Gerry you may be interested in my blog entry re your interview with Ms Doyle. It,s clear from the interview to me, the reason the taxi industry is in such chaos is that Ms Doyle has no real understanding of what her job is, and whats really annoying is that she went on your programme and tried to convince the taxi operators in Ireland that she has their best interest at heart. At this point she is trying to get us on her side. Well let me tell her and you it,s too late, the Commission for Taxi Regulations days are numbered.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick,
http://dublintaxies.blogspot.com/2008/10/taxi-regulator-from-different.html
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Letter to the Irish Times
Madam
It strikes me as a voluntary unpaid director of a credit union that the financial regulators office can police small financial institutions such as credit unions with great rigour and efficiency, but it can not do the same to large commercial companies such as the banks.
As volunteers we work long and hard unpaid to comply with IFSRA regulations and we welcome the scrutinising that is involved to protect members interests, however as unpaid volunteers we would prefer not to have to do this extra work, but we do it in the interest of our members also our commitment to the ethos and principles the credit union movement in general.
As a director of a regulated company (a credit union) and also as a taxi driver to earn my living, it strikes me that compliance with regulations from the state are only for little people. As usual compliance for big companies is subject to their strength to avoid and manipulate the regulators.
As usual in Ireland, its one law for the rich, and a different one for the poor.
The admission today by the NRA, that their system will always only be 98% accurate, and with no means of independent appeal, is another example of the state protecting itself against the ordinary person.
As a taxi operator it amazes me that non civil / public servants can put taxi drivers out of business for fairly trivial reasons, but the IFSRA staff can’t put banks out of business even for serious breaches of regulations.
What we need now is a regulator of regulators.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
It strikes me as a voluntary unpaid director of a credit union that the financial regulators office can police small financial institutions such as credit unions with great rigour and efficiency, but it can not do the same to large commercial companies such as the banks.
As volunteers we work long and hard unpaid to comply with IFSRA regulations and we welcome the scrutinising that is involved to protect members interests, however as unpaid volunteers we would prefer not to have to do this extra work, but we do it in the interest of our members also our commitment to the ethos and principles the credit union movement in general.
As a director of a regulated company (a credit union) and also as a taxi driver to earn my living, it strikes me that compliance with regulations from the state are only for little people. As usual compliance for big companies is subject to their strength to avoid and manipulate the regulators.
As usual in Ireland, its one law for the rich, and a different one for the poor.
The admission today by the NRA, that their system will always only be 98% accurate, and with no means of independent appeal, is another example of the state protecting itself against the ordinary person.
As a taxi operator it amazes me that non civil / public servants can put taxi drivers out of business for fairly trivial reasons, but the IFSRA staff can’t put banks out of business even for serious breaches of regulations.
What we need now is a regulator of regulators.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Letter to RTEs Pat Kenny show.
Dear Pat
I am amazed that the house of cards fell so quickly in the end. In March / April 1999 I was interviewed live by you regarding my questions about the so called and much hyped CELTIC TIGER. I made the point that only a small number of people were making lots of money and the rest of us were being subjected to higher living costs as a result of the increasing cost of property / homes.
The issue of dodgy P60s being accepted by the banks and personally I won’t call them institutions as I regard them as shysters and crooks as has been proved by the DIRT investigations etc. AS far as I know not one bank official at any level was ever charged with any criminal activity and here we are again with a financial crisis caused by the operation and greed by banks. It’s quite clear to me that we need much stronger regulation of banks. To assume honesty from these businesses is the greatest mistake that will ever be made, regulation should assume dishonesty and regulate and police accordingly.
Ordinary workers in many industries have operated their businesses properly and honestly, and it must sicken honest honourable business people in every industry outside the financial industry, that the banks can manipulate the government in the way they have over the last few days.
Businesses go to the wall every day we know that, however it appears that’s only for little companies outside the world of high finance, everyone else can sing for their supper and whistle Dixie on their way to the dole.
I accept the need maintain the integrity of the banking world however the real world of Irish finance should always have been protected by the regulator, not only for the banks, but more importantly for those companies that genuinely create wealth for this state. Banks should from now on pay for a bond to insure depositors both corporate and personal. This would give absolute guarantees to those companies that have substantial monies to invest and also to individuals.
There is much talk about the banks paying for the future guarantees from the state. Let’s be clear about this. If there is to be payments for this it will come from lower interest rates paid to investors and higher rates charged to borrowers, it will not come out of the share holders pockets. It will come from all of us that have to use the services of these badly managed companies, unless the future regulation of this industry acts in favour of the consumer again both corporate and personal.
