Energy vouchers not being used - Muscat
Sixty-eight per cent of energy benefit vouchers were not used this year although the cost of energy bills was on the increase, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Speaking during a political activity in Valletta he said this was for a number of reasons including that the vouchers were expiring before they received the bills, using the vouchers was psychologically humiliating as they had to queue up and the vouchers could only be used if one paid the rest of the bill at one go.
Dr Muscat referred to a statement by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech in an interview with The Sunday Times that the promised income tax cuts had to wait. He said that the only circumstance that had changed was that the election was now over.
On the proposed farmers’ market, Dr Muscat said this was part of the solution but it did not remove the need for a reform of the Ta’ Qali Pitkali.
Farmers were currently being sidelined by the Nationalist Party and they were not the kind of people to stay complaining or writing on the papers because they always had to be on the go.
They were not being given the importance they deserved and there was no ministry or parliamentary secretariat for fishing and farming.
The last investment at the Pitkalija, he said, was in 1997 and subsidies to farmers had continued to decrease.
Consumers were constantly having to pay higher prices and farmers were not getting their dues.
Many farmers, he said, traditionally supported the Nationalist Party but now they needed a better government vision.
He said that a road planned in Burmarrad would deplete more farmland.
Dr Muscat pointed out that although there were 1,600 less people than last year are in employment, there were only 770 more registering for work. This showed that people had given up.
On the Labour Party he said that it had got its act together and internal conflicts had ceased. This, Dr Muscat said, was something the party had owed the people.
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liz falzon
Jul 27th 2010, 15:42
Hi Mr Vassallo, I agree totally with you especially having also lived in the UK too where one is treated with some dignity and respect. This supposedly 'customer care' attitude is disgusting. I started my online complaint a week ago with enemalta. Having exchanged about 12 e-mails and still being unable to contact them by phone, the end result today is that I've just received a letter warning that unless I settled the total amount (which I am disputing) within 10 days from the date on the letter, the service will be suspended. The best bit is that the letter was received today the 27th, posted on the 26th July, and wait for it... dated 20th July. So basically instead of trying to help out, we now know that customer service are not only totally incompetent but also down right vindictive. I totally agree with your belief that there are thousands out there who have had their number of residents / status downgraded and are in oblivion. I can't believe they can get away with it. Surely Joseph Muscat should pick up on this.
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 28th 2010, 11:34
Hello Ms Falzon; I am hoping that the Hon. Joseph Muscat will take them to task over this as soon as parliament reopens but then again he may have other priorities by then.
You started only a week ago? I have been chasing them since last February and it takes weeks at a time for them to reply to my precise emails. They really cannot argue so (as sometimes happens in UK) they give up and don't answer until you take them to some tribunal or other and then they try to settle out of court because they haven't a hope in hell of getting the arbiters sympathy when such crass neglect and incompetence is shown. I wish you luck and mention that we do have some MEPs but are they worth their stipend?
Oh and by the bye.... have you had your voucher from the minister yet because I haven't but my father HAS even though he's been dead for 15 years? Obviously, the ones that cannot be cashed will go out so that the general political picture has a nicer hue.
Good luck with your complaint.
liz falzon
Jul 27th 2010, 08:03
@ Joseph Vassallo
The very same thing has happened to me. I can understand your frustration completely. It is unfair and unbelievable that something like this happens in this day and age. In my case I had not even noticed that my status was changed from 1 person to Zero. I was corresponding with WSC by e-mail as contacting them by phone is not possible!! and I was attempting to change my status from one person to two persons. The arrogant reply was that there where no persons registered on my account, that is when I noticed the change on my bill, so as you said there must be many out there who are unknowingly in the same position. This is pure theft.
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 27th 2010, 12:15
Yes Ms Falzon and you never know who is answering your queries either; it could be a trained executive or possibly an untrained minion who aspires to promotion. How can you tell if their email is unsigned?
