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Episode details

Radio 4,12 Mar 2016,30 mins

Rising Water Charges

Money Box

Available for over a year

We reveal the areas where water customers refuse to pay a penny extra to help the less well-off. Ruth Alexander finds out why, and investigates why the only tariff where people pay no standing charge is being withdrawn. FairFuelUK wrote to the Chancellor this week urging him to cut fuel duty. Another letter to land on his desk was from Saga urging him to do the opposite - to increase fuel duty but to abolish vehicle excise duty. Saga's Paul Green and FairFuelUK founder Howard Cox discuss what George Osborne should do with fuel duty in Wednesday's budget. Would you give up some of your salary in return for non-cash benefits like childcare vouchers, extra pension contributions or the chance to buy a bike? More and more people are, and concern is growing at the treasury about salary sacrifice schemes. And could plans to increase competition among gas and electricity suppliers actually make it harder to find the best deal? At the moment comparison websites have to show you every deal on offer but the Competitions and Markets Authority wants to change that. In future websites may be able to hide deals from suppliers who don't pay them a commission. Presenter:Paul Lewis Reporter:Ruth Alexander Producer:Joe Kent Editor:Andrew Smith.

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