Anyway I hate to say I told you so, but I did.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
I am amazed that the house of cards fell so quickly in the end. In March / April 1999 I was interviewed live by you regarding my questions about the so called and much hyped CELTIC TIGER. I made the point that only a small number of people were making lots of money and the rest of us were being subjected to higher living costs as a result of the increasing cost of property / homes.
The issue of dodgy P60s being accepted by the banks and personally I won’t call them institutions as I regard them as shysters and crooks as has been proved by the DIRT investigations etc. AS far as I know not one bank official at any level was ever charged with any criminal activity and here we are again with a financial crisis caused by the operation and greed by banks. It’s quite clear to me that we need much stronger regulation of banks. To assume honesty from these businesses is the greatest mistake that will ever be made, regulation should assume dishonesty and regulate and police accordingly.
Ordinary workers in many industries have operated their businesses properly and honestly, and it must sicken honest honourable business people in every industry outside the financial industry, that the banks can manipulate the government in the way they have over the last few days.
Businesses go to the wall every day we know that, however it appears that’s only for little companies outside the world of high finance, everyone else can sing for their supper and whistle Dixie on their way to the dole.
I accept the need maintain the integrity of the banking world however the real world of Irish finance should always have been protected by the regulator, not only for the banks, but more importantly for those companies that genuinely create wealth for this state. Banks should from now on pay for a bond to insure depositors both corporate and personal. This would give absolute guarantees to those companies that have substantial monies to invest and also to individuals.
There is much talk about the banks paying for the future guarantees from the state. Let’s be clear about this. If there is to be payments for this it will come from lower interest rates paid to investors and higher rates charged to borrowers, it will not come out of the share holders pockets. It will come from all of us that have to use the services of these badly managed companies, unless the future regulation of this industry acts in favour of the consumer again both corporate and personal.
Anyway I hate to say I told you so, but I did.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
M50 Guinea pigs.
The NRA have said that the new system on the M50 will not be ready until October, this really means December. Could I be so bold as to suggest they turn off all charges until the system has been fully independently verified as working correctly. No other service provider would be allowed to use their customers as guinea pigs. THe NRA should absorb all costs in testing their system. Also is there an independent appeals system available?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Energy Price Increases
A copy of this was sent to the Irish times, the Tainaiste, and ICTU.
26th July 2008
Madam
It is with noted interest I read the report that the Commission for Energy regulation has sanctioned a 20% increase in gas prices. Your report states the average domestic gas bill is €822 per annum. My annual bill is around €1500 for a small 2 bed roomed home in Dublin, which is home to just 2 people which mean an increase of around €300 or twice the reported figures. We use gas for heating and cooking. We are an average couple, both working day time jobs which means we really should be paying the average €822 per annum. Something tells me there is an element of spin in these figures to report a smaller level of increase on the consumer.
There are a number of significant factors regarding this increase. We bought into natural gas as an economical green alternative to burning fossil fuels. At the current rates we will have to consider returning to the open fire as our source of heating.
Another factor that can not be ignored is how the gas and electricity price increases will fuel the spiral of inflation that will inevitably follow these. The affects of these increases on people will affect the ability of the social partners to strike a deal as the rate of pay increases required to cover these increases will invariably have to be factored into any possible agreement. These will be resisted by employers and in turn it will almost inevitably be rejected by the trade unions memberships, and a free for all wage bargaining will ensue, and then the employers will really have something to worry about. IBEC et al should condemn these increases and put pressure on the energy companies to refrain from these increases. These energy companies are large enough to weather a reduction in incomes at least in the short term, and they should do so, not hide behind the cloak of the regulator as though once the increase is granted they have to increase prices, they don’t and they should not increase their prices, (in the national interest of course).
There is another factor which intrigues me, and it’s the role of the Commission of Energy Regulation. In my naivety I believed the regulatory processes existed to protect the interests of consumers. These actions clearly demonstrate the interests of the consumer are being completely ignored, and the regulations are only serving the interests of big business.
The issue of industry regulation must be overhauled completely to reflect the consumer’s interest.
