Hilary Osborne (UK households that use heating oil face ‘frightening’ surge in bills over Iran war, 10 March) highlights that rural households are facing huge rises in the price of something that is a necessity.
Sadly, not all the rises can be laid at the door of Donald Trump and his foolish war. Some of the increases are simply down to unashamed profiteering. On 2 March (48 hours after the war started) I had to pay 86.6p per litre of oil. This was 10p higher than the price on Friday 27 February.
Within 24 hours of placing my order, my supplier emailed me to say that “due to significant increases in global fuel costs, we will need to adjust the price of your order. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has caused considerable volatility in oil markets, leading to rapid and unpredictable price rises across the industry.”
When I complained, it backed down and delivered my oil at the agreed price, but I know of others in my rural village who were not so lucky. It is hard to believe that the hostilities that started on 28 February can have had such a huge impact on oil that must have already been in the country. The only logical conclusion to be drawn is that those of us not covered by the energy price cap are going to be ripped off by suppliers.
It is no use the Competition and Markets Authority warning them that they must treat customers fairly or action will be taken. That action needs to start now.
Graham Judge
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
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