Paying the price of being poor

Low income households face extra costs for fuel, financial services and the costs of education according to a new report launched today.

Paying the Price of Being Poor looks at what should be done to help low income households who are penalised simply because they do not have buying power.

Director of the think tank, the Bevan Foundation, and author of the report, Victoria Winckler, said ‘More and more households are facing tough times in the recession. Managing on a low income is made harder because gas and electricity companies, as well as banks and other financial services, favour people who pay by direct debit or who are in regular jobs.’

The Bevan Foundation worked with Consumer Focus Wales, National Energy Action Cymru and Save the Children Cymru to come up with its recommendations. Key findings showed a need for the Welsh Assembly Government to:

• Reduce the cost of school uniforms
• Create guidance on fair debt collection
• Provide new ways to pay energy bills

The report is launched 12:30pm today (17 November) at the Senedd.