Regards etc
John Fitzpatrick
26th July 2008
Madam
It is with noted interest I read the report that the Commission for Energy regulation has sanctioned a 20% increase in gas prices. Your report states the average domestic gas bill is €822 per annum. My annual bill is around €1500 for a small 2 bed roomed home in Dublin, which is home to just 2 people which mean an increase of around €300 or twice the reported figures. We use gas for heating and cooking. We are an average couple, both working day time jobs which means we really should be paying the average €822 per annum. Something tells me there is an element of spin in these figures to report a smaller level of increase on the consumer.
There are a number of significant factors regarding this increase. We bought into natural gas as an economical green alternative to burning fossil fuels. At the current rates we will have to consider returning to the open fire as our source of heating.
Another factor that can not be ignored is how the gas and electricity price increases will fuel the spiral of inflation that will inevitably follow these. The affects of these increases on people will affect the ability of the social partners to strike a deal as the rate of pay increases required to cover these increases will invariably have to be factored into any possible agreement. These will be resisted by employers and in turn it will almost inevitably be rejected by the trade unions memberships, and a free for all wage bargaining will ensue, and then the employers will really have something to worry about. IBEC et al should condemn these increases and put pressure on the energy companies to refrain from these increases. These energy companies are large enough to weather a reduction in incomes at least in the short term, and they should do so, not hide behind the cloak of the regulator as though once the increase is granted they have to increase prices, they don’t and they should not increase their prices, (in the national interest of course).
There is another factor which intrigues me, and it’s the role of the Commission of Energy Regulation. In my naivety I believed the regulatory processes existed to protect the interests of consumers. These actions clearly demonstrate the interests of the consumer are being completely ignored, and the regulations are only serving the interests of big business.
The issue of industry regulation must be overhauled completely to reflect the consumer’s interest.
Regards etc
John Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Letter to the National Roads Authority sent 16th July 2008.
Dear Sir / Madam
As the removal of the M50 toll plaza draws nearer I decided to research the options available to me. I have no intention of allowing any private company to have access to my bank or credit card details. I then discovered that there is a way to pay the 3 euro toll before 8pm the next day, however there is no explanation as to how or where this fee can be paid. In reality the companies' etrip and eflow, do not have any mechanism available to me that does not result in a penalty being applied. If they can not facilitate an easy payment method, then they should not be permitted to apply any kind of penalty, until they have this facility available.
Can you tell me how I can avoid these penalties as I do not want to break any laws, and I do not like being put in a position where a private company can accuse me of doing something illegal and then I have to prove my innocence which in this case will be almost impossible?
The new scenario is supposed to be barrier free, but the etrip website advises;
"Should your tag fail to read you will be asked to pay by other means, such as cash or credit card
To minimise the chances of your tag not reading:
1. Approach the toll barrier more slowly and cautiously than normal, to ensure your tag is read and charged correctly and accurately.
2. Make sure your tag has the proper holder and is mounted correctly inside your vehicle. - this is very important
3. Do not wave your tag when approaching the plazas "
Below is the link for the webpage:
http://www.etrip.ie/faqs.php#Anchor-What-52
Will there be barriers or not?
If I leave the m50 and re-enter it again, does that count as two trips or one?
If I use the m50 more than once on any given day do I pay every time I enter the m50?
Can you also tell me how, I, as a taxi driver, can charge my customers for using this facility when it will not be obvious to them, that we have passed through a pay to use public facility?
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Below is the repsonse from the NRA, and quite prompt it was too. I wish the rest of official Ireland was as efficient. THe info supplied by Mr Kennedy of the NRA seems to unequivocally say we will still only pay to use the bridge. The technology to be employed however, I believe is somewhat suspicious, not that Mr Kennedy or the NRA is responsible for that, they are not, it,s the companies supplying the services that will be responsible for it working or not working as the c ase may be. Anyway the NRA seems to have it all in hand.
THank you Mr Kennedy.
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thank you for your email. You raised a number of questions which I have responded to below.
Barrier-free tolling is planned to commence on 30th August 2008, Barrier-free tolling will see the existing barrier operated West-Link facility being replaced with an electronic toll collection system. The electronic toll collection system will comprise:
overhead gantries which will span each side of the motorway (i.e. 2 gantries for each direction of traffic; first gantry detects the vehicle and the second reads the vehicle)
Beacons along the gantry which will capture each vehicle which has an electronic tag (on board unit – OBU) attached
Cameras (video imaging technology) along the gantry which will read the number plate of each vehicle passing under the gantry
Central operating system, held in a different location, which accumulates and processes all of the transactions captured by the cameras and beacons described above
As such there will be no barriers at the M50 toll location on the commencement of barrier-free tolling. Also the barrier-free tolling arrangements only apply to the existing "West-Link" section and not to any other "On / Off" M50 interchange movements or any other location on the M50.
