Minimum savings will come from smart meters

There has been a lot of talk about how the rollout of smart meters for households and businesses in the UK will provide a win win situation, where consumers and businesses will save money on bills and energy firms won’t have to send out inspectors because the usage data will be sent to them automatically. It is claimed that these smart meters, which are digital meters, will put an end to the unreliable estimated bills that energy firms send out.

However, it has recently been revealed that consumers will not benefit from the smart meters because the cost of the rollout will be factored into their bills, which effectively means that they will be paying for them, yet the savings that they are set to make only comes to around £23 by 2020. The cost of the rollout is said to be around £11.3 billion and the Department for Energy and Climate Change has said that this is something that consumers will end up paying for.

The estimated saving is only 2 percent of the average household annual energy bill, and officials have said that it does not take into account any increases in energy costs over the coming years. Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, has estimated that bills could increase by between £168 and £700 a year by 2016 because energy firms need to invest in new power stations, which will result in costs being passed onto consumers.

Chris Huhne, the Climate Change and Energy Secretary said: “Smart meters are a key part of giving us more control over how we use energy at home and at work, helping us to cut out waste and save money. In combination with our plans to reform the electricity market and introduce the green deal for homes and businesses, the roll-out of smart meters will help us keep the lights on while reducing emissions and getting the best possible deal for the consumer.”

Tags: annual energy, households, Minimum savings, win situation, business

New energy statements failing to make impact

A recent survey that was carried out has suggested that new energy statements that were launched to make the energy market more competitive and improve understanding of payments for consumers are failing to have the desired impact. The survey was carried out by the price comparison service uswitch.com and involved questioning consumers about the new annual energy statements that have been brought in.

However, despite the aims of the annual statements is appears that consumers had either not received the new statements or may have received them but did not realise that they had received them. The statements are supposed to have been delivered to all homes in the UK and are meant to explain the various discounts that are available on different tariffs so that consumers can get the best deal possible on their energy.

Any household that hasn’t yet received one of these statements is due to receive one soon, but many may not even realise that they have received their statement. One industry group has described the statements as a ‘huge undertaking’. Suppliers were told to start sending out the first of these statements by the end of last year by the energy regulator Ofgem. The aim of the statements is to make consumers more aware of their energy use and why they may be paying as much as they are, with the hope of encouraging more competition in the market.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at Uswitch, said: “Annual statements are a linchpin of Ofgem’s push to get the competitive energy market working properly, but consumers clearly do not think they are coming up to scratch. The vast majority of households will have received an annual statement by now, but only 37% recognise that they have done so. The statements appear to be poorly labelled, difficult to understand and do not stand out from ordinary energy bills.”

Tags: energy market, price comparison service, industry group, end, new energy, market, consumer policy, energy regulator ofgem

Gas bills could soar higher

The icy cold weather and snow has already struck in the UK, leaving many households having to turn up the heat in order to get warm. However, the cold snap has also caused gas prices in the country to rocket to their highest levels in eighteen months, causing concern amongst many households with regards to how they will cope with their increased bills.

With many still struggling in the continued difficult financial climate the prospect of even higher bills is one that will create concern and stress. The freezing temperatures has meant that households have had no option but to increase their heating, and on 5^th December demand for gas was 25 percent higher than it was on the same day last year, and the third highest daily amount on record.

The temperatures have hit unprecedented lows for this time of the year in many parts of the country, and this has seen demand for gas amongst households and businesses rocket.          The National Grid reported a huge increase in demand for power, and the surge in demand created concern in wholesale markets, sending the price of gas surging to its highest level in eighteen months at sixty two pence per therm, which reflected an increase of eleven pence.

With more and more people staying in the home to avoid the cold, turning up the heating, and trying to keep warm, energy bills are likely to rocket, and officials have warned that households need to brace themselves for a sharp increase in costs.

An official from Consumer Focus said: “We’ve been expecting it any day. If this cold weather continues causing high demand, the question is how much more will they need to go out and buy on the spot market. Our fear in these situations is that gas companies are able to talk up price rises on the back of unusual weather. We really wouldn’t want to see further rises because of this cold snap.”

Tags: rocket, Heating, eleven pence, freezing, wholesale markets, Snow, energy bills

Consumers warned against locking into costly fixed rate energy tariffs

With winter now upon us it is not surprising that many people are getting concerned about their energy bills, and this is made even worse by the fact that energy usage prices are set to soar with the energy giants increasing their prices and adding the financial burden that many households are already experiencing. Scottish and Southern Energy has already announced an increase of 9 percent from the start of December, which could see the average annual bill rising by almost £70 a year.

Officials have said that it is likely that more of the UK’s energy giants will follow suit and increase their prices. However, they have also said that consumers should resist the temptation to lock themselves into costly fixed price energy deals, as this way they could end up paying hundreds of pounds extra each year. It is claimed that fixed tariffs are around 27 percent higher than online tariffs, and this could add over £230 to the average annual energy bill.