Since you correspond by email (I do too), have you noticed perchance that after a long time waiting for a reply, you suddenly hear from them on a public holiday or a SUNDAY, presumably when they are working on overtime at double their hourly rate?
They are obliged (according to EU rules) to fully inform us about how they handle our complaints and how we can escalate them, but although I have repeatedly asked them to direct me to their ombudsman or equivalent, they constantly ignore my questions and make no reference to them. SO, MEP, Customer Care Tribunal, what?
Malta is far from reaching the levels of customer care that the EU expects (do they really expect them?). Before returning to Malta I tangled (successfully) with the likes of British Gas, the Energy Ombudsman, DVLA and others of that ilk and they invariably send leaflets informing customers of their rights and procedures for a proper process.
l fenech
Jul 26th 2010, 12:01
U issa mhux ovvja li il-Gvern spiccatlu l-energja!
Dorothy brown
Jul 26th 2010, 11:42
Can someone tell me what these energy vouchers are and how to apply?
Tony Cassar
Jul 26th 2010, 11:29
I received a bill for 8 months which was an estimate since when the meter reader came home to take the reading i was recovered in hospital, in 241 days it was estimated that i consumed 1820 units or 7.5 units daily ( which was much lower from the previous daily consumption in the previous bill which was approx 20 units a day) the total cost came to 360 EUR Few days ago i received a second bill based on an actual reading, the dif. in units consumed, instead of being charged at the rates of the corresponding previous 8 months was grouped all in just 17 days, meaning tat my daily consumption appeared to rise from an average 19.1 units to 79 units daily in the last 47 days. This meant that i was charged at very high tariffs for consumption that was never consumed during this period. When i asked for an explanation i was told that this was company policy that estimates wlll be evened out in the next bllable period! This is a gross injustice meaning that my family will have to pay 700EUR for electricity which was never consumed.
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 26th 2010, 10:12
WSC plays on the synonymous words "residential" and "domestic". By re-inventing their definition, they mitigate charging possibly thousands of illiterate/uninformed customers some 30% more for non-preferential tariff. When I moved permanently into my flat, I signed their forms declaring that I am a one-resident household. They sent a driver and another workman to "inspect" my home to satisfy themselves that I am a one-person home as declared; (invasion of privacy has no meaning in this republic). They accepted my declaration and the next two bills reflected that status. Next, they surreptitiously reverted to charging me for zero-residents. Only recently, I realise what they had done, and claimed a refund. They refused and demanded new forms to "change" my status to a "one-resident home" and benefit from a preferential tariff and allowances for reduced consumption. Helloooo! Which part of "... I gave you that declaration years ago and there's been no change..." don't they understand? So Joseph Muscat, how about a PQ asking for relevant statistics to determine how many people are being misled?
S J Vella Mercieca
Jul 26th 2010, 09:58
So so true Dr Muscat! vouchers returned to Social Security for redating at times take over six monthes to be re issued and when contacting DSS the answear is you have to wait GHAX QIEGHDIN LURA!! I think this benefit is being used abusively. If the prices of water and Electricity went up due to the rise of increase in price of oil worldwide, why is it that the government created this benefit to exempt a few? everyone should pay to what he/she consume otherwise you are creating abuse. When petrol goes up everyone has to pay the same price for what he consume.If the government is truly sensible about the high prices of water and Electricity He should put the tarrifs down at once for everyone!!
Kevin Galea
Jul 25th 2010, 17:59
@Jesmond Abela and Anthony Briffa
Ok ejja naqbel maghkhom vera li kont tistenna u trid thallas il- flus biex tixtri TV imma illum jekk tkun trid tixtri TV alkemm hawn kemm trid xorta trid tistenna il Kontijiet Jigu ha tara jekk hux ser iservik il paga.
Qedin sew illum ma tridx thallas LM 50 ghal TV imma trid thallas il ballal ta mijjiet ta € biex taghmel xi operazzjoni privata ghax ma tkunx tiflah tistenna .
