LPG / LPG prices (merged)

schoolrunmum

Same here-I called Calor and told them I was off to Rose gas, (local supplier) as Calor wanted 46.5ppl. Rose charged 39ppl. Calor just called me back offering me 39.5ppl,plus £50 off next bill. ..result!

ancillotti

As there is no mains gas where I live, I have been a bulk LPG customer for almost 20 years, and over that time have been supplied by three different companies. One thing they all have in common is, they will try to rip you off as soon as they get the chance!
First, I was with Calor for 12 years, but changed to BP for a three year fixed deal (rising by 2p each year), which gave a saving of 9 pence per litre over Calor in the first year. At the time Calor said there was no way they could match that price, and I would be faced with all the hassle and costs involved of changing the bulk tank, needless to say, I went ahead and changed the tank anyway, making large savings over the next three years.
When the fixed deal was over, I suffered at the hands of BP, who in spite of numerous complaints over the next two years refused to relax their price, until I told them in view of the Competition Commission's new rules regarding bulk tank change-over, I would be finding a new supplier.
A new dawn, or so I thought when I signed up to Northern Energy in May 2009 (which soon after became LPG Home Heat). Simple to make the switch, no messing about changing tanks now with the new rules, sign a new contract for two years, and start off paying 34 ppl. But as summer soon became autumn, which quickly turned into the coldest winter for 30 years, the price rose to 49 ppl, which represents an increase of 44% in eight months.
If electricity or mains gas prices were to increase by 44% in eight months, there would be public outcry and unrest with the government becoming involved.

I have already contacted Consumer Focus to explain the LPG rip-off, and my MP (June 2010).

Last week I contacted LPG Home Heat again to draw their attention to the recent "Don't get done get Dom" programme, remind them it's summer (low demand) and told them I would buy 1000+ litres as my tank is now at 5%, they offered me 36.5ppl. Quite a major difference to the 49ppl qouted in Jan 2010, so I filled up!

The sad part about bulk LPG supply is there's no regulator in the UK and no price comparison websites, surely somebody could help us out and set a comparison site up, before the cold kicks in and they start to bleed us dry again.

HateLPG

Further to ancilloti's post, I tried to speak to Consumer Focus today. To cut a long story short, they weren't interested and refused to speak to me, telling me to speak to Consumer Direct, even though I made it crystal clear that I did NOT wan't to talk about a specific problem, but about a systematic problem in the way the market operates.

When I asked them who I should complain to about their complete indifference, they told me I needed to complain to Consumer Focus!!!!!!

I must say, I hold out absolutely ZERO hope that they will have any impact at all.

I then made a few more phone calls about this and eventually spoke to the Department for Business.

I was advised that if I had concerns over the way the LPG market is operating, the best person to write to is :


Charles Hendry MP
Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW

Of course, your local MP is probably also worth writing to.

I have in the past, spoken to Which and have emailed various consumer programs (You & Yours, Watchdog, Money Box etc etc) but have failed to generate any interest. I think this is largely because LPG is considered a "minority" fuel. However, maybe if enough people contact them, they may wake up to the fact that there is indeed a problem out there that is worthy of further investigation. I think it would only take serious interest from one mainstream program (like Watchdog) to stir thinsg up and also alert those users who just "sit back and take it" to the fact that they are being fleeced right left and centre!

HateLPG

Hope there are plenty of Dundee United supporters amongst you!

From the BBC website (10 June):

Dundee United announce new sponsorship deal with Calor



Dundee United have announced a new two-year sponsorship deal with gas suppliers Calor worth a six-figure sum.

<snip>

"Calor is one of the UK's biggest and well-known brand names, and we are excited about what it can offer," said United chairman Stephen Thompson.

ancillotti

HateLPG wrote: »

Further to ancilloti's post, I tried to speak to Consumer Focus today. To cut a long story short, they weren't interested and refused to speak to me, telling me to speak to Consumer Direct, even though I made it crystal clear that I did NOT wan't to talk about a specific problem, but about a systematic problem in the way the market operates.

When I asked them who I should complain to about their complete indifference, they told me I needed to complain to Consumer Focus!!!!!!

I must say, I hold out absolutely ZERO hope that they will have any impact at all.

I then made a few more phone calls about this and eventually spoke to the Department for Business.

I was advised that if I had concerns over the way the LPG market is operating, the best person to write to is :


Charles Hendry MP
Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW

Of course, your local MP is probably also worth writing to.

I have in the past, spoken to Which and have emailed various consumer programs (You & Yours, Watchdog, Money Box etc etc) but have failed to generate any interest. I think this is largely because LPG is considered a "minority" fuel. However, maybe if enough people contact them, they may wake up to the fact that there is indeed a problem out there that is worthy of further investigation. I think it would only take serious interest from one mainstream program (like Watchdog) to stir thinsg up and also alert those users who just "sit back and take it" to the fact that they are being fleeced right left and centre!

