Beauty and nail businesses join £2 billion legal claim against energy firms
24 UK beauty and nail salons across the UK have joined a legal claim aiming to get compensation from energy giants.
Law firm Harcus Parker has launched group litigation against energy suppliers who are alleged to have paid secret commissions to third-party brokers.
The undisclosed broker commissions, which were added on to the unit cost of gas and electricity, are said to have falsely inflated energy prices for up to two million businesses and organisations in the UK.
The law firm’s research revealed that one energy supplier offered brokers as much as 10p/kWh in commissions. This cost was then added to customers’ bills frequently without their knowledge.
A large number of suppliers are said to have offered brokers secret commissions of between 1p - 3p/kWh.
So far, Harcus Parker has signed up more than 2,000 businesses, ranging from big manufacturers and high street stores and sports clubs to community organisations, shops, faith groups and charities.
The firm is urging more beauty businesses to join the claim. Those wishing to join can do so here.
Damon Parker, senior partner at Harcus Parker, said: “We are very aware that, like many other high street stores, beauty salons and nail bars are struggling with inflationary pressures and the increase in energy prices.
“We hope that by helping to return some of these secret commissions to these businesses it will help ease some of the financial burden.
“With many claims stretching back several years and energy consumption in salons often very high, we would expect them to be able to claim back thousands of pounds each.
“We would urge any salons and nail bars who have not yet joined the legal action to contact us to see how we can help.”