Elderly 'cut food to buy heating'

[Win2Win Racing]

The poorest pensioner households cut their food spending during very cold spells of weather to cover the cost of heating, a report says.

More... (http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-13687027)

[scoobydoo]

I wonder how long before all the major companies put their prices up. I swear they all get in a room and say, "it is your turn to go first this time". Competition my :butthead:. Lookout the NHS.

[bigcumba]

Exactly Scoobs, and they tweak the figures a wee bit each time to make it look like some are increasing less than others, but overall the effect is pretty much the same. Shower of money grabbing greedy ::swear. And no doubt the Tory voters on here think it's okay for companies to do this sort of thing at the expense of the poorest people in the country... Time the whole lot were re-nationalised, and not at the taxpayers expense, just give them a token amount, say a pound, because they''ve milked the utilities and ther customers for far too long.

[Godspot]

& it's all set to get worse if this is anything to go by - actually there's a littler tip at the end of this:

Scottish Power raises gas bills by 19% | Money | guardian.co.uk
7 Jun 2011 ... Utility 'rip-off' row as SSE says gas bills may increase despite 50% rise ... But most of you cheered when house prices were going up 20%pa ...
www.guardian.co.uk/.../jun/.../scottish-power-raises-gas-bills

"A spokesman for Moneysupermarket.com said: "This is a huge increase. Now really is the time to get on to the best-priced energy tariff for your usage level and area you live.

"The cheapest online energy tariff is currently Online Saver 10 offered by EDF Energy with average annual bills of £940 but, in the face of rising prices, opting for the market-leading fixed product Fix Saver v2, from EDF Energy with average bills of £1,009, is the best way to safeguard against further price increases from the energy giants."

[scoobydoo]

You would think that one thing a government would do would be to state all companies have to charge in the same way, that should have been done way back. So as everyone can see who is the cheapest. No standing charges, no lower rate and higher rate...one :censored: rate for all of them so we know who is the cheapest, therefore we can see if there is real competition....even though we know it is all about making shed loads of money for themselves.

As for pensioners, this government secretly cut the winter payments in the last budget. These cuts along with the disgraceful cuts on disabled people show what a real government is like, how we treat the most vunerable in our society even given these hard times.

[Win2Win]

I've got my heating on and the door open .... trying to do my bit for global warming :biggrin:

[bigcumba]

I've got my heating on and the door open .... trying to do my bit for global warming :biggrin:

My ex wife does her bit too, all that hot air....

[scoobydoo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13740903

Prime example of a multi-millionaire cabinet member who has never changed energy supplier in his life, they just don't get it do they. When they all put their prices up within 3 months of each other, it is virtually a cartel you :censored:..therefore there is no real competition. :doh1: