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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Miles Brignall

Fuming as Flogas fails to pass on LPG price cuts

A large propane tank against a red brick wall
Flogas offered a reader 500 litres of LPG – but were told where to go. Photograph: Alamy

I would like to make you and your readers aware of the recent actions of the liquid central heating gas supplier Flogas. I have been a customer for 14 years and trusted it to adjust the price in accordance with gas price fluctuations. But when I recently looked at what I was being charged I found I was paying 69p a litre, when the market rate is 28p a litre (ex VAT).

When I complained, the cheeky gits offered me 500 litres of fuel as compensation – but as far as I’m concerned it can shove that. I owe Flogas for my last 1,000 litre tank fill, and I’m not planning to pay! What do you think? AD, Skelmersdale, Lancashire

In recent months Guardian Money has highlighted the importance of checking prices when buying heating oil after hearing similar stories to this – now it seems everyone who buys bulk LPG needs to do this.

The domestic LPG market is complicated because households are often restricted to the supplier that owns the tank in their garden. That said, consumers should be getting a fair deal, which on the face of it you were not.

We asked Flogas for an explanation and we were told that you were not on a fixed deal, making the price premium you were charged all the more worrying. Flogas was rather reticent when discussing the case but told Money it is “always listening to customers and looking for a fair outcome”. As a result, it has now agreed the matter to AD’s satisfaction, it said.

We are given to believe that AD has been repaid a significant sum, although he became rather tongue-tied when asked what it was. Happy for us to let him sort out his problem, he was less inclined to say how much, even though it might help others.

The moral of the tale is don’t ever trust an energy company to do the right thing, and always check prices when you order.

We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number

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