As fuel prices go ever upwards, the opportunity for the unscrupulous to cash in rises accordingly. After all, if heating oil at 60p per litre is already expensive, what's another couple of pence?

Your average smiling oilman has maybe four lorries on the road, will do 25 deliveries per day, and he will remind you that come hail or shine he will be with you six days a week; 4 x 25 x 6 x 2p = £1,200 per day or £7,200 per week.

These figures do not show profit. This is over and above what the competition are selling at. This is profiteering.

Loyalty is to be admired where service is good and quality product should attract a premium. However, heating oil does not need to be extra fresh, nor has it a sell-by date. As the multi-nationals announce ever-expanding profits, the con men are seizing their chance.

Remember, the customer has a choice where to spend money. So shop around.

They may be beaten on price; they may not have standards you can trust; and some of their prices, you may not warm to.

Everyman

(Name and address supplied)