EDF Energy announced yesterday that it would be freezing standard gas and electricity prices until March 2011. However, the annual cost of this comes to £1098 a year, compared to £867 a year for its best online tariff, reflecting a difference of 27 percent.

Ann Robinson from the price comparison service uswitch.com said: ‘Fixed tariffs can be expensive; it is only worth paying the extra if you are confident prices will increase by that much. There are two key steps to keeping a lid on your energy bills – make your home more energy efficient, and switch to a competitive energy plan so you pay less for the energy you use. This could save around £422 per year.’

Tags: tariff, Ann Robinson, price comparison service, officials, EDF

Energy customers could pay price for leaving fixed rate deal

Over the past couple of years many energy customers in the UK have decided to opt for a fixed price deal with their energy firm in the hope of avoiding soaring energy costs. These fixed price deals are set for a specified period of time, but in some cases when the deal expires the energy provider rolls the customer onto another fixed price deal automatically if they do not hear from the customer to say otherwise.

Officials are now concerned that customers who want to get out of a fixed rate deal with their energy supplier in order to switch to another provider could face crippling financial penalties with some facing fees as high as £200 simply for wanting to get out of the fixed rate deal that they are locked into. The Fixed Price 2015 tariff from energy giant EDF is the one that comes with the highest penalty, with customers being charged up to £200 for leaving the deal earlier than the expiry.

Experts are now urging consumers to make sure that they keep an eye on their fixed rate deals, and to make the switch when they get the chance rather than risking being rolled over to yet another contract and then getting stuck on another deal for even longer. British Gas charges up to £100 for exiting these deals early, Scottish and Southern Energy charges up to £75, and Scottish Power charged up to £50.

One official said: “This is a trap that people really should be aware of. If you are on a fixed rate deal, make sure you know when it comes to an end and switch accordingly. If you forget to do this in time, you will either end up stuck on a tariff that may not suit you and find yourself spending hundreds of pounds to get out of it. This is yet another reason to compare energy prices and tariffs on a regular basis, and make sure you switch as and when is necessary.”

Tags: Price 2015 tariff, energy supplier, provider, contract, tariff, customer, fixed price deal, uk

Understanding utility bills getting harder

It has been claimed by officials from consumer watchdog group Consumer Focus that understanding gas and electricity bills is actually getting more difficult for some people, despite the fact that the energy regulator Ofgem has issued new rules that are aimed at making it easier for consumers to understand their utility bills from energy companies.

Around 10 percent of income is spent on gas and electricity, and officials are concerned that with the most expensive time of the year nearly upon us, where consumers will be using more energy due to the weather, many could end up paying over the odds because they are unable to work out what they should be paying.

The concerns come after it was revealed that one of the big six energy giants in the UK, Npower, had been inadvertently overcharging over one million households across the country, and those affected had not even noticed that they were paying too much for their energy usage.

Officials from Consumer Focus said that whilst Ofgem was trying to make it easier for consumers to understand their energy bills and avoid paying over the odds the situation actually appeared to be getting worse. This could be a combination of people finding it hard to work out what they should be paying or people simply not bothering to check their energy bills.

A spokesperson for Consumer Focus said: “If anything, we are seeing more complexity than before the rules came in. If I was an Npower customer, I would never have noticed that I was being overcharged. People don’t want their energy to be confusing – they want to be able to switch the lights on and forget it, but instead there are all these ridiculous structures.”

Tags: energy bills, Consumer Focus, consumer watchdog, energy regulator, ofgem, energy giants, combination

Investigation over energy mis-selling to be carried out

It has been revealed recently that four of the big six energy giants in the UK are at the centre of an investigation over the mis-selling of energy to UK consumers. The investigation is to be carried out by the UK energy regulator Ofgem, which said that it had received complaints and reports from various sources suggesting that the four energy companies may have breached regulations with regards to energy sales.

The four energy giants that are facing questioning from the regulator as part of the investigation are Npower, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy, and EDF Energy. The investigation centres around sales made by the firms on both a face to face basis and over the telephone. It comes following new regulations that were brought in at the start of this year with regards to the sale of energy  contracts to consumers.

According to Ofgem more than 50 percent of energy customers that switched in 2008 did so after being contacted by an energy sales person, but in many cases the customers ended up on a more expensive tariff because they had been misled over their energy costs or had not been able to effectively compare costs against their existing tariffs.

The four energy giants have said that they will fully cooperate with Ofgem in the investigation, which will centre around whether they have breached the new regulations that were brought in at the start of this year. The new regulations required energy firms to ensure that estimates were given before any face to face contract were concluded and where possible comparisons were given to the consumer with regards to pricing compared to their existing provider.

