Stop paying the ‘lazy tax’: Aussies slugged $6.7b for sticking with service providers

According to new research from Finder, Aussies’ failure to compare service providers is resulting in a lazy tax that’s costing them hundreds. If you’ve ever told yourself, I’ll look at that bill later, it’s time to break the habit.

Finder crunched the numbers on energy, broadband and mobile plans and found Aussies’ procrastination habit is amounting to paying a whopping $6.7 billion in ‘loyalty tax’ in 2025. That works out to $569 per household, simply for sticking with the same providers and not shopping around.

Mariam Gabaji, utilities expert at Finder, says too many households are leaving money on the table at a time when every dollar counts.

“With cost-of-living pressures still biting, households are spending more on essential services including energy, internet, and mobile,” Gabaji said. “While these are non-negotiable expenses, the price you pay for them absolutely is.

“Remember, providers typically reserve their best prices for new customers.”

The bills with the most bite

Finder’s analysis shows just how much that ‘new customer only’ mindset is costing us. In 2025 alone, Aussies overpaid:

$2.9 billion on energy

$2.8 billion on mobile data

$986 million on NBN

That’s nearly $3 billion blown on power bills alone, mostly because people haven’t checked whether a cheaper plan exists, and chances are, it probably does.

Gabaji says the start of a new year is the perfect time to break the set-and-forget habit and get better value from your bills.

“Many of us set bills and forget them, but that inertia is exactly what providers count on,” she said.

“If you haven’t switched providers – be it energy, broadband or mobile – in the last 12 months, chances are you’re paying too much.

Why it pays to shop around

“Most people don’t realise just how much they’re missing out on. Taking the time to shop around can put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket each year.”

Finder’s research compared what people are actually paying with some of the cheapest deals available on the market as of December 2025. For energy, that meant analysing average quarterly bills across NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, then stacking them up against the lowest single-rate tariffs available.

For NBN, Finder compared the cheapest monthly plans in each speed tier with what Aussies say they’re paying on average. And for mobile, it looked at month-to-month plans offering at least 14GB of data, which Finder says is about what the average Australian uses each month.

The result? Plenty of people paying more than they need to, month after month.

So how do you avoid paying the lazy tax in 2026?

Finder’s advice is simple. First, shop around regularly, not just when you sign up. Make comparing plans a habit, like checking your bank balance or swearing at your power bill.

Second, ask for a better deal. Providers won’t sharpen their pencil unless you give them a reason. If they won’t match a better offer, that’s your cue to walk.

And finally, keep an eye out for special offers, especially for new customers. Discounts, rewards and sign-up deals can make switching well worth the effort.

The takeaway? Loyalty might be nice in friendships, but when it comes to bills, it’s costing Australians hundreds a year. A little bill spring clean could be one of the easiest wins you score in 2026.

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