A UK energy watchdog has warned big firms to cut energy prices or face increasing public anger.

And the gas and electricity companies EDF, E.On, British Gas, Scottish and Southern, Scottish Power and nPower – known as the Big Six – are set to be forced to overhaul their tariffs as they continue to dominate the market.

While energy watchdog Ofgem warned the dominant gas companies could be subject to tougher government sanctions, a Competition Commission inquiry has mooted the idea that the dominant players in the industry, who monopolise an estimated 99 per cent of the market, could be forced to break-up.

“Parliament has given us the task of trying to create an effective market where competition is the downward pressure on prices,” read an Ofgem statement. “We think that’s the way to go, although we haven’t ruled out regulation, particularly for more vulnerable customers, if our reforms don’t work.”

Whether your home is kitted out with electrical central heating or a Dimplex electric heater, consumer fuel costs have been steadily increasing since 2005. Bills have doubled in the past seven years to an annual average of £1,250 per household.

Meanwhile, French-owned energy giant EDF Energy announced it had almost trebled annual profits to £2.5 billion, with profits squeezed from British households up 8.5 per cent. The news has mounted fresh calls from industry bodies to relieve pressure on customers.

“We would urge EDF Energy to relieve the pressure on its UK household customers by passing on the benefits of lower wholesale prices,” said price comparison website uSwitch.com’s Ann Robinson.

“Over eight in ten UK households (83 per cent) have been cutting down or rationing their energy use this winter because of the high cost of energy,” the spokesperson continued. “Any further price cut would give much-needed help to the millions who are struggling to afford their bills.”

DealZippy.co.uk, the largest daily deal aggregator in the UK have released new figures today suggesting the market for daily deals has continued to grow through the last quarter of 2011 and into January 2012 with more deals going online daily.

Deal Zippy – a site which aggregates and compares the best deals from all the leading deal sites in the UK like Groupon, KGB Deals and Wowcher have seen the quantity of deals being published by deal sites continue to increase with particular growth in the Nationwide or online deals sector and in domestic and overseas travel deals.

The number of online deals published on dealzippy.co.uk almost doubled from September 2011 to January 2012 and the number of travel deals increased 250% in the same period.

Dexter Grima, co-founder of Deal Zippy said:

“What we’ve seen in the last few months is a definite shift in the deals market towards travel and nationwide deals. There are more ecommerce businesses, hotels and travel agents running deals through sites like Groupon and KGB now. This is good for the deal sites and consumers because daily deals have become more widely available to everyone in the UK.”

This emerging trend may also be good news for investors in the often volatile deals business, allowing them to move away from the extremely labor intensive business model which relies heavily on having a team of sales people negotiating local deals in each one of the major UK cities. One of the biggest criticisms of sites like Groupon is that local businesses have to giveaway most, if not all of their potential profit in order to run a deal – hoping to recoup the loss by gaining new repeat business and word of mouth. This has led some to question the sustainability of the local deals model.

By contrast ecommerce and travel deals are less likely to be run at a loss, more often working on a small profit margin or break-even point with the intention of moving unsold inventory. This is a more stable model for deal sites like Groupon because deals which are profitable for the seller as well as saving money for the customer are more likely to turn into recurring business and revenue for the deal sites, where as local businesses may be less inclined to run a deal as frequently.

“To give you an example online retailer Brand Arena have run 18 deals in the past 8 months. Now we have to assume they’ve made money on each deal they have run or they wouldn’t keep doing it again and again. Local businesses just can’t afford to run, what are often loss-leading deals with this sort of regularity.”

(London, UK) December 7th, 2011. The American company Orion5000 Industrial announce the debut of Orion5000 in Europe from their London office to help Europeans reduce their fuel consumption, maintenance costs and emissions. Orion5000 is an advanced synthetic ester based engine and fuel lubricant developed for operators of medium and heavy-duty diesel engines to counteract the effects of ultra low sulphur diesel fuel.

