NORTH Ayrshire and Arran MP Patricia Gibson has welcomed the decision by Citizens Advice to lodge a complaint about the practice of essential service providers routinely overcharging their most loyal customers.

Citizens Advice found that across five essential markets (mobile, broadband, home insurance, mortgages and savings) three quarters of all UK bill payers are paying a significantly higher price, just for staying with their existing provider.

Mrs Gibson, SNP spokesperson on consumer affairs, said: “Annually, over £4 billion is being lost by customers to this loyalty penalty, which costs the average household £877 every year. As is often the case, it is the elderly and the most vulnerable members of our society who are losing the most.

“This is simply not acceptable.”