Andrew Wright, of Ofgem, said: “We expect all suppliers to comply with these tougher obligations, but if our investigations find otherwise, we will take strong action.”

Tags: energy customers, energy, United Kingdom, energy companies, regulator, Scottish Power

Energy salesmen preying on vulnerable customers

It has been reported that in the run up to the winter, when many households and consumers may be concerned about their energy bills, unscrupulous energy salesmen may be preying on vulnerable consumers. Whilst regulators have tried to crack down on doorstep sales, it appears that many salesmen working on commission are still talking consumers into switching.

More worryingly is the fact that many of the vulnerable consumers that these salesmen are preying on end up on more expensive deals. Many of those that are being targeted by these salesmen are elderly or low income consumers, and this makes the situation even worse.

Tough new rules were imposed with regards to doorstep selling around eight months ago, but despite these new regulations the practice still continues. It is thought that last year around two and a half million consumers switched their energy supplier after sales staff from energy suppliers approached them on their doorsteps, in public places, or by phone in order to persuade them to switch.

The energy regulator Ofgem brought in new regulation with regards to these sales at the start of this year, and this involved the energy firms having to provide a written estimate before any sale or switch was concluded. However, consumer campaign groups are adamant that mis-selling of energy is still going on.           

An official from the consumer group Consumer Focus said: ‘We are very concerned that consumers are continuing to report being hit by bad sales practices. If any company is encouraging their employees to break the rules and talk customers into taking up an energy deal that leaves them worse off, there should be strict action from the regulator.’

Tags: energy firms, energy salesmen, Tough new rules, energy suppliers, half million consumers, Consumer Focus, energy regulator, energy regulator ofgem

Consumers advised on avoiding winter fuel hikes

With winter well on the way many people may already be getting nervous about the cost of their energy usage, and this is something that particularly concerns certain vulnerable groups such as the elderly or low income families. With many people already struggling with their finances even before having to worry about fuel bills experts have advised those concerned to take steps as early as possible to avoid costly bills.

It is advisable for those that are worried that their bills may shoot up too high over the winter period to look at other options available to them before winter sets it, and for many this may be a case of looking for a cheaper provider in the area. The cost of energy usage can vary from one provider to another so it can be well worth taking the time to look at other options and providers.

Consumers are easily able to compare the prices on offer from a wide range of energy suppliers that service their areas by going online, and a number of comparison sites are available that will make the process easier and faster. By simply typing in some details about their property and usage habits consumers can quickly find out which supplier is likely to be the cheapest, and can then easily switch and start saving money.

One consumer stated: “I was with the same energy firm for years and years, and slowly but surely I could see my energy bills getting higher and higher. It came to the point where I was paying a fortune for my energy, and I was too nervous to use the heating and hot water even in winter. However, I finally took the plunge, went online, and switched suppliers, and over the past couple of years by energy bills have been far more reasonable and affordable.”

Tags: fuel, energy, cheaper provider, energy usage, energy bills, energy suppliers

Energy price increases described as depressing

Over recent years there has been a lot of controversy over the amount that customers have been charged for their energy usage in the UK, and whilst prices have gone up and down the UK’s major energy suppliers have been accused of being quick to increase prices when the cost of wholesale energy goes up but being very slow to apply changes when the costs go down.

One comparison site, confused.com, has recently stated that the price of energy usage looks as though it is set to increase again, and has described this as ‘depressing’. One official from the company said that the end of cheap energy rates was coming from some providers, and this would make for depressing news for households, many of which are already struggling with their finances.

Energy analyst, Lisa Greenfield, said that companies such as E.On and EDF Energy looked set to end cheap rate offers, and on top of this it looked as thought the cost of wholesale energy was set to increase again. This, she said, all pointed towards energy prices in the UK increasing, and would come as bad news for those that were already on the financial edge. The move could once again send many households into fuel poverty, where 10 percent of more of their household income goes on energy costs.

Greenfield did suggest that those looking to avoid having to pay more on their gas and electricity bills, at least for the foreseeable future, could go online and compare energy prices from a range of other suppliers. She said that it could be worth consumers trying to find a cheap, fixed deal with energy suppliers before the deals were withdrawn, as they could then lock in a lower price for a set period of time to save money on their monthly gas and electric bills.

Tags: energy costs, energy, energy suppliers, compare energy prices, energy rates

Energy firms probed over price differences

Two UK energy firms are being quizzed and investigated by regulators over differences in prices in different parts of the country, according to recent reports. Questions are being asked over why the energy providers are charging a particular price in one part of the country and a different price in another part of the country.

Amongst the discrepancies that appear to have been picked up is the fact that the price that the companies are charging in areas where they need to compete more is different to the price being charged in other areas. According to reports the two energy firms, which have not been named, are being asked ’serious questions’ by the UK’s energy regulator, Ofgem.

