The beginning
buy.co.uk, the UK’s first utilities price comparison service, was set up in 1998 to help consumers find the cheapest energy suppliers. Although the energy market was deregulated, customers found it difficult and confusing to compare suppliers and find the best deal; buy.co.uk’s easy to use calculator simplified the comparison process and also enabled customers to switch to a supplier, then and there.
We’ve since taken on specially selected partners to provide our customers with a wide range of services for everything from mortgages and insurance to broadband and home phone.
buy.co.uk makes life easier
With the ever-increasing number of suppliers, products and pricing structures, it is virtually impossible to research and find the best deal by yourself. So we do it for you. Our comparison and switching services are easy to use and offer help and guidance at every step.
And so customers don’t have to use us to compare one product (say energy) and another website to compare a different product (say computers), we offer comparison services for all your home and personal needs.
How does buy.co.uk make money?
We make our money from:
- Advertising. Yes we know those adverts can be a little annoying at times, but we try to ensure we only show adverts from companies that complement our services (so you won’t see adverts for the latest four wheel drive for example). By selling ad space we can use the income to keep buy.co.uk free to customers to use.
- Commissions. Every time you switch or apply for a product through buy.co.uk we earn a small amount of commission.
Who owns buy.co.uk?
buy.co.uk is part of the uSwitch.com group. uSwitch.com was bought by US company, The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) in March 2006. Scripps is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, licensing and syndication, electronic commerce and interactive media.