“Mechanical fountain of youth” is how Phil Marrah Lansing from Lansing, Michigan, USA describes his experience with Orion5000. 6% to 9% is the typical rate of fuel saving experienced by customers like Mr. Marrah plus an extended maintenance intervals and engine life by reducing metal on metal friction and lowering engine operating temperatures. With the fuel burning almost completely during the combustion process the emissions drops by 30%.

Orion 5000 has helped companies and organizations in North America meet clean air requirements, conserve energy, and reduce their carbon footprint being a cost efficient solution to meet environmental concerns like a cleaner air, emissions reduction, fuel efficiency and biodegradability.

More than a fuel saver Orion5000 is a fuel and engine lubricant created to extend the life of the medium and heavy-duty diesel engines, consuming less oil and being better with the environment.

About Orion5000: Ester technology was used in internal combustion engines to increase operating efficiency and reduce emissions, then a trucking company tested and implemented ester technology into the fleet in 2006 and saved 9% when fuel prices began to increase, they partnered with chemists in Midland, Michigan to develop Orion 5000 in 2010 for cleaning and lubricating engines being environmentally friendly.

By Johnny Savege

BRITONS are set to save around £200 million off their Christmas shopping this year, as the nation gets hungrier for bargains.

A study by research group Decipher, says many people feeling the squeeze of the recession are refusing to pay off-the-shelf high street prices for goods when better deals are available online.

Many are turning to promotional codes from specialist sites to cut their Christmas bills, but some are adopting even more bizarre methods of saving money.

A report by American Express claims a quarter of British families are adopting a Secret Santa, present giving model in a bid to save cash this year.

Popular in the US, and offices it means each family member buys one present for another person so no-one has to buy presents for everyone.

One in four British people are planning to give gifts they have made themselves, while seven out of ten are giving loved ones a limit on what they should spend.

There are more ways to save cash and still enjoy Christmas, though as our top five handy tips will show.

1. Sign-up to a discount vouchers website:
There are many out there, yet one such as www.Go2VoucherCodes.co.uk offers daily savings on everything from smart clothes, 2 for 1 restaurant deals to cheap days out with the kids. Savings can be anything from a 20% off discount code, a free main meal or at times, up to 70% off the regular price of marked items. There are many great offers out there, but check back regularly as popular deals only last a day or two.

2. Go shopping in the evening:
When the kids are in bed head to the supermarket and more specifically the bargain bin. Here you can find plenty of Christmas Day goodies such as Smoked Salmon which can be frozen and kept in the freezer until needed.

3. Checkout MSE:
Martin Lewis is the Money Saving Expert. He’s always on This Morning, or Radio 2, and in various newspapers. Browse his weekly newsletter at www.moneysavingexpert.com for further money saving ideas.

4. Buy in Bulk:
Join a shopping giant like Costco, where you can get big savings on electrical goods, household items and food. The only problem here is storage. It’s fine getting toilet rolls half price, but if it means you have to buy 100 of them you need some serious storage space.

5. Plan Ahead:
There’s nothing wrong with buying some Christmas crackers in January when they’re less than half price and putting them in the loft for next year. Xmas puddings last a long time too. Keep your eyes peeled throughout the year for bargains and offers on goods which will make nice presents next year. It doesn’t mean you’re tight, it means you’re ready.

Despite all their plans for savings American Express found that an average UK adult will still spend £364 on Christmas this year.

Spokeswoman Julie Hay, said: “With family finances stretched, people are making strategic choices about their ‘must gives’ this year.”

ends

Standing in long lines isn’t an enviable position. Dealing with grouchy clerks and rabid customers may make you dread your holiday shopping. Braving the snow on a cold winter day may make you decide that you’ll skip gift giving altogether. Don’t fear! You don’t have to turn into Ebenezer Scrooge. This year, skip it all and do your Christmas shopping the hassle-free way. Buy your presents on your favorite Website. If you’re new to cyberspace shopping, don’t let another holiday season pass you by without giving it a try.