Ofgem has stated that if an official investigation is launched following the initial questioning then the two energy suppliers will be named. It was announced last year that energy firms could not apply price differences for no reason and that any difference in prices for energy usage had to reflect differences in cost to the actual supplier.

These changes, which were brought in last year by Ofgem, resulted in many energy customers seeing their bills falling, and in recent months the prices for those that were using a prepayment meter had dropped impressively from £111 to £69.

Whilst the questioning of the two energy firms continues industry experts have suggested that consumers who feel that they are being charged too much on their energy usage look into switching to a different provider. Many are surprised to find that when they do this they can get their energy far cheaper than with their current provider.

Christine McGourty, director of Energy UK, said: “Suppliers compete across all payment methods and tariffs, so it is important for customers to shop around to make sure they are on the best deal.”

Tags: energy providers, energy suppliers, ofgem, energy regulator, energy

Energy firm breaches new rules

It has been revealed that an energy firm has recently been found guilty of breaching new regulations with regards to consumer complaints. According to a recent report EDF Energy failed to record customer complaints properly in line with regulations. The breach is said to have occurred between October 2008 and March of last year.

The report claims that the problem has now been rectified and the energy supplier has had to pay £200,000 to charities that help consumers. As a result of the payment that the energy supplier has made the UK’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has decided against imposing a separate fine against the energy firm.

The regulations that the company was found to have breached were introduced in 2008, and this is said to have been the first investigation since the rules were brought in. The energy firm is said to have taken immediate action to put the matter right. The rules had been brought it try and improve customer service levels from energy firms, which typically receive a huge number of complaints relating to customer service and billings.

The regulations aimed to ensure that consumer could contact the energy firm and have to explain the situation just once, and the complaint would be properly recorded so that the matter could be resolved or continue to be dealt with effectively. This also made it easier to monitor how long it took for the complaint to be resolved, helping to ensure that it was sorted out within the specified timescale.

EDF Energy said: “When Ofgem first identified in January 2009 that the number of complaints we had recorded was lower than expected, we immediately instigated a review and developed a robust action plan to resolve the matter. The actions we took led to an almost immediate and sustained improvement, such that our recorded complaints are now fully consistent with our expectations and with other suppliers.”       

Tags: energy firms, EDF Energy, Electric power, customer, line, energy supplier, Complaint, energy

Now may be the time for British Gas customers to make the switch

British Gas has recently announced that around half a million of its customers are set to receive higher bills as a result of a special scheme coming to an end. The customers are those that signed a deal in 2005 by taking up the Price Freeze 2010 plan, which effectively froze their payments for a five year period up until this year.

The customers that did take up the deal managed to avoid the price hikes that were seen in 2006 and 2008, and on average saved several hundred pounds a year compared to those that were not on the plan. However, the scheme is now coming to an end, and this could see the bills of these customers increase sharply.

British Gas is writing to some customers and putting them automatically on a new price freeze plan up until 2012, although the cost per unit on this plan will be higher than it was on the plans that were signed back in 2005. Those that do not want to automatically switch to the plan are being advised to contact British Gas to let the company know, and they will then be moved to the energy supplier’s standard tariff.

Form those that are not going to switch to another scheme with British Gas it may be worth looking at the charges of other suppliers in the area to see if they can get a better deal on the cost of their gas and electricity usage than they would be being moved to the standard tariff from British Gas.

Talking of the customers that fixed their prices in 2005 one industry official said: ‘Everything fell into place for these customers. They fixed at the right time, for the right price and for the right length of time.’

Tags: energy supplier, british gas, price, bills, switch

Water bills to soar over the next two decades

One of the UK’s biggest water suppliers, Severn Trent, has said that water bills are likely to soar over the next two decades. The water supplier predicts that over the next twenty years the cost of water bills will soar around 27 percent above inflation.

The supplier has put the increase down to rising operating costs and EU regulations, both of which it claims will cost the industry billions of pounds. The water industry was privatised in 1989, and since that time has made huge profits from increasing bills. However, despite the price increases water companies are said to have failed to carry out repairs and offered a poor level of customer service.

Severn Trent said that rules that have now been brought in by regulators will results in billions of pounds having to be spent over the coming years, and these operating costs are going to prove hard to handle by the water suppliers. The company said that the rising costs that would be incurred by the water industry would have to be passed on to customers, who would see their water bills rocket as a result.

An official from Severn Trent stated: ‘It is not clear such a continued high level of investment is sustainable in terms of whether it can be financed, whether customers are willing to pay for it and the detrimental impact on carbon emissions.’

The water regulator Ofwat has also ordered water suppliers to place a cap on bills over the next five year, with Severn Trent being told to cut its bills by 4 percent, which will also hit the supplier hard. The rising cost of borrowing, which is a problem for all businesses, is also going to play a part in the higher costs that customers will face.

