Philip Hammond forces energy giants to simplify terms and conditions in Budget crackdown on rip-off deals

BRITAIN’s Big Six energy giants will be forced to simplify terms and conditions as the Chancellor launches the start of a thumping crackdown on rip-off deals.

In a huge victory for the Sun, energy suppliers will be targeted in proposals designed to protect consumers from unexpected fees and unfair clauses.

The Chancellor yesterday said consumer bodies would also be given greater powers to slap bigger fines on suppliers, phone providers, online shops and banks.

Critically, he added a long-awaited, wider policy paper will also be published “shortly”.

Sources claim this could see the Government take the radical step of introducing a nationwide regulated standard energy tariff to ensure Brits get a fair deal.

Speaking yesterday the Chancellor said: “Government recognises that sometimes markets, particularly in fast developing areas of the economy can fail people.

“Sometimes the market does not deliver the outcome the text books suggest it should.

“And when that happens, this government will not hesitate to intervene.”

The first details of the crackdown on small print emerged at the weekend.

The new rules will force ‘consumer-facing’ firms to summarise terms and conditions in a handful of prominently displayed bullet-points.

Firms will also be banned from taking customers’ card details for so-called free trials.

Officials claim some terms and conditions are longer than Shakespeare’s plays.

The Sun has called for action to end the Big Six rip-off for months under the “Power to the People” campaign.

We revealed in November that energy firms are making seven times the profits they claim to be making on standard tariffs.