Retailers urged to examine energy contracts

Retailers braced for a challenging 2025 might be sitting on thousands of pounds owed as a result of mis-sold energy contracts.

The UK high street experienced a surprise upturn in sales in March but market analysts are already suggesting an unforeseen boost is simply the calm before the storm.

And campaigning legal experts Energy Solicitors Limited (ESL) are standing by to save business owners potentially transformative sums at a time when every penny counts.

“Every week we read stories about another well-known name on the British high street having to cut costs, move premises or, even worse, face insolvency,” said Victoria Myers of ESL.

“There are various factors contributing to this bleak picture for retailers but having to deal with rising energy costs is a challenge that’s common to all.

“A volatile global energy market means uncertainty is a given. It’s difficult to plan for the future — let alone consider growth — when there is talk of energy costs rising through to 2026.

“ESL is acutely aware of the challenges facing the retail industry right now but we’re also in the right place at the right time to ascertain whether your business has been mis-sold an energy contract.

“We have a track record for winning cases that can free up thousands of pounds — money that could be used by retailers to consolidate for the future and plan with confidence.”

Retail sales rose by 0.4 per cent in March‚ bucking the downward trend since the start of the year and hinting at some kind of high street recovery.

But any brief sense of optimism was swiftly tempered by analysts citing a late Easter and an unusually dry April as factors set to drag shoppers away from the high street.

And 2025 looks like becoming another tough year for retailers facing threats on a number of fronts. 

Big names including WHSmith and Sainsbury’s have announced store closures this year with neither immune to an increasingly challenging retail landscape.

At the same time smaller independents are at even greater risk of downsizing or closure with ballooning energy bills a constant worry.

“Most people are aware that the war in Ukraine continues to keep energy prices higher than historic averages,” added Victoria.

“Factor in further changes set to come in during the next few years — including a rise in newer carbon levies and the anticipated introduction of new cost elements — and there’s no prospect of prices falling any time soon.

“If ESL can find any light at the end of the tunnel — in the shape of clawing back money owed from mis-sold energy contracts — then we will.

“We’re acutely aware that every penny counts and a refund based on hidden fees could make the difference between a retailer moving forward within confidence or facing the terrible prospect of closure.

“We’re here to help and continue to do so.”