Tags: water bills, water, business, year, costs, Severn Trent

Inaccurate bills common amongst energy suppliers

Many households are used to getting bills that are inaccurate for one reason or another, and these bills can come from a variety of sources and companies. This can be very frustrating for the bill payer, as it can mean that it takes longer to sort out their budget, which is something that most people want to get done as quickly as possible in the current financial climate.

It has been revealed that some companies are worse than others when it comes to sending out bills that are no accurate, and the group of companies that have emerged as being the worst for this type of activity is energy suppliers, according to a recent report.

Research was carried out by uswitch.com and indicated that consumers found energy suppliers to be the worst when it came to sending out inaccurate bills. Moreover, this is the fourth year in a row that energy suppliers have been voted worst in this survey, showing that much improvement is still needed when it comes to billing.

The data showed that in the last two years around 30 percent of households had received incorrect bills from their energy suppliers for their gas and electricity usage. Data also showed that of 17 percent of these households had been incorrectly billed by their energy supplier more than once.

Whilst some of the inaccuracies on the bills were sorted out within a week or two, the average time taken to resolve the problem was just over two months. This has led to a greater number of consumers providing their own readings o energy suppliers.

Uswitch stated: ‘Clearly there’s a long way to go before the energy industry lays the ghost of bad billing to rest, but there is some hope here. The fact that more households are providing suppliers with meter readings will play no small part in improving the accuracy of our energy bills.’

Tags: energy supplier, energy bills, uswitch, billing, inaccurate

Households struggling with winter fuel bills

According to recent reports there are now many households that are struggling with winter fuel bills as a result of very cold weather coupled with lack of price cuts from energy suppliers. The high energy bills that some households are having to try and cope with will add further strain to the already difficult financial situations of many people.

The average amount that households are expected to pay for the fuel that they used over the winter period is £532.70, and this takes it above the previous record of £475, reflecting an increase of over £50. Many have been keeping the heating on for longer during the cold weather and this has driven up the cost of their energy bills.

Whilst the spring is officially here and summer is only around the corner there are still warnings of cold weather being released, and this means that consumers are likely to continue using their heating at a time of year when they might usually have stopped using it. Many are also putting the temperature up when using their heating, which can also make a big difference on bills.

The figures relating to winder fuel bills were put together by Energyhelpline.com, which has accused the government of failing to stand up for consumers. Whilst wholesale prices on energy have fallen dramatically by around 60 percent there are concerns that household energy usage costs have only dropped by around 15 percent coming nowhere near reflecting the saving that the energy firms are making.

Officials are also concerned that some people may be receiving inaccurate bills and paying more than they need to because they do not take the time to check the bills. Consumers are also being advised to try and switch providers to get a better deal.

Energyhelpline.com stated: ‘In a privatised energy market, there is little governments can do and they need to be honest and tell people that the only way to reduce their bills is by taking personal responsibility to find the best deals.’ 

Tags: wholesale prices, energy suppliers, market, energy bills, Heating, responsibility, previous record

NPower named as Britain’s worst utility company

The German owned energy firm NPower has recently been named as the worst utility company in Britain, topping the tables as Britain’s worst supplier after the consumer campaign group Which? carried out a poll that involved surveying eight thousand respondents.

Owned by the German company RWE, Npower has around 6.5 million customers in the UK, but the majority of them are not happy customers according to the results of the Which? survey. Only 27 percent of customers with NPower said that they were satisfied with the service, leaving the vast majority of customers unhappy with the service.

Whilst Npower rated the worst in any Which? survey on history, the report also showed that the customer service levels amongst the big six energy suppliers was all inadequate. British Gas received a customer service satisfaction level of just 37 percent, and Eon received a slightly higher 39 percent. Scottish Power received 40 percent and Scottish & Southern Energy achieved a more respectable 50 percent satisfaction level.

Officials from Which? said that the results for all energy providers was poor and reflected a poor level of customers service, adding that customers should be happy with the service that they are receiving rather than just satisfied. He said that the results reflected the poor state of Britain when it came to the commitment of energy firms.

He stated: ‘Our latest survey adds to the dismal picture of Britain’s utilities in 2010.’

However, an Npower spokesman said that the company was committed to its customers and aimed to provide a service that would keep them happy.

He said: ‘Our aim is to see our customers happy, not just satisfied – and we’ve been working really hard to make customer service the focus of our company.’

Tags: energy providers, energy firms, worst supplier, energy, Npower

Fuel prices hit a record high

Things have been looking increasingly dismal for drivers over recent months when it comes to petrol prices, and for many the rising cost of petrol has caused real financial problems, making it difficult for some motorists to actually afford to run their cars. However, things have now got even worse as a result of prices at the pumps reaching record highs of £1.20.

In July 2008 the soaring cost of oil saw petrol prices reach new highs at the pumps, but the latest prices have now surpassed those seen in 2008. The prices reached their record high just days after the first of three one penny price hikes was added as part of the fuel duty hike, with the other increases due to come in October and January of next year.

