Cost of living: French service promises to find big savings on bills

If shopping around for the best deal on utilities, insurance or internet is not your idea of fun, this ‘concierge’ service could do it for you

Middle aged couple looking at paperwork
Customers send in copies of their bills, and individual ‘counsellors’ set about finding better deals
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A website that helps consumers find better deals on utilities and other household contracts says they can save between €500 and €2,500 a year with its services.

The site lists 10 areas where it says householders can cut bills, ranging from electricity through to mobile internet connections.

An assigned ‘counsellor’ finds your deals

Since going live last June, it has received between 25 and 30 calls a day.

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The site is initially free to clients and makes its money by charging a 20% fee on savings they make in the following year.

Co-founder Christophe Crémer told The Connexion: “The biggest savings are to be found in house insurance, where people are often over-insured by €50,000 for contents, compared to the actual cost of replacing what they have.

“We save them €250 a year just on that.

“Behind that comes internet connections – people pay for 70GB data connections when they only use 1GB.”

Research results in two days

After registering with the site, called vosmeilleureseconomies.com customers send in copies of their bills, and individual ‘counsellors’ then set about finding better deals with either the same level of cover or cover better suited to their needs, usually within one or two days.

“The potential is enormous,” said Mr Crémer.

“So many people in France sign up for subscriptions and then never change, when if they looked closely they would realise they are paying way too much.”

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