There will be significant roadside signage information identifying the tolled section of the motorway which will assist you as a taxi-driver in notifying your customers that a toll is being incurred as they are travelling on the barrier-free toll section of the M50.
On the matter of the eTrip website FAQ response you highlighted, this response relates to the question : What happens if my tag doesn’t read at a plaza?
As above the M50 West-Link section is being converted to barrier-free tolling i.e. no toll plaza but all other toll facilities, East-Link, Dublin Port Tunnel, M1 Drogheda, M4/M6 Kilcock-Kinnegad and M8 Rathcormac/Fermoy will continue as plaza based operations. Any one of the approved tags (see below) will operate at any of the toll facilities and the advice eTrip provided still stands.
M50 Barrier-Free Toll Payment Options
The NRA has recently launched a new website www.tagcompare.ie which details all tag suppliers and the tag account options available. The lowest toll is available through the tag based payment.
In respect of your identified preference (i.e no bank account or credit/debit card account disclosure), both eTrip (http://www.etrip.ie/index.php) and TollTag (https://bookings.parkmagic.net/tolltag/) facilitate tag options that meet with your particular requirements. Please note that while eTrip is an existing authorised tag provider, TollTag is currently concluding arrangements with the NRA to be an authorised tag provider.
In relation to the eTrip tag it will shortly be possible to acquire a tag at certain retail outlets and to "top-up" the tag through a cash payment at nominated car parks principally located in the Dublin area. eTrip will be confirming these arrangements in the near future and their website will be updated to reflect the additional offerings.
Tolltag, once approved, is proposing to roll out a retail based offering also and further details will be provided by the company over the coming weeks.
For motorists who choose not to have electronic tag accounts on either an account or cash basis and who do not wish to avail of the number plate (video) account options they can use the tolled section of the M50 as an unregistered user. For unregistered users the vehicle plate number will be recorded when they make a journey along the tolled section of the M50. The motorist can make payment on the day of the journey or up to 8.00pm on the day after the journey by any of the following means:
On-line over the internet;
Through the 24 hour telephone contact centre being set up by the NRA, or
Through a bill pay system in over 1000 shops and garages nationwide.
In the first two cases this would necessitate providing bank account or credit/debit card account details. In the last case it will be possible to make cash payments at retail stores. This cash payment option is catered for by Payzone and a listing of the stores providing the service is available from the Payzone website www.payzone.ie
I trust the above addresses the issues raised in your email. If you have further questions please contact me.
Kind regards,
Michael
______________
Michael Kennedy
National Roads Authority
St. Martin's House
Waterloo Road
Dublin 4
Phone: 00353 (0)1 660 2511
Fax: 00353 (0)1 668 0009
E-mail: mkennedy@nra.ie
www.nra.ie
As the removal of the M50 toll plaza draws nearer I decided to research the options available to me. I have no intention of allowing any private company to have access to my bank or credit card details. I then discovered that there is a way to pay the 3 euro toll before 8pm the next day, however there is no explanation as to how or where this fee can be paid. In reality the companies' etrip and eflow, do not have any mechanism available to me that does not result in a penalty being applied. If they can not facilitate an easy payment method, then they should not be permitted to apply any kind of penalty, until they have this facility available.
Can you tell me how I can avoid these penalties as I do not want to break any laws, and I do not like being put in a position where a private company can accuse me of doing something illegal and then I have to prove my innocence which in this case will be almost impossible?
The new scenario is supposed to be barrier free, but the etrip website advises;
"Should your tag fail to read you will be asked to pay by other means, such as cash or credit card
To minimise the chances of your tag not reading:
1. Approach the toll barrier more slowly and cautiously than normal, to ensure your tag is read and charged correctly and accurately.
2. Make sure your tag has the proper holder and is mounted correctly inside your vehicle. - this is very important
3. Do not wave your tag when approaching the plazas "
Below is the link for the webpage:
http://www.etrip.ie/faqs.php#Anchor-What-52
Will there be barriers or not?
If I leave the m50 and re-enter it again, does that count as two trips or one?
If I use the m50 more than once on any given day do I pay every time I enter the m50?
Can you also tell me how, I, as a taxi driver, can charge my customers for using this facility when it will not be obvious to them, that we have passed through a pay to use public facility?