Whilst the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, was hoping that staggering the three pence fuel duty hike would help drivers by avoiding a sudden sharp increase in already high petrol prices drivers have still been hit with the highest prices on record, and things could get worse before they get better due to the rising cost of oil and the weak pound.

Officials from the motoring group the AA said that it was difficult to predict where things would go, as it could depend on a number of factors including how the pound reacted to the general election, which is due in May, and the impact of any tax changes that followed on from the election.

Another industry official stated: “The things that have really put the cost of petrol up more recently has been the fact that our currency has been weaker against the dollar, and that’s actually had a bigger impact than the duty itself. In 2000, the fuel tax was 73.5%. And now, it’s running at about 60%. So tax on fuel, as a percentage, is actually lower at the moment.”

Tags: Fuel tax, petrol, GBP, oil, real financial problems, cost, Exchequer, cars

Out of date food savings consumers money

With many households still reeling from the financial impact of the credit crunch and the recession in the UK many are still looking for ways to reduce their outgoings. Read more

Tags: food, service, Grocery store, Food industry, Shelf life, date items, demand, supermarket

No code of conduct for comparison sites

Consumers that use price comparison sites will continue to be without protection following the collapse of a proposed code of conduct for price comparison sites. Read more

Tags: comparison sites, Price comparison services, final attempt, regulations consumers, Affiliate marketing, Recreation and Sports, site

Camelot wants to expand abilities of terminals

It has been announced that the lottery giant Camelot is looking to expand the capabilities of its lottery ticket terminals, and wants consumers to be able to use the terminals to top up mobile phones and make bill payments in addition to purchasing their lottery tickets. Read more

Tags: Camelot, banking giants santander, Mobile phone, magnetic swipe, National Lottery Commission, Media and Sport, lottery operator, Department for Culture

Grandparents struggle so they can help the grandkids

It has been reported that millions of grandparents in the UK are prepared to struggle financially so that they can use their money to provide for their grandchildren. Read more

Tags: cutbacks, official, spoilt, family, quarter, Grandparent, retirement, clothes

Number of JSA claimants soars

According to recent figures the number of people that are now seeking Jobseeker’s Allowance has soared, going up to 1.64 million in January. This reflected an increase of 23,500. Read more

Tags: uk, failure, summer, Employment law, time, Bad news, unemployment, jobseeker's allowance

BT changes times for free calls

Many people that are with the communications giant BT have packages that allow them to make free evening calls so that they can get better value for money depending on when they tend to make most of their calls. Read more

Tags: call, bt, announcement, BT Total Broadband, British Telecom, provider, 6pm, money

Sharp fall in retail sales for January

According to recently released figures January saw a sharp fall in the level of retail sales, with sales levels falling at their sharpest level in a year and a half. Read more

Tags: recessions, food sales, whilst, retail sales, double dip recession

10 percent of Brits affected by scams

It has been revealed by the Office of Fair Trading that around 10 percent of Brits have been affected by scams in the past. This equates to around four million adults who have said that they have responded to what turned out to be a scam. Worryingly whilst 50 percent of those that had fallen for a scam had lost more than £50 to the fraudsters around 5 percent had lost more than £5000. Read more

Tags: Advance-fee fraud, Spamming, Confidence tricks, Financial Services Authority, Deception, Social engineering, Ethics, office of fair trading, Reloading scam

Cash strapped shoppers turn to out of date goods

According to a recent report many shoppers who are struggling to make ends meet financially are trying to save money by going to websites that offer out of date food on the cheap. Many people are now looking to bag a bargain by buying food that has passed its official sell by date and is available for a fraction of the normal price. Read more

Tags: Grocery store, food, official, Shelf life, date food, out of date food

Confidence tricksters duping lonely hearts online

These days the power of the Internet means that a rising number of people have been using the Internet in order to look at dating sites and more importantly to meet someone, and it can be incredibly easy to chat with ease to people through these sites and feel as thought you have got to know them. Read more

Tags: Human behavior, Romance scam, Online daters, Social engineering, crime

Consumers more satisfied with discount retailers than major supermarkets

Over the past couple of years discount supermarkets have become increasingly popular amongst consumers, and this is due to the financial problems that many households have faced, which has forced them to seek out ways in which they can save money on their monthly outgoings such as their shopping bills.

Many have started to use discount supermarkets in addition to or instead of the major supermarket giants, and a recent poll has shown that customers seem to be more satisfied with these discount stores compared to the supermarket giants.

A recent report has shown that when it comes to the affections of customers, discount stores such as Lidl and Aldi have rated higher than the big name supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Asda. The measure of customer satisfaction showed that the discount retailers managed to score an impressive 61 percent in terms of customer satisfaction. The big name supermarkets, on the other hand, did not do as well.