U jekk Gonzi ried li il- vouchers jehodhom kulhadd ma qabadx u naqqashom mil kontijiet mil- ewwel mela hafna Tkarrib u talb biex isarfuhom.
Haga nighdilkhom sinjuri imsemmijin hawn fuq u ohrajn bhalkhom tiprovawx tigustifikaw b'affarijiet ta 25 sena ilu ghax il-prezent ihamrilkhom wicckhom.
G. Mangion
Jul 25th 2010, 18:26
SINJURI. F'dan il Kas - Il Passat HUWA Garanzija tal - Futur ......................
C.Sammut
Jul 25th 2010, 19:10
G.Mangion address your comment not to 'Sinjuri' imma to those struggling with their bills. And stop justifying today's wrongs with those of the past. It doesn't make it right believe me. Try a more constructive argument instead.
J.Cachia
Jul 25th 2010, 23:23
@Kevin Galea and C.Sammut 1.Ok ejja naqbel maghkhom vera.................So do i, servik il paga........... :-) To buy a LCD, Plasma , LED 38" 42" 50".......... a Cruise...........SUV 2.biex taghmel xi operazzjoni privata ...............No private hospital at that time (NO CHOICE) 3.b'affarijiet ta 25 sena ilu ghax il-prezent ihamrilkhom wicckhom.................NO,the past will never be forgoten. 23-2 = 21 years
G. Mangion
Jul 25th 2010, 17:53
The leader of Misleaders should tell his suppoters what he is going to do if GOD forbids the Maltese electorate goes Bonkers and puts him in power ?? this Misleader won't tell surely, he is already making fun out of everything today !!... vouchers are helping People and are also a detrement to the klikkek like ( 50 Lm for a color T.V, Telephone, housing ah cant stop ecc,ecc, Is that Not Humiliating ?
C.Sammut
Jul 25th 2010, 17:47
I don't believe the insensitive comments being made hereunder.. It seems a lot of people are detached from reality or better still pretend to be. How can you pretend that people are not struggling to pay their bills? Have you seen the statistics of agreements made with ARMS? How much do you think these people will benefit from their energy voucher? Why do you keep making blinkered comments instead of being socially sensitive to this issue?
C.camilleri
Jul 25th 2010, 17:23
Spiccajna tajjeb. Bil-voucher biex inhallsu d-dawl. LM10 ta' darba ghax ghola il-hobz. Voucher iehor ta' darba il-Gimgha d-diehla ghax rega ghola id-dawl. Gvern tal voucers, Daqt jerga jintroduci r-ration ta' zmien il gwerra.
Kullhadd jikkritika lil JM ghax issemmi dawn l-affarijiet li jolqtu lin-nies u hadd ma jichad kelma wahda milli qal. Voucher ta" 1cent!!! lanqas haqq il posta. Gideb meta qal li l-ministru mhux ser izomm il weghda elettorali fit-tnaqqis ta l-income tax? Ghola il gas ghal tlett darbiet konsekuttivi kif qal JM? Komplu ghixu F'Alice in wonderland.
@ Jesmond Abela
Tichad li biex iggib il-licenzja tas-sewqan ridt ixahham ?
joanna farrugia
Jul 25th 2010, 16:54
@ anthony briffa always mentioning the past for once pls mention now.by the way at that time were the bills high that most maltese couldnt afford?
renewing the voucher is not the social services job why doesnt the gov gave more time to be used? now since someone mentioned that jm is like alfred sant can you pls tell me what alfred sant had done so bad?all of you pn apologists pls mention what your dear gov is doing and at least alfred sant was a leader jm is the leader not like pn with 2 or more leaders
S VELLA
Jul 27th 2010, 11:37
@ Joanna Farrugia
The strategy the nationalists used against Dr. Alfred Sant was "TFIEGH TA TAGHJN" to obscure his integrity and honourable immage but thank God time gave Dr Alred Sant "Ragun" in almost everything he said. He warned us about lots of things and situations we were going to face but like the Emu a lot of Elite Maltese citizens dug their heads in the sand and always critisized everything he said, as if this gentleman QATT MA KELLU RAGUN F'XEJN, that is the strategy of the nationalists who act like saints and behave the opposite with someone who has a different opinion or who tries to uncover their Mask.
