Tuesday 29th May 2001

Price Rises

More around the corner?

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[rivergirrl]

I think it''s a crime to raise prices -again! We had a brief reprieve only 2 months ago. We should have known it wouldn''t last. Why don''t the oil companies spend use their enormous profits and pass some savings on to the consumer ?

[PetrolTed]

Because the oil companies aren't the culprits. UK petrol is the cheapest in Europe before tax. It's the Government that are ripping us off not oil companies. Yes they do make enormous profits, but they are enormous companies that make their money from many things, not petrol alone.

[nmilton]

And their profits, as a percentage of turn-over, aren't that different to other large multinational companies. As PetrolTed says, these are HUGE companies with many and diverse interests - the profit figures quoted in the media are merely aimed at grabbing headlines. Another case of only getting half the story. I'm not defending them per se, simply pointing out that they're not quite the guilty party that they've been made out to be (especially by the government in an attempt to divert flack from them).

[istrickl]

Oil companies will no doubt wait until after the labour party election, because it's yet another example of Blairite spin and control. Stealth is overtaking the motorist in terms of: more bus lanes on motorways (why?), charges to drive into town (give me an alternative to get to work without premature ageing, or critical wallet damage), company car tax (I need my car for my business), parking tax (if it's not company parking tax, it's more controlled zones - miles from town centres and not competing with residents during the day), and yet more petrol tax - bastards! The pretence that car drivers are the main culprits for CO2 emissions when we all know that's bollocks. I rest my case, etc. Cheers

[nmilton]

And you feel better for having got that off your chest, don't you Don't get me wrong, I agree with you 100% !!!

[Don]

Remember this discussion on June 7th. I will.

[HECTOR]

Government greed is definitely to blame for the great British rip off.I work for an oil company and forecourt profits are more like break even,more profit is made from selling burgers and sarnies in the forecourt shop.

[apache]

I repeat, what can we do about it, vote for the w****ers. What would happen if no one bothered Edited by apache on Wednesday 30th May 18:44 Edited by apache on Wednesday 30th May 18:55

[Dave_H]

quote: C*nts

Not a lover of that swear word, but it pretty much summs it up...