MSE News: End the 'rip off' charges says Miliband

dunstonh

Imagine the Supermarket saying £0.15p for the beans, £0.05p for the sauce, £0.05p for the tin, £0.01p for the label, £0.05p for the warehouse and £0.05p for serving you NO they charge you 36p (taking into account all costs i.e. payment)

That argument has been used in financial services without success. As of next year, it will be mandatory to know every entity in the chain who is earning from it rather than the bottom line.

Some argued that its easier for the consumer to focus on one cost whilst others say transparency is better and that all things that make up that cost should be disclosed. Your tin of beans example shows what happens if you apply it elsewhere.

I think transparency is good but you can take it too far and make it more complicated than it needs to be.

JohnLong

Ah well, it does at least prove that politicians are aware that dirty dealings are afoot - shame they only want to change it when they are in opposition and forlornly looking for votes.

Teacher2301

I agree with dunstonh - if Ed was so passionate about these charges why did he and the then labour government 'tactfully ignore' the rise in charges from 1997 to 2010? I, as many probably saw a massive increase in charges being added to things during those years - yes everything was fine because we all prospered but now when things are very tight for everyone, these charges are just money making exercises.

I'd just like to know why insurance companies etc now charge over £50 for changes to a policy or for other things like £35 for closing an account! My mortgage company (C&G) wanted to charge me £10 for making a overpayment at one point. Please tell me where things like this came from? Why we have to pay for it?

Finally why do we accept these 'rip-offs'? Have we become so brain-drained by working stupid hours to fuel an ever consumerist society that we have forgotten to question some fundamental flaws in our society?

Credit-Crunched

What next for the great leader and his attempt to win back the millions of people his party alienated during their obscene spending spree.

Milliband promises free Ice Cream to all families

Millband promises to maximise commute to work to 5 minuts

Milliband to guarantee that your football team wins every weekend

Milliband to stop rip off britain and give a free car away to all

he really is a complete joke, such a wet blanket with no, and i mean no interpersonal skills!

MarkBargain

"We're not proposing to go back on taking the railways into private ownership"

Why not? Higher fares than ever with big public subsidy at a time when companies make big profits out of the railways and executives get paid more than ever. It's the same with the profiteering energy companies. There used to be a political debate about the ownership of such utilities but now all parties seem right-wing.

anon_ymous

MarkBargain wrote: »

"We're not proposing to go back on taking the railways into private ownership"

Why not? Higher fares than ever with big public subsidy at a time when companies make big profits out of the railways and executives get paid more than ever. It's the same with the profiteering energy companies. There used to be a political debate about the ownership of such utilities but now all parties seem right-wing.

I see nothing wrong with private companies per se, but when it's still subsidised, it annoys me because we don't get what we pay for (from the subsidy)