I am sure that Dr Alf Sant has no guilt feeling on his conscience about anything he said or done while serving us Maltese when he was and still is in politics because he had a clean conscience and was in the best interest of us all.
Joseph Muscat is young and dynamic, and as the saying goes, Hadd ma jahsillek wiccek biex tkun isbah minnu, so dont expect the nationalists to phrase our young leader with big Leadership skills and views!!
Jesmond Abela
Jul 25th 2010, 16:51
what a boring leader - we are back to square one..... birds of the same feathers.
moan moan moan
@ Gerard Cassar - tichad li ridna inhallsu LM 50 lil Mr X to get the chance to buy a colour TV??
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 25th 2010, 16:56
min hallas il LM 50 KORROT DAQS MIN IRCIVIHOM.
S J Vella Mercieca
Jul 26th 2010, 10:25
il-verita twegga u l-poplu mxebba!! Nahseb tohrog ixejjer il-bandiera inti meta tircievi l-kont tad dawl.....mur gibu kien il PL li bazwarna b'dawn il-kontijiet u tariffi gholjin....wahda ricenti sa nfakkrek habib, tac cilindri tal gas! giddibtuh lil DR JOSEPH MUSCAT meta qal kemm sa joghla cilindru tal gas...xi tghidli il-lum????? Gvern bla kuxxjenza socjali li qered il Haddiem! u jgawdu l-kbarat...u skandli li hadd ma hu responsabbli.
N.Calleja
Jul 25th 2010, 15:34
I suggest that from now on we should call Joseph as the Magician!! He is like a magician having a solution to everything!! I think that many are not using the energy vouchers because they are rich enough to pay their bills without any financial help from the government.
Stefan Kottmann
Jul 25th 2010, 14:46
Psychologically humiliating? Just to renew an expired voucher? What's humiliating about that? I think a socialist party should be happy that free things are being distributed to the needy, and should not worry about the needy feeling humiliated. It's not like we're queueing up for a loaf of stale bread.
Anthony Briffa
Jul 25th 2010, 14:58
Joseph forgot to mention that what was really humiliating was for thousands of people queuing up from 4 am, four abreast, behind Xandir Malta to register for a colour television, and then waiting for a call from the labour club to go and see Mr X before collecting the box from somebody who was not even in the trade.
Gerard Cassar
Jul 25th 2010, 16:40
Anthony Briffa: do not just repeat what you read in the P.N. papers. It is not true that people had to queue to get a colour T.V. I just went to a dealer when I decided to buy one and was served there and then.
It has been a long time that the energy vouchers were referred to. Up to now rhere is no sign of them.
M Mifsud
Jul 25th 2010, 17:07
We even had to queue at Telemalta office in Paceville to make an overseas telephone call and, believe me, it was not only humiliating but very expensive too!
j grech
Jul 25th 2010, 18:35
@ anthony briffa did not mind lining up to apply for your childrens allowances, did not moan lining up for free medicines, do not mind waiting for social security and sick benifit hand outs when needed, all much more important than the colour goggle box you did mind waiting for? all given to you by the red party, all free,then again you could always say no thankyou, today you can get your tv your pc and everything that you desire untill you are sick because today even hospitals dont have the medicines you require, why ? because malta cant pay the bills
Anthony Briffa
Jul 26th 2010, 07:52
@ Gerald Cassar You must be either very young not to remember the long queues behind Xandir Malta, from the early hours of the morning, in the hope of booking a colour t.v. set. You could only have been able to walk into a shop and book your colour t.v. comfortably either after 1987 when we were liberated from the regime or if before 1987 you must have been well into the labour fold. I suggest you visit the newspapers archives to refresh your memory.