Asda and Tesco both scored less than 50 percent in the customer satisfaction polls, and the most popular of the supermarket chains, Sainsbury’s, only scored 58 percent which was still less than the discount supermarkets.

Waitrose fared better than the discount stores, scoring an impressive 79 percent when it came to customer satisfaction levels. The study was carried out by consumer campaign group Which? and involved looking at areas such as staff attitudes, prices, and choice.

A spokesperson for Which? stated: ‘The success of some budget supermarkets in our survey proves that savvy shoppers can make the most of their money without compromising on quality. UK shoppers want the whole package – great value for money, a wide range of quality products and a pleasant shopping environment. It’s not rocket science, but those supermarkets that consistently get it wrong should beware – shoppers will vote with their feet and take their business elsewhere.’

Tags: business, Asda, Waitrose, Wal-Mart, tesco, Aldi, supermarket chains, sainsburys, supermarket

‘Bumpy’ recovery for firms in the UK

According to a recent report UK firms should be prepared for a bumpy ride to recovery over the course of this year. Despite a fall in the number of profit warnings over the final quarter of last year the accountancy company Ernst & Young has stated that the recovery for UK firms is still likely to b a bumpy and challenging one, and that companies needed to prepare themselves for this. Read more

Tags: contrast, accountancy, recession, scheme, Ernst & Young, spending, United Kingdom

Extra council tax due despite fewer refuse collections during cold snap

It has been announced that many households whose rubbish was left uncollected by the refuse service over the Christmas period and during the cold snap that followed could actually end up paying more council tax as a result of this. As a result of the bad weather less rubbish was recycled and instead ended up in landfills, which resulted in extra tax being incurred. Read more

Tags: Landfill in the United Kingdom, Sustainability, Recyclable materials, Waste management, environment, Taxation in the United Kingdom, Recycling

Better future for economy following drop in unemployment

Recent figures showing that unemployment has finally fallen has brought with it hopes that the future of the economy is looking a little brighter. The figures showed that there was a significant drop in unemployment figures for the month of December. Many think that this will spell good news for both the jobs market and the economy as a whole. December saw unemployment levels fall for the first time in around two years according to reports.

Read more

Tags: Labor, economics, month, jobless figures, Late-2000s recession, Chris Grayling, global credit crisis

Record numbers having to take on part time work

Recent figures have shown that record numbers of people in the UK have had to take on part time work through the recession as a result of being unable to get any full time employment. Whilst the rising number of people taking on part time work has helped to bring unemployment figures down for many of these workers the hours that they are working are not bringing in adequate income to continue keeping on top of their bills, rent or mortgage, and financial commitments. Read more

Tags: economics, Types of unemployment, total, part time work, office, recessions

Supermarket hopes to cut food waste with special offers

One leading UK supermarket is hoping that it can allow its customers to save money on their shopping whilst cutting back on food wastage through the launch of a new offer that is to run over the next couple of weeks. Read more

Tags: food waste, Economy of the United Kingdom, tesco, United Kingdom, food wastage

Customers not getting the full value of their jewellery from cash for gold companies

It has been claimed in a recent report that companies that offer cash for gold jewellery are not giving consumers the full value of their jewellery. In fact, the report claims that quite often consumers are only receiving a fraction of the worth of the jewellery from the firms. According to the consumer campaign group Which? consumers are getting ’shockingly bad value’ on their gold jewellery given how the value of gold has increased. Read more

Tags: Valuation, cash for gold, Gold, which, consumer campaign group

Economic downturn results in rise in shoplifting

The economic downturn has apparently led to an increase in shoplifting activity in the UK according to a recent report. Figures have shown that retailers have seen a sharp rise in shoplifting activities over the course of the recession. The figures formed part of the latest crime survey by the British Retail Consortium, which revealed that between 2008 and 2009 shoplifting activities had increased by around one third. Read more

Tags: Crimes, Shoplifting, Criminal law, theft, Ethics

Britain drops to 25th for quality of life

A recent report has indicated that Britain has now fallen to 25th in the global rankings in terms of quality of life, falling even further down the list than last year when it came in at number 20 in the rankings. Amongst the countries that have now overtaken Britain in the rankings for quality of life are Lithuania, Uruguay, and the Czech Republic. France took the number one spot in the polls for the fifth year in a row. Read more

Tags: United Kingdom, France, Jackie Flynn, Britain, International Living

Charity wants more help for elderly in cold weather

A leading charity for the elderly is calling for more help with fuel bills for older people who are struggling to keep warm during the ongoing cold snap that is being experienced across Britain. Charity Age Concern and Help the Aged has stated that the government needs to increase the payments it makes to pensioners for fuel during the unusually long cold snap that is being seen across the country at the moment. Read more

Tags: Help the Aged, nhs, spokesperson, Social Issues, United Kingdom, normal energy bill

