Standing Charges: Gas & Electricity

The_Green_Hornet

MeteredOut said:

The_Green_Hornet said:

Cripes. Ten pages of regular posters arguing about standing charges (again).

Is someone waiting just so they can be the one who gets the last word in or something before it can shut down (until the next one that is)?

It's like catnip.

I believe its important that people point out the misleading or downright wrong posts and misinformation on this thread and thank those that have done so.

How many times do you feel you need to point this out after the first time it is pointed out?

GingerTim

The_Green_Hornet said:

MeteredOut said:

The_Green_Hornet said:

Cripes. Ten pages of regular posters arguing about standing charges (again).

Is someone waiting just so they can be the one who gets the last word in or something before it can shut down (until the next one that is)?

It's like catnip.

I believe its important that people point out the misleading or downright wrong posts and misinformation on this thread and thank those that have done so.

How many times do you feel you need to point this out after the first time it is pointed out?

How many times do some have to keep repeating the same nonsense after the first time it's been pointed out why it's nonsense?

A thing I like in particular about this board (and most of the other boards) is that nonsense will be challenged so that it doesn't mislead others.

MeteredOut

The_Green_Hornet said:

MeteredOut said:

The_Green_Hornet said:

Cripes. Ten pages of regular posters arguing about standing charges (again).

Is someone waiting just so they can be the one who gets the last word in or something before it can shut down (until the next one that is)?

It's like catnip.

I believe its important that people point out the misleading or downright wrong posts and misinformation on this thread and thank those that have done so.

How many times do you feel you need to point this out after the first time it is pointed out?

Every time misinformation is posted, in case others read it and think its fact.

HillStreetBlues

GingerTim said:

Greytopp said:

Why should fixed costs not be included in the price, I mean when you fill up your car you pay for what you get, they don't ask you to contribute to the fixed costs that they have, which are probably quite high.
If you go to a Supermarket to buy food the fixed costs are included in the price.

Are you able to get fuel and groceries piped into your home, available 24/7, at the flick of a switch? It's not really a useful analogy.

A better analogy would be a mobile contract v PAYG.

Baldeagle095

Dewpoint said:

I'm a pensioner living in a well-insulated flat and I try to minimise my impact on the environment by using as little water, electricity, and gas as I can.

My actual usage for all these is low, but the bills I pay don't reflect this because the standing charges for G & E represent between 30% and 50% of the total.

It seems to me I'm subsidising those who are not as careful. They pay the same standing charges as me, but it represents a far smaller proportion of the Bill.

Not fair in my opinion. I think standing charges should be scrapped, and those who use the most should pay the most in direct proportion.

There would appear to be a review of the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners at Westminster.

Reform UK state that they will fully reinstate the WFA, if they get into government.(BBC)

Labour are under pressure to restore the WFA, in light of the recent Council Election results. 

Badenoch for the Conservatives says she can't commit to full WFA (BBC)

The Liberal Democrats say that cancelling the WF payments was just plain wrong(libdems.org.uk/winter)

Restoration of the WFA would greatly assist pensioners, certainly for those over 80, in removing the desire to abolish standing charges.

As a pensioner myself I would fully support the restoration of the WFA.

wrf12345

Nope, s/c's need to go and the WFA covering some or all of the gas bill - a double bonus for hard-pressed pensioners. Dated government computer systems that don't talk to each other is the major stumbling block to applying it fairly, household total income is not something that can  be calculated, apparently. 

QrizB

"Hard pressed pensioners" is an emotive phrase unrelated to reality. Pensioners, collectively, are one of the wealthiest demographics in the UK. Universal benefits (without claw back through a "pensioner tax") to pensioners on top of the State Pension are unjustifiable.

matelodave

TBH the "hard pressed pensioners" are those who just get the basic "new" state pension  which disqualifies them from all the top-ups or those who have saved a little bit to take them over the pension credit threshold, they are the ones being taxed and dont get tax free top ups

The rest of them (many of whom never paid in in the first place) not only get it topped up but get additional tax free benefits as well *housing assistance, free glasses and dental treatment plus a hots of other stuff that the rest of have to pay for)

The people I feel for are those who actually go to work, pay their taxes and all their outgoings (rent, rates, leccy bills, travelling etc) without assistance from the state and who end up actually worse off than a so called "hard pressed pensioner"

Baldeagle095

Well then have the WFA means-tested with all higher rate taxpayers excluded.
Failure to reinstate the WFA will cost Labour the next general election and Downing Street will have a new incumbent in Nigel Farage.

HillStreetBlues

Baldeagle095 said:

Well then have the WFA means-tested with all higher rate taxpayers excluded.
Failure to reinstate the WFA will cost Labour the next general election and Downing Street will have a new incumbent in Nigel Farage.

If they do fully reverse the WFA I can see a lot of foam developing.