Start with a little planning. With all the fun and amazing things there are to buy, it’s easy to get carried away. Make a list of all the people that you’re shopping for. Come up with an estimated budget.

Give yourself plenty of time to make sure your gifts arrive by Christmas. Christmas is usually the busiest time of year for most brick-and-mortar retailers. This also holds true for Websites as well. Before placing your order, be sure to check the Website’s shipping policies for an estimate of how many days it will take for your Christmas gift to arrive. Don’t forget to factor in a few extra days due to the busy holiday shipping season.

Shop only with trusted online retailers. Amazon, Overstock and traditional stores that have a Website are just a few of the worry-free places for Christmas shopping on the Internet. If you want to do some online shopping on a less familiar Website, it’s always a good idea to do a little research on the retailer before you buy. Call the retailer’s phone number if one is listed. You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you can get a hold of them in case something goes wrong with your order. Also, check to make sure that no major complaints are listed against the site on consumer watch websites like the Better Business Bureau. See the link in our Resources section to start your search.

Read the return policy. Before buying Christmas gifts from any Website, you’ll want to check out the return policy. Most online gifts can be returned, but there are usually some conditions and exclusions. It’s better to know the policy beforehand.

Look for the VeriSign symbol before entering your credit card information at a Website checkout. The VeriSign symbol lets you know that your payment information is safe, secure and won’t fall into the wrong hands.

Leave feedback. A big part of the online shopping experience is letting an online retailer know how he did once you’ve received your order. If you’ve had a bad experience, contact the retailer directly before leaving feedback. Positive feedback is usually important enough to an online retailer that he will want to fix the problem quickly without the negative feedback.

Go to buy some laptop batteries or other batteries for Chrismas: http://www.ebattery.com.au

Savvy shoppers in the North of England are planning to cut the costs of Christmas this year by bagging some bargain preloved presents, according to a new survey from www.preloved.co.uk, the UK’s largest independent second hand advertising site. The website’s ‘Second Hand Christmas Shopping Survey’ found that people living in the North of the UK would be more likely to buy second hand presents for Christmas than those living in the South. When asked: ‘Would you buy any second hand presents for Christmas?’ 97% of those living in the North said yes, compared to 87% of those living in the Southern regions of the UK.

The survey also found that the majority of cash-conscious Northerners (44%) said that the desire ‘to reduce costs’ was the key reason for buying second hand items as Christmas presents. Those living in the South said they were more likely to opt for a second hand item in order ‘to grab a bargain’; with 46% saying it would be their main reason for buying nearly new gifts. When it came to whether or not they would buy a second hand Christmas present for their nearest and dearest, there was close agreement across the country, with 88% of Northerners and 86% of Southerners saying that they would buy their wife, husband or partner a preloved present. However, the survey found that Northerners appear a little more likely to buy second hand presents for their children at Christmas, with 88% saying they would, compared to 83% of respondents living in the South.

There was general consensus when it came to concerns about the overall cost and expenditure associated with the festive season in the current economic climate. When asked: ‘Are you worried about the cost of buying Christmas presents this year?’ 83% of people living in the North said that they were, alongside 76% of people in the South. Similarly, 83% of people in the North and 86% of people in the South said that they were planning to spend less this year on Christmas presents.

Ian Buzer, Managing Director of Preloved, commented, “It’s clear from our survey that people across the country are looking at ways to make their money go much further and realise that there are some great savings and bargains to be found this Christmas by buying second hand presents.” He continued, “Any stigma associated with buying second hand is also long gone, with 93% of people across England saying that there isn’t anything wrong with giving second hand items as Christmas presents.”

With thousands of us receiving unwanted Christmas presents each year, the survey also found that respondents would be keen to turn these into cash, with Southerners the most keen to do so. When asked: ‘Would you consider re-selling unwanted Christmas presents that you receive this year?’, 92% of people living in the South said they would, alongside 87% of those in the North.