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Below is the repsonse from the NRA, and quite prompt it was too. I wish the rest of official Ireland was as efficient. THe info supplied by Mr Kennedy of the NRA seems to unequivocally say we will still only pay to use the bridge. The technology to be employed however, I believe is somewhat suspicious, not that Mr Kennedy or the NRA is responsible for that, they are not, it,s the companies supplying the services that will be responsible for it working or not working as the c ase may be. Anyway the NRA seems to have it all in hand.
THank you Mr Kennedy.
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thank you for your email. You raised a number of questions which I have responded to below.
Barrier-free tolling is planned to commence on 30th August 2008, Barrier-free tolling will see the existing barrier operated West-Link facility being replaced with an electronic toll collection system. The electronic toll collection system will comprise:
overhead gantries which will span each side of the motorway (i.e. 2 gantries for each direction of traffic; first gantry detects the vehicle and the second reads the vehicle)
Beacons along the gantry which will capture each vehicle which has an electronic tag (on board unit – OBU) attached
Cameras (video imaging technology) along the gantry which will read the number plate of each vehicle passing under the gantry
Central operating system, held in a different location, which accumulates and processes all of the transactions captured by the cameras and beacons described above
As such there will be no barriers at the M50 toll location on the commencement of barrier-free tolling. Also the barrier-free tolling arrangements only apply to the existing "West-Link" section and not to any other "On / Off" M50 interchange movements or any other location on the M50.
There will be significant roadside signage information identifying the tolled section of the motorway which will assist you as a taxi-driver in notifying your customers that a toll is being incurred as they are travelling on the barrier-free toll section of the M50.
On the matter of the eTrip website FAQ response you highlighted, this response relates to the question : What happens if my tag doesn’t read at a plaza?
As above the M50 West-Link section is being converted to barrier-free tolling i.e. no toll plaza but all other toll facilities, East-Link, Dublin Port Tunnel, M1 Drogheda, M4/M6 Kilcock-Kinnegad and M8 Rathcormac/Fermoy will continue as plaza based operations. Any one of the approved tags (see below) will operate at any of the toll facilities and the advice eTrip provided still stands.
M50 Barrier-Free Toll Payment Options
The NRA has recently launched a new website www.tagcompare.ie which details all tag suppliers and the tag account options available. The lowest toll is available through the tag based payment.
In respect of your identified preference (i.e no bank account or credit/debit card account disclosure), both eTrip (http://www.etrip.ie/index.php) and TollTag (https://bookings.parkmagic.net/tolltag/) facilitate tag options that meet with your particular requirements. Please note that while eTrip is an existing authorised tag provider, TollTag is currently concluding arrangements with the NRA to be an authorised tag provider.
In relation to the eTrip tag it will shortly be possible to acquire a tag at certain retail outlets and to "top-up" the tag through a cash payment at nominated car parks principally located in the Dublin area. eTrip will be confirming these arrangements in the near future and their website will be updated to reflect the additional offerings.
Tolltag, once approved, is proposing to roll out a retail based offering also and further details will be provided by the company over the coming weeks.
For motorists who choose not to have electronic tag accounts on either an account or cash basis and who do not wish to avail of the number plate (video) account options they can use the tolled section of the M50 as an unregistered user. For unregistered users the vehicle plate number will be recorded when they make a journey along the tolled section of the M50. The motorist can make payment on the day of the journey or up to 8.00pm on the day after the journey by any of the following means:
On-line over the internet;
Through the 24 hour telephone contact centre being set up by the NRA, or
Through a bill pay system in over 1000 shops and garages nationwide.
In the first two cases this would necessitate providing bank account or credit/debit card account details. In the last case it will be possible to make cash payments at retail stores. This cash payment option is catered for by Payzone and a listing of the stores providing the service is available from the Payzone website www.payzone.ie
I trust the above addresses the issues raised in your email. If you have further questions please contact me.
Kind regards,
Michael
______________
Michael Kennedy
National Roads Authority
St. Martin's House
Waterloo Road
Dublin 4
Phone: 00353 (0)1 660 2511
Fax: 00353 (0)1 668 0009
E-mail: mkennedy@nra.ie
www.nra.ie
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
National Consumer Agency
Dear Sir or Madam.
