British Gas profits massively up

[Adrian W]

Should we be celebrating or moaning, prices went up 18% earlier this year now profits are up 28% or £2 million a day?
As energy companies are pretty much a cartel in the UK is it time the government stepped in ?

[thinfourth2]

Adrian W said:

Should we be celebrating or moaning, prices went up 18% earlier this year now profits are up 28% or £2 million a day?
As energy companies are pretty much a cartel in the UK is it time the government stepped in ?

That would only make it worse

[Jasandjules]

It makes me feel great knowing that I am being ripped off quite that much. It also helps me knowing that I am paying some eco bull***t tax on top.

[jurbie]

That would explain then why my March to June bill was substantially more than my December to March bill.

[Marf]

Of course they're showing record profits, normally people wouldnt be using their heating well into July.

[greygoose]

As a shareholder I am happy, if I was a customer then I would be wondering if privatisation has delivered much for the consumer.

[Jasandjules]

And yes with all that Global Warming people have their heating on a lot more at the moment...

[Ozzie Osmond]

greygoose said:

As a shareholder I am happy, if I was a customer then I would be wondering if privatisation has delivered much for the consumer.

Quite. It WAS a monopoly. It IS a monopoly. Doesn't look much different to me.

[Digga]

jurbie said:

That would explain then why my March to June bill was substantially more than my December to March bill.

^This. The grasping turds!

[Happy82]

Jasandjules said:

And yes with all that Global Warming people have their heating on a lot more at the moment...

You do not understand, global warming can cause cold,wet,freezing,warm,hot and average temperatures

[oyster]

jurbie said:

That would explain then why my March to June bill was substantially more than my December to March bill.

Or it's because you're paying for March twice?

[jurbie]

oyster said:

Or it's because you're paying for March twice?

Even if that was the case considering I live alone and will put on another jumper before I put on the heating it was still a hell of a rise. I've even wondered if I've got a leak somewhere or one of the neighbours has managed to tap into my supply.

Time to visit u-switch I think.

[crankedup]

Switch gas supplier your not happy with the current lot because they are making excessive profits. The fair competition is not working, we need more players, and fast.

[Jim the Sunderer]

Wikipedia tells me that the term is called 'profiteering'.

Doesn't bother me though, I have enough jumpers.

[BoRED S2upid]

greygoose said:

if I was a customer then I would be wondering if privatisation has delivered much for the consumer.

Adrian W said:

As energy companies are pretty much a cartel in the UK is it time the government stepped in ?

Hmmm... Government steps in and does what? Didn't they create this in the first place?

[Blackpuddin]

We're on one of them locked in deals with BG as we thought it would be less painful. Last month we had a note through saying they'd been monitoring our usage (funny, thought that's what they were doing all the time) and they'd have to increase our monthly D/D from £110 a month to £160 a month, effective immediately. Oh yes, and you're £120 in debit. How? What? Who? Eh? etc

[Jasandjules]

Blackpuddin said:

We're on one of them locked in deals with BG as we thought it would be less painful. Last month we had a note through saying they'd been monitoring our usage (funny, thought that's what they were doing all the time) and they'd have to increase our monthly D/D from £110 a month to £160 a month, effective immediately. Oh yes, and you're £120 in debit. How? What? Who? Eh? etc

We had one of those then about 8 months later got told they owed us £300 when the bill came in... Kind of begs the question as to who worked out they needed an extra £50 a month in the first place...............

[The Nur]

Marf said:

Of course they're showing record profits, normally people wouldnt be using their heating well into July.

Lovely bit of logic there

[djglover]

for me questions to ask here before frothing in a daily mailesq way are

1)How does the cost of heating with Natural gas compare to fuel oil.
2)Is there a cheaper deal through U switch
3)Are you happy with a british company making profits to be invested in a) your pension and b) future energy supply
4)Are margins of 3/4% unfair on Energy compared to say 10% or more for BA or Tesco?
5)How does the cost of fuel compare to other EU markets.

If you research all these points, you would probably conclude that things aint that bad after all, and yes I do work in the industry

[crankedup]

Blackpuddin said:

We're on one of them locked in deals with BG as we thought it would be less painful. Last month we had a note through saying they'd been monitoring our usage (funny, thought that's what they were doing all the time) and they'd have to increase our monthly D/D from £110 a month to £160 a month, effective immediately. Oh yes, and you're £120 in debit. How? What? Who? Eh? etc

From my experiences more and more companies are testing the customer with this 'we need to increase your D/D/' line. Of course they would love to look after your money for you, just another trick in the Corporate book.