.... ITS GOING TO BE A BATTLE OF WILLS OR BILLS !...

[vittorio]

All of us are aware of the monstrous Bills for Electricity and Gas coming our way , soon , despite us , with Respiratory diseases being advised to keep warm etc ... . Having heard on the radio this morning , the usual WORN OUT excuses for the Companies RAISING their prices , two of which I heard , over 45 years ago !! ..(. but still managing to make huge profits ! .. ) and putting them up , as they have done in the past - either just before WINTER or during it , when clearly , we use power more frequently --- who is kidding whom ? .... so , out of curiosity , I rang my supplier and ...ASKED ONE QUESTION , WHICH THOUSANDS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO ASK = ......" If I cannot pay these colossal bills at all .......... WHAT WILL YOU DO ? .....1, CUT ME OFF , 2, SEND IN THE BAILIFSs , 3, OR TAKE ME TO COURT ? .. -all of which would defeat the object somewhat !!!. " - My responder to this question , spluttered abit , and just said " I REALLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION , .-..DISCUSSIONS ARE IN PROGRESS AT THE MOMENT " .....and quickly put the phone down on me !! ......... last year , the police broke into a elderly Pensioner's home , and found him DEAD clinging onto a barely warm radiator , clearly fearful of raising the temperature , because of anticipating a huge Bill , ........ I fear , soon , he will be one of hundreds, if not thousands making that terrible choice - to HEAT OR EAT .?.... = ILL - because of lack of heat , or lack of food. , either of which could well .... result in what one lawyer recently called = " COMMERCIAL MANSLAUGHTER " ..........

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi Vittorio, I personally think it's disgusting these price rises are. They like you rightly say are still making a healthy profit so why the big price rise. I'm sure the pandemic will come into along the line. I have always bought a little extra every time I did my big shop something my mam always did, she always said we would not run short and would always have something to eat. But with these rises I wonder how much longer I am going to be able to do this. So many people are going to have to make the choice of heat or eat. No one should have to make that choice, so many people will suffer because of this from the elderly and vulnerable to families and single people living on their own. My heart goes out to them. Why don't we bring back the workhouses then at least people to can't afford to either heat or eat will have somewhere warm and something to eat.I must stress these are my own thoughts it's how I feel. Sorry for rambling on. Hope you all have a great weekend and keep safe and warm. Take care😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[Hidden]

The energy companies are greedy gits aren't they?

We are glad we went on a fixed price tariff until 2023 taking advantage whilst it was there.

What we do is buy food that's in season or on offer and stock up on them!

Last year the price of beef went up so we decided not to have it and forget the Saturday steak nights for a while and it was the right thing we did!

[katieoxo60]

Hello Vittorio, thank you for raising this issue. I am on a fixed price but because I am in credit at present they suggested I cut my monthly direct debit wheres the logic in that, if annual prices are to rise by 50%? Anyway I have not changed my direct debit, it will change soon enough when my fixed rate runs out or I move home. I've been wearing extra clothing as thats cheaper at the second hand shop than fuel costs. At night I wear long johns under my pyjamas( can imagine you all smiling at that ) and put a duvet round me with heat pad to keep warm while watching telly. My friend says that's not the point though , we should not have to choose in this modern day and age between Food or fuel especially those who are ill , disabled and the elderly. Try to stay warm & safe

[frose]

From a friend's FB page

RE: imposed £200 loans for energy bills. Thanks to Richard Else - I have just reworked and generalised a message he has written to his energy provider and to the Cabinet Office (and I've cc'd my MP, who is in the Treasury)... Feel free to copy, adapt and send to suit your purposes...

To whom it may concern,

With regards to the recent news that all customers of energy companies in England will be given a £200 loan from the Government to be repaid over following years.

I would like to state that I do not want this loan. I have not asked for this loan and I certainly do not want the government interfering in my finanical affairs. I do not wish my energy company to transfer the loan to my account, nor take repayments from my account in the future, and I shall be writing to them to this effect.

I have several reasons for this decision.

1. I have not given the Government permission to provide me with a loan. Legal requirements within the Consumer Credit Act require both the lender and the applicant to accept the written terms and conditions relating to specific transactions. I have not received contractual paperwork and would not sign an agreement, should I be provided with one. Without such an agreement, I believe the imposition of a compulsory loan would be unlawful.

2. Since the most vulnerable in society are much more likely to be using pre-payment meters for their energy supplies, this loan scheme is completely misguided. Such people do not receive or pay bills, so cannot be helped through this proposed plan. Please reconsider and change this.

3. Since I am a customer on a fixed rate tariff my unit costs for energy will not rise in April when the government removes its cap. Therefore I do not need a loan to help me.

4. Within my contractual agreement with my energy company, there is no reference to the provision of credit from third parties without the consent of the customer. If the government continues with this course of action, it could cause contractual problems for the energy companies.

This imposition is of great concern.

For the Government to create a situation where they can enforce financial debt upon citizens, then control their personal finances - through their energy account - to repay a debt they have neither wanted nor authorised, is a worrying authoritarian development in the relationship between the state and the citizens of this country.