Mr Buzer said, “Christmas Day and Boxing Day are some of the busiest times of the year on www.preloved.co.uk when people are looking at ways to trade in unwanted gifts and turn them into cash.”

A totally unique and truly personal gift for under £10. That is what the pre Christmas Laserpics.co.uk offer is. Have any photo, image or text engraved inside a solid crystal pendant or keyring. Thats upto 50% of our normal retail price. Not only perfect for Christmas gifts but also for any occasion from birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, remembrance and everything else.

At this discounted price this offer even fits in with most ‘secret santa’ presents and presents far more value.

Goto www.laserpics.co.uk for all our latest offers.

A new web site is being launched to encourage more people to shop online by eradicating what, according to the Royal Mail home shopping tracker report, is the number one reason people don’t shop online : the delivery costs.

FreeDeliveryVoucherCodes.co.uk is being launched in time for Christmas, with the aim of helping the nation to shop online without paying any delivery charges. A Royal Mail home shopping tracker report tell us that the number one reason for shopping cart abandonment is the customer not being happy with the delivery charge.

The Free Delivery Voucher Codes web site lists voucher codes that can be used when shopping online to activate free delivery from some of the largest online retailers in the country, including Comet, Boden, Evans Cycles and Prezzybox.

Visitors find the voucher codes on the web site and enter it on the e-commerce site they are buying from to receive free delivery on their order.

The voucher codes are updated daily, and unlike other voucher code web sites, only codes that are valid and that can be used today are listed. Customers shopping online for Christmas and using free delivery voucher codes can save around £5 from each retailer they shop at.

FreeDeliveryVoucherCodes.co.uk has been set up by Edward Robertson Ltd, a web development company based in the North East of England.

Graham Miller, director of Edward Robertson, said: “According to the Office for National Statistics online shopping accounts for 9.6 percent of the total retail spend each month. We want to encourage more people to shop online by removing the number one barrier, the delivery costs.

Edward Robertson has previously launched its online shopping directory shopsafe.co.uk, providing customers with a database of over 4,000 retailers and giving consumers peace of mind by only listing sites that are secure.

Figures from the British Bankers Association (BBA) have found that the figure for gross mortgage lending in September increased to £8.4billion, despite approvals dipping slightly.

The amount of money lent by the banks was up from £8.3 billion in August, with a spokesperson for the BBA suggesting that the increase is due to more activity in the buy to let market.

However, the number of mortgage approvals were down 6% compared to August’s figures. 33,130 mortgage loans were approved in September, whereas at the height of the housing market there were about 130,000 approvals a month.

First time buyers who are struggling to get on the property ladder are still concerned about the lack of mortgage lending but the number of 90% mortgages on the market are increasing, so it is important to keep looking.

Using a mortgage calculator can help you find the best mortgage for your requirements and can show you mortgages which are available to you depending on how much you have for a deposit. A calculator will usually just ask you to enter details of the money you have saved up as well as information about your income and the length of time you are looking for.

Similar to a loans calculator, a mortgage calculator will show you how much interest you will be paying so you have a good understanding of how much you will be paying.

However, it is worth remembering that the mortgages available have very different rates so you need to use the information as a guide rather than as financial advice; it is vital that before you make any financial decisions you get advice from professionals.

EzCouponSearch.com, a website for free online coupons and coupon codes, is offering a great range of discounts and deals on all the products offered by thousands of merchants. These codes allow customers for discounts while purchasing products from a certain online store. Online Shops appeal customers in lots of ways to increase their sales.

EzCouponSearch.com provides you a smart way to save every single time you shop over the internet. You can save up to 20% to 30% and sometimes up to 70% off on all of products you are looking for using Promo Codes at EzCouponSearch.com.

There are various types of coupons and deals you can get from EzCouponSearch.com. Depending on their nature, their usage will as well vary. Websites like EzCouponSearch.com are an outstanding place to avail those additional discounts and offers that could amount to a substantial saving for regular buyers.

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