Annual energy bills ‘could be cut by a third or more’

22 October 2008
Annual energy bills could be cut by a third or more if energy companies entered into “more vigorous competition”, according to a former Energywatch chief executive.... read more »

Energy bills ‘could fall below £1000’

9 January 2009
New research has suggested that the average household could have £130 knocked off their annual bills this year, if energy companies reduce their prices as expected.... read more »

UK energy bills rise four times faster than in Europe

13 January 2009
New figures have revealed that energy bills in the UK have risen more than four times as quickly as in Europe over the past year.... read more »

Scottish & Southern cuts energy prices

10 February 2009
Scottish & Southern Energy has become the second energy company to cut its gas and electricity prices, The Times reports, following continued pressure by consumer groups for energy companies to react to wholesale falls in costs. ... read more »

Shortage of gas storage ‘driving up prices’

19 February 2009
Energy industry analysts have said that a shortage of storage capacity is pushing up the price of domestic gas, leaving billpayers facing higher prices.... read more »

40% struggle to pay their bills

6 March 2009
40% of people are struggling to pay their households bills, charity Age Concern has claimed, while warning people not to cut back on essential spending.... read more »

Mortgage repossession

18 May 2009
If you`re worried about mortgage repossession, you`re not on your own. In 2009, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) expects around 75,000 properties (representing around 0.66% of all mortgages) to be repossessed.... read more »

Debt management & household costs

20 May 2009
Balancing your debt repayments and your other commitments can be difficult. When your finances are stretched to their limits, managing your debt alongside your other costs can be a balancing act.... read more »

Can debt management help me pay my bills?

19 June 2009
When you`re struggling with debt, every last cost can be another thing to worry about. Rent/mortgage, household bills, petrol - things you may have never worried about before - can suddenly seem a lot more daunting than they used to.... read more »

Energy direct debits `must be more accurate`

13 August 2009
Energy regulator Ofgem has announced new rules that will force suppliers to make their direct debit calculations more accurate, according to The Times.... read more »

Debt consolidation loans and household debts

14 August 2009
When money is tight, essential costs such as mortgage repayments and energy bills can become difficult to keep up with.... read more »

Domestic appliance proposals `could reduce bills`

19 August 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called for VAT to be removed entirely from energy-efficient home appliances, and for a domestic appliance `scrappage scheme` to be introduced, in a move that could help homeowners reduce their outgoings.... read more »

7.3% fall in energy direct debits amidst debt fears

21 August 2009
A survey from uSwitch.com has found a 7.3% decline in the number of people switching energy suppliers who choose to pay their bills by direct debit, potentially losing them a combined £33.5 million a year in discounts.... read more »

Energy price rises could spark debt worries

21 September 2009
Energy prices to consumers could increase next year, despite Ofgem`s claims that there is room for further price cuts, according to The Telegraph.... read more »

12 million Britons `struggle to cope with bills`

25 September 2009
A new report has claimed that around 12 million Britons are currently struggling to cope with their monthly bills - putting them at risk of debt problems.... read more »

Why do utility bills keep rising?

19 October 2009
The news that annual energy bills could reach almost £2,000 by 2016 reminds us of an unfortunate fact: energy prices are erratic, and there`s very little we can do about it.... read more »

Is direct debit always the best way to pay my bills?

30 October 2009
There are a number of ways to pay bills, but many people will agree that by far the most convenient way is direct debit. Direct debit allows companies to bill you automatically from your bank account each month, saving you time and effort - and in many cases, money.... read more »

How to stay out of debt on your energy bills - step by step

4 January 2010
In recent months, debt on energy bills has become a problem for many billpayers. Several price rises over the past 18 months have left people unsure about how much they need to pay per month, and in many cases people have fallen into debt because they haven`t been paying enough.... read more »

Rising debt levels `forcing parents back to work`

18 January 2010
Increasing numbers of households need both parents working to cover the bills because of rising debt levels, according to new research.... read more »

Pet insurance important for big vet`s bills

Three in five (60% of) dog and cat owners are without pet insurance, despite a significant proportion saying they could not afford a large vet`s bill for their pet, according to a recent survey. ... read more »