Mary Fisher
Jul 25th 2010, 14:40
What does an energy voucher look like? We have not received one yet. What has one got to do before one receives it? Advise please. Thanks.
Joe Vella
Jul 25th 2010, 14:21
@ Tony Abela and Joseph MUscat et all:
If the Energy Vouchers are expired all the one have to do is go the nearest Social Services Office and have them re issued. Simple as that. But I guess that is to hard for you two to comprehend.
Fenech MD
Jul 26th 2010, 08:12
It's not hard to comprehend; but I don't think YOU can understand that if most, not to say all, people received outdated cheques, then many ppl have to queue at the Social Services and then another queue at the Maltapost office or wherever one pays one's W&E bill. Jekk ghandek hin x'tahli int mhux kulhadd ghandu.
Anthony Briffa
Jul 25th 2010, 13:50
I am amazed that our prospective prime minister cannot recognise the difference between adminstrative and political responsibilty. The expiry date on an energy benefit voucher is the responsibilty of the civil servant and not of the politician. Why should the recipients of such vouchers find it psychologically humiliating to make use of them. Could it be that although they are classified as being low earners they are not doing their part in economising and are just the same running high electricty bills. They seem to want to have the cake and eat it.
Also our prospective prime minster is reported as saying that the internal conflicts within the PL are over. This must have happened very recently because we are still reading about the way the major of F'gura was made to resign on instrunctions from the glass house in Hamrun and the coniving of his fellow labour counsillors.
Joseph needs to grow up and start talking real politics. Time is running out. This interview is not even the level of the corner meetings as we used to know them.
Johnny Xerri
Jul 25th 2010, 14:19
What I can say is that I did not use my eco-reduction (not energy voucher) because I did not receive one!
I was entitled because I an part of a household of two people. Me and my wife utillised less units than the norm, and we would have been charged €80 less due to our lower carbon footprint.
BUT WE WERE CHARGED THE €80, BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN LIVING IN THE RENTED PROPERTY FOR LESS THAN A YEAR
We live in rented property because we spend 9 months in Malta and 3 months in Gozo, so we will never be entitled for the benfit. We will always be charged the higher rates, because we are never registered at the same address for more than one year.
What a farce, so they now that I have been there for 9 months, I am dished the bill for 9 months, but I will not get the lower rates (for wasting less) because I did not live there for a year. Its as if the house not the utility users gets the eco-reduction.
no longer GonziPN but Gonzi-LOL
TONY ABELA
Jul 25th 2010, 13:17
I think the reason that a number of energy vouchers were not used is the fact that they expire before you get your next Bill. On inquiring with ARMS they told me to go to the Social Service to have its dates extended. Why all this hassle and not just use a longer expiring date, knowing very well that until recently the energy bills took almost one year to be received.
carmen stinson
Jul 25th 2010, 19:08
my husband and i have rented this accomodation for just over a year and we've not had the voucher or the free energy bulbs,because the bill is in the landlady's name it goes to her we presume but she never passes it on yet we are the ones paying the bills,the government should put a credit on the utilities bill that way whoever is paying the bill gets the credit not the landlords,its a bonus to them plus the high rents
carmen stinson
Jul 26th 2010, 08:10
oops sorry,made a mistake, we've been living at this address 3 years on the 1st july.please put any credits on the utility bill so that anyone who pays these bills benefits.thank you
carmen stinson
Jul 27th 2010, 06:30
wow miracles do happen,for the first time we actually received a cheque for 80 euros yesterday, we still cannot believe it,
G.Portelli
Jul 25th 2010, 12:48
From a No Party (PL - Partit tal-Le) they are becoming a Moaners Party (PQ - Partit tal-Qrid).
r spiteri
Jul 25th 2010, 12:38
Dr Muscat...can you please answer this one?
What is the difference from your politics and the one of Dottor Alfred Sant?
I hope it's not that difficult to answer....
Joseph Agius
Jul 25th 2010, 12:33
moan moan moan....what a bore!