[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/9051107/Water-bills-to-rise-by-up-to-8.8pc.htmlAnother example of utility companies ripping off customers by raising its prices way above inflation.[/url



It seems that, if you're a private utility or train company, then inflation is not a barrier to price hikes.



If you're a humble worker, on the other hand, you absolutely cannot expect your pay to rise even in line with inflation, let alone above it.



We're all in this together – right?

I'm certainly in it.

Orange Mobile have just done the same thing with a 5+% increase in their monthly charges even if you thought you had a contract with them.



In fact in their "FAQ" they've answered what everyone must have shouted at their email when they saw it with "Yes, we can increase your contract charges by the inflation rate set at August in each calendar year", fact is their revenues must have been falling (like most mobile operators) and they thought all their christmasses had come at once when inflation hit its high in August last year.



I was going to renew my contract with them in April, but they'll have to work hard to keep me now.

People should just agree en masse not to pay the increase. Pay the same as this year, and leave the balance outstanding on the final payment.



Everybody should send a standard letter back when they get their water rates demand, saying in effect "No, i don't agree to the new prices, I can only afford to keep it on at the existing rate, and I'll adjust my last payment accordingly. Hope this is OK".



If everybody or the overwhelming majority agreed to do it, then the water companies couldn't do anything about it. They are hardly going to spend a few hundred quid on enforcement costs per person to possibly recover no more than fifty quid. They are hardly going to cut off the whole country.



However nearly all of those who have to pay will moan but will still pay. The water companies know this, and so can do whatever they like.

I'm going to empty and then refill my pond every Saturday morning in protest (not on meter

) or if not in protest then at least to get my money's worth - and I'll use the toilet a lot more next year too.

Or you could write and say, for a small discount of say, oh, 8%, you won't?

I'm still laying low from Yorkshire Water after the last time I filled it and it ended up taking my garden all the way down to Horsforth ... [urlhttp://jerrychicken.blogspot.com/2007/04/dude-wheres-my-pond.html[/url

You socialists should be pleased that at last some investment is taking place in the water industry. That's why the price is having to go up after all those years of unionised labour holding us to ransom. You had the chance to buy shares like everyone else.

My word. Foes bin from 0 - 3 in 2 days! Better stats than my Peugeot . . .

I thought of you this morning, when I saw a range of cards like [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B005L9F73U/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=11052681&s=kitchenthis[/url in a shop.

To add, if I remember correctly, water was sold off at a knock-down price to start with, in recognition of the fact that much needed doing on the infrastructure, so that excuse won't wash (so to speak).