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Energy Bills, Microchipping Pets, Rental Fraud

Including a feature about George Osborne's promises for household energy bills. Plus reports about apparent increases in pet theft and fraud involving rooms for rent.

George Osborne announced some changes in the Autumn statement that will have an impact on our energy bills. Industry that is energy intensive will be permanently exempt from the environmental levies added to our bills by government. But it means that households will be paying extra - another 拢5 each a year. However Osborne claims will be seeing a 拢30 reduction on our bills thanks to the new, less ambitious Energy Company Obligation that will take effect in 2017. So is he right?

According to Blue Cross pet charity there has been an increase in stolen pets of almost 40% compared to 2012. Now owners are backing the charity's call for tougher sentences for those who commit the crime, which Blue Cross hopes will act as a deterrent. Almost half of pet owners believe pets are being stolen to sell. And, as many stolen pets are already microchipped, why are more of them not found when the new owner brings them to the vets for the first check up.

Fraud involving rooms to rent rose by a third over the last year. That's according to Action Fraud - the UK's national fraud reporting centre. There were two and half thousand cases of fraud involving rooms to rent reported in England and Wales in the year to July 2014. This year there were more than three thousand three hundred reported cases.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Mon 30 Nov 2015 12:15

Chapters

  • Better Deal

    The government has published a paper promising to make life cheaper for consumers.

    Duration: 03:06

  • Energy Bill Levies

    George Osborne announced changes to energy policies that are paid for through our bills

    Duration: 05:51

  • Microchips

    There's a campaign under way to get vets to identify stolen dogs by their microchips.

    Duration: 07:41

  • Advent Calendars

    The new trend for beauty advent calendars, which contain beauty products behind each door

    Duration: 06:31

  • Flatshare

    Fraud involving rooms to rent rose by a third over the last year.

    Duration: 07:06

  • Concert Tickets

    Advice on how to avoid buying fake tickets for big names like Adele

    Duration: 04:01

  • Heating Oil

    Heating oil is one of the cheapest home fuels but is it worth customers making switching?

    Duration: 03:22

Broadcast

  • Mon 30 Nov 2015 12:15

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