Can you take a look at these photos I took in Tesco Clearwater in Finglas. They offer dvds for 6 euro each or 3 for 25 euro. What is this about? Can you tell me if you can do anything about this type of pricing display or who I can complain to about this. It,s not only Tesco that does this, it,s almost everywhere and it is not helpful to consumers to have prices displayed in this way.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Can you take a look at these photos I took in Tesco Clearwater in Finglas. They offer dvds for 6 euro each or 3 for 25 euro. What is this about? Can you tell me if you can do anything about this type of pricing display or who I can complain to about this. It,s not only Tesco that does this, it,s almost everywhere and it is not helpful to consumers to have prices displayed in this way.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Thursday, May 29, 2008
National Consumer Agency
The reality of shopping around to force retailers to reduce prices.
If you have to travel for bargains then you must take into account the time it takes you to travel and also the costs of the travel and that’s whether you walk, drive, take a bus or a taxi. Depending on what the bargain is you might need to buy in bulk to justify the time and expenses incurred. If its fresh food then that’s out as buying fresh food in bulk means you have to eat it all while it’s fresh, or store it, until you need it, at which point it won’t be fresh anymore.
For this example I’m going to use one simple product, the Pint of Guinness.
I live in Cabra where the humble Pint of Guinness is Four euro in the local pubs. They are all within walking distances to and from my home. When I go out I usually have about six pints, (so for this example that’s what we’ll stick with). I walk to the pub and I walk home so no more expenses incurred and therefore my night out costs me €24.
Quite close to me is StoneyBatter, a lovely old Dublin village atmosphere with substantially more pubs and as such with real competition amongst them for customers. There are a number of pubs there, that a pint will cost you three euro eighty cent. That means my six pints will cost €22.80cent, (a saving of €1.20).
However here are the real costs. StoneyBatter is not within walking distance, has no bus service from Cabra, and therefore I have to get a taxi which costs €7.00 there and back, a total of €14.00.
Therefore the real cost of shopping around for six humble pints of Guinness €36.80cent which is €12.80cent more expensive than going to the locals in Cabra.
At this rate I would have to drink 70 pints in one go to justify the cost of transport, to, as the National Consumer Agency puts it, shop around.
So to shop around for a cheaper pint means, I would have to die, because that’s what drinking 70 pints in one go would do to me. I don’t think I’m going to die for the cause of the National Consumer Agency. So that’s it, proof that the National Consumer Agency is in no way going to protect or defend the little people, the consumers.
And that’s just the humble pint, imagine the grief you’d have, to do your normal shopping, especially if you were catering for a family with a couple of children.
An extract from the National Consumer Agency website.
http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Paying%20Too%20Much/
This is not true; there are laws which currently regulate the prices of goods and services, i.e. taxies, and medicines to name just two.
If you have to travel for bargains then you must take into account the time it takes you to travel and also the costs of the travel and that’s whether you walk, drive, take a bus or a taxi. Depending on what the bargain is you might need to buy in bulk to justify the time and expenses incurred. If its fresh food then that’s out as buying fresh food in bulk means you have to eat it all while it’s fresh, or store it, until you need it, at which point it won’t be fresh anymore.
For this example I’m going to use one simple product, the Pint of Guinness.
I live in Cabra where the humble Pint of Guinness is Four euro in the local pubs. They are all within walking distances to and from my home. When I go out I usually have about six pints, (so for this example that’s what we’ll stick with). I walk to the pub and I walk home so no more expenses incurred and therefore my night out costs me €24.
Quite close to me is StoneyBatter, a lovely old Dublin village atmosphere with substantially more pubs and as such with real competition amongst them for customers. There are a number of pubs there, that a pint will cost you three euro eighty cent. That means my six pints will cost €22.80cent, (a saving of €1.20).
However here are the real costs. StoneyBatter is not within walking distance, has no bus service from Cabra, and therefore I have to get a taxi which costs €7.00 there and back, a total of €14.00.
Therefore the real cost of shopping around for six humble pints of Guinness €36.80cent which is €12.80cent more expensive than going to the locals in Cabra.
At this rate I would have to drink 70 pints in one go to justify the cost of transport, to, as the National Consumer Agency puts it, shop around.
So to shop around for a cheaper pint means, I would have to die, because that’s what drinking 70 pints in one go would do to me. I don’t think I’m going to die for the cause of the National Consumer Agency. So that’s it, proof that the National Consumer Agency is in no way going to protect or defend the little people, the consumers.
And that’s just the humble pint, imagine the grief you’d have, to do your normal shopping, especially if you were catering for a family with a couple of children.
An extract from the National Consumer Agency website.
http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Paying%20Too%20Much/
This is not true; there are laws which currently regulate the prices of goods and services, i.e. taxies, and medicines to name just two.
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