate how much commission or overpayment may have occurred.
- Manage your claim from start to finish, keeping it straightforward and stress-free.
- Provide expert advice so you fully understand your rights and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You are not required to use a law firm or claims company to make a complaint or claim for compensation.
You can raise a complaint directly with your lender yourself, and if you are unhappy with their response, you can escalate the matter for free to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
We are here to provide expert support, handle the process on your behalf, and improve your chances of navigating complex issues successfully, but the choice is entirely yours.