As previously mentioned I have contacted my MP who is currently checking what the new coalition government's stance is on this matter, (he himself was very interested, as he also has bulk tank LPG).

Since HateLPG's post above, I have also written to:-
Charles Hendry, Minister of state for Energy and Climate Change on the following email:-

[EMAIL="hendryc&#64;parliament.uk"]hendryc@parliament.uk[/EMAIL]

If you also care about and want to influence the future of BULK LPG prices with some stablity this winter, I would also respectfully suggest you do the same.

Please, lets put a stop to this crazy, unfair, price discrimination.

welshsue

welshsue wrote: »

I received the original letter from Calor telling me my LPG was increasing by 5.5 p per litre. Checked my contract and it states no more than 3.5p increase so wrote to them.
Have just had a letter this morning saying "oops, have reviewed your account and have only raised by 3.5p per litre", they also said that if I wanted gas I could order now at the pre-rise price of 38.9p per litre instead of 42.4 which it will be for future deliveries.
Have just rung and ordered a top up, will be checking that bill carefully to make sure it is the lower rate.
Result.... if you get a letter from Calor which says 5.5p then do write to them and complain.

Okay, update on the above (and I knew it would happen)... Ordered gas as per the letter mentioned above... Gas came friday... Checked online bill today and, suprise oh suprise, they have charged me the 42.4 p per litre for the delivery. Was straight on the phone to them and they have blamed the computer system for the mistake and promised to issue a credit note for the difference.... Nice try Calor... glad I can view the account online. Wonder how many other people they have overcharged who haven't noticed.

Think I will write to my local MP and see what he says about all the problems with Calor and if there is anything that can be done...

lamplighter2

rapidoman wrote: »

When we moved into our new home, we also had an LPG tank, company tried to charge us well over the amount and try and get us to sign agreement, don't do it, ring round compare prices, then ring the company who suppliers the tank and give them the choice, we now pay as of 08/06/10, 35 pence per lit, we do not pay a rental fee for the tank, just refuse to or give them 7 days to remove it.
just the rental fee droped will save you around £48.00 per year.
good luck

do not be fobbed off by the big 4 i see on this posting a link to other suppliers found one local that also sells derv. lpg 32p per ltr and no yearly rental to maintain cylinder flowgas after 3months have put up there price up from 32p to 36p with a charge of £50 per year for maintaining clyinder:D i await to see some one come round and inspect it BP never did in the 10 years i was with them

lamplighter2

welshsue wrote: »

Okay, update on the above (and I knew it would happen)... Ordered gas as per the letter mentioned above... Gas came friday... Checked online bill today and, suprise oh suprise, they have charged me the 42.4 p per litre for the delivery. Was straight on the phone to them and they have blamed the computer system for the mistake and promised to issue a credit note for the difference.... Nice try Calor... glad I can view the account online. Wonder how many other people they have overcharged who haven't noticed.

Think I will write to my local MP and see what he says about all the problems with Calor and if there is anything that can be done...

i am having a meeting with my local mp soon to discuss the price of lpg and what can be done for the rural comunity who are unable to get mains gas, re post earlier we have just had a new hotel built 500mtrs up road mains gas when asked can we have it yes if you would like to pay to have it put in did not ask how much

HateLPG

welshsue wrote: »

Think I will write to my local MP and see what he says about all the problems with Calor and if there is anything that can be done...

Well done Sue, and well spotted on your "computer error" :-)

Can I suggest that you also copy in Charles Hendry, who is the new minister responsible for matters relating to domestic LPG:

Charles Hendry MP
Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW

email: [EMAIL="hendryc&#64;parliament.uk"]hendryc@parliament.uk[/EMAIL]

Lamplighter2 has started the ball rolling with this and I am in the process of drafting a letter to my MP, copied to Charles Hendry. Runs to about 4 pages thus far - hoping to get it off by the end of the week.

It seems like there might be a little bit of momentum growing here - let's all go for it and try to make our voices heard!

HateLPG

Extract from Hansard, 17 Jun 2010

• Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on competition among providers of liquefied petroleum gas to householders in rural areas? My constituents in the village of Llannon find themselves in an impossible situation because when one person has a contract with one company, no one else can go to another provider. That needs serious reconsideration.

• Sir George Young: Like the hon. Lady, I have a rural constituency where many people are dependent on one supplier of LPG. Speaking from memory, I think that the Office of Fair Trading had been invited to conduct a review of the matter. I will draw her concern to the attention of the OFT and see whether the issue might be revisited.

Sounds like questions are already being asked in the house! Time to send them more ammunition :-)