Over £27 billion worth of free overtime put in by workers

According to figures that have been released recently workers across the UK have put in more than £27 billion worth of free overtime in the past twelve months, amounting to a whopping £5400 per person. Workers across the UK were found to have worked for free to the tune of £27.4 billion, with many putting in the extra time in order to save their jobs during the recession. Read more

Tags: Labour relations, unemployment, Overtime, Employment law, Extra time

Consumers could start shunning post offices

A recently released report has suggested that consumers are going to start shunning post offices and the services that they offer, adding that the whole post office service could ‘go the way of Woolworths’. The report raises concerns that the Post Office Service is offering poor products, poor service, and poor accessibility due to branch closures, and that this will lead to more and more people shunning the post office altogether sending what has become a national institution the same way as Woolworths. Read more

Tags: Woolworth, David Cooper, post office, Consumer Focus, Woolworths Group, United States Postal Service

Shoppers get extra time over VAT rise

As most people are already aware the start of this year kicked off with the level of VAT being put back up to its original level of 17.5 percent. The level of VAT was reduced by the government last year from 17.5 percent to 15 percent in the hope that this would help consumers to save money, improve finances, and kick start the economy. However, the measure was a temporary one that has now come to an end, which means that in most places prices will now include VAT at 17.5 percent. Read more

Tags: Asda, Taxation, Tax reform, john lewis, Value added tax

Shopper panic buying due to weather

The past week has seen the weather in the UK take a nasty turn, and what started off as a cold snap is now being described as a big freeze, with roads and pavements across the UK covered in snow and ice, and conditions becoming increasingly dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers across the country. Read more

Tags: hot food, cat, Wal-Mart, Litter box, United Kingdom

Cold weather does not put Christmas shoppers off

With the effects of the recession and the global financial crisis still taking its toll on many households many may have been keen to cut back on the spending this Christmas and try and avoid spending a fortune over the festive season. However, despite the financial difficulties that many are facing at present it appears that even the freezing weather in the UK has not put off the shoppers that are determined to get their purchases bagged and home in time for the big day. Read more

Tags: Richard Dickinson, economics, Snow, purchases, credit, christmas, recessions, New West End Company

Warning over further job losses from Bank of England

The Bank of England has warned that the UK could be in line for another wave of job losses as a result of productivity falling faster than wages. The central bank claims that this could result in further job losses in the New Year, which would come as a huge blow given the many jobs that have already been lost during the recession. Read more

Tags: number, Labour, unemployment, huge blow, Confederation of British Industry, bank of england, central bank claims, job losses

Charities Get Only A Small Percentage of Charity Christmas Cards

With Christmas just around the corner many consumers in the UK will be looking to buy charity based Christmas cards, which allow them to not only get the Christmas cards that they need for the festive season but also to give to a worthy cause without any real effort having to be put in. Read more

Tags: charirty donations, charity cards, consumer campaign, card deals, generous, case, charity

Smaller packets offer better value in shops

According to a recent report shops in the UK are aiming to offer customers with better value for money by offering smaller packaged items for a lower price rather than forcing customers to purchase unnecessarily large items for a more expensive price. Read more

Tags: move, discount stores, Tesco Value chocolate, money, IPhone, money saving, Retailing, cheaper shopping

John Lewis Store opening sees massive turnout

Whilst there is still a great deal of gloomy news relating to the recession, the economy, and lack of spending on the High Street, a recent store opening in Dorset saw a massive turnout, with more than a thousand customers pouring through the doors to enjoy the opening of the flagship store. Read more

Tags: experience, dorset john lewis, Poole, shopping, High Street, john lewis, cash, National

Bogus pricing at centre of crackdown

Supermarkets and travel companies have found themselves at the centre of a crackdown over bogus discount pricing after a number of complaints were made by consumers. Read more

Tags: office of fair trading, bogus discounts, whilst, sound, official, bogus discount pricing, price crackdown, Pricing

More protection for DIY holiday fans

Over the years an increasing number of people have started to book their own DIY holidays rather than opt for a pre-bundled package deal with a travel agent, and with the expansion of the Internet, with all of the choices on offer with regards to flights, hotels, and other extras, more and more people have started to book their holidays in this way. Read more

Tags: expansion, something, announcement, diy, DIY holiday, british travel agents, holiday protection, Tourism

Dixons tries new tactic to beat retail rivals

High Street retail giant Dixon’s has decided to try a new tactic when it comes to beating rival retailers in the run up to Christmas. The retail giant has realised that whilst consumers want to save money on the cost of their purchases in the current difficult financial climate they also don’t want to risk purchasing something that they know little or nothing about for the sake of saving a few pounds, as this could mean that they end up with a totally unsuitable product. Read more

Tags: number, Advertising Standards Authority, Dixon's, High Street, anything, Electronic commerce, business, online shopping

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