Governement looking after the `poorer`

Dreamnine

Cardew wrote: »

20 million customers each providing £30 profit per year is still a lucrative business. Energy companies are going to make money regardless of the economic situation in the country.

One of the(few) things we seem to agree on is that the industry should never have been privatised.

The point is the £30 pa profit per customer is not the reason for high bills. Stop them making any profit and our £1,000+ bills pa will hardly notice.

Despite this the media, TUC, MSE etc etc all concentrate on the 'greedy' utility companies.

I blame Gordon ar5ehole Brown

daveyjp

Dear HM Govt.

Please explain how your latest crazy ideas will help my mother in law. She is 70 and tries to live on about £80 a week. She lives in a 1970s flat with a concrete frame and solid infill panels so no cavities and she is on the ground floor so has no loft, all her bulbs are of the low energy variety and the flat has double glazing.

When people can't afford the basics of life we may as well shut up shop. Privatisation will kill this country completely.

whatatwit

One of the worst 'handouts' in my mind is the Winter Fuel Heating Allowance.
Why should it be given to everyone over 60 regardless of income.

It could be a godsend to the needy, but I do think it should be means tested and possibly paid in some sort of a non transferable voucher and used for heating payments.

As an earlier poster mentioned, often it is not spent on heating.

esbo

DGJsaver wrote: »

with the news yesterday of boiler upgrades , cavity insulation etc etc
what about the run of the mill people ? like myself and partner , combined wage of something like 34 k , is there someone , somewhere , trying to keep a lid on the massive price rises ? that will affect those of us not lucky enough to get help from the state ?

Perhaps you will have to sell your Rolls Royce or let out the east wing of your house
:rotfl::rotfl:

esbo

Labour won't be getting my vote again.

1carminestocky

As if the Tories will be any better!! (and if you read my posts I am in no way an apologist for this appalling Govt.!). The political system in this country is morally bankrupt. In that sense they have something in common with the utlity and oil companies...

d123

whatatwit wrote: »

One of the worst 'handouts' in my mind is the Winter Fuel Heating Allowance.
Why should it be given to everyone over 60 regardless of income.

It could be a godsend to the needy, but I do think it should be means tested and possibly paid in some sort of a non transferable voucher and used for heating payments.

As an earlier poster mentioned, often it is not spent on heating.

Coincidently, I have heard a number of people say very similar, the "Christmas present / Holiday" winter cheque given to all pensioners needs to be tightened right up and made into a voucher only payable to a utility company.

The number of pensioners using it for everything but heating and then complaining of their inability to pay for heating through the winter seems to go up every year.

esbo

1carminestocky wrote: »

As if the Tories will be any better!! (and if you read my posts I am in no way an apologist for this appalling Govt.!). The political system in this country is morally bankrupt. In that sense they have something in common with the utlity and oil companies...

Yes they do, they are all criminals.

whatatwit

d123 wrote: »

Coincidently, I have heard a number of people say very similar, the "Christmas present / Holiday" winter cheque given to all pensioners needs to be tightened right up and made into a voucher only payable to a utility company.

The number of pensioners using it for everything but heating and then complaining of their inability to pay for heating through the winter seems to go up every year.

Also, the amount given to the needy, could be increased if it was means tested or linked to other benefits such as Pension Credits.
My parents & in-laws receive it and they don't need it to help heat their homes.
Just think of all the MPs & members of the House of Lords that get it.

zzzLazyDaisy

My mum used to receive the winter fuel payment, and she lived in a nursing home, her fees were paid because she was in need of a high level of nursing care, so she had no bills, and to be honest few needs that weren't met by the home. I queried the payment because it just seemed barking mad - but I was told that because she was in receipt of a state pension, she was entitled to the winter fuel payment. Mind you, it was reduced because there was more than one person over 60 living at her home

My ex has a high final salary pension, no debts and a younger wife with a good job and high income, yet he gets the winter fuel payment.

We all know people who get this payment, who really don't need it. It is a disgrace when people at the bottom of the financial heap are spending 10%+ of the net income on fuel, and getting no help - there is only so far you can cut back without potentially putting your health at risk.