~theguardian-world | Bookmarks (5)

Rates for phone, broadband and water will increase from Monday and other rises are in the pipelineConsumers are braced for huge rises in their household bills on everything from water to broadband, as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.Despite inflation easing, Monday will see the cost of a host of bills and taxes increasing, adding further pressure to household finances more than...

In London, Tube and bus fares are being frozen and prices reduced during rush hour and on FridaysRail fares in England and Wales will rise by 4.9% on Sunday, adding hundreds of pounds to annual travel costs for many commuters.Campaigners said passengers would be “rightly angry” at the latest increase, above the current inflation rate of 4%, despite the government arguing that it had...

Price Promise tariff gives discount on current cap and guarantees to be at least £1 per fuel under April oneBritish Gas has launched a fixed-rate gas and electricity deal that offers a 12% saving over most existing price-capped tariffs, adding a new choice to the hard-to-navigate home energy market.For the past two winters, consumers have largely been spared having to seek out the cheapest...

Annual letter from Teachers’ Pensions, which administers scheme for DfE, asks about new relationshipsPartners of retired teachers who have died are repeatedly being asked to confirm whether they are in a new relationship, in a process described as “humiliating and intrusive” by teaching unions.Those who fail to reply promptly face losing their dependant’s pension. Continue reading...

Payments halted four times and left Eileen McGrath without income over ChristmasA retired teacher has had her pension payments stopped four times because her pension provider repeatedly refuses to accept that she is not dead.Eileen McGrath, 85, was left without income over Christmas when Teachers’ Pensions, which administers payments on behalf of the UK government, wrongly matched her with a deceased stranger. Continue reading...