Linux Format forums

[coolclassic]

I get the impression that CJLL must be leading a hermits life after all how can he dare go out side, the bus company might be overcharging, the train companies might be overcharging and how can he possibly work: the government might be scamming him through taxes and even Tesco's are scamming the public by overcharging customers.

WOW! Leading a solitary life what a dream.
_________________
The world is your playground why don't you play.

[TheDoctor]

What I find puzzling is what possible advantage the oil companies would get from this. What precisely is there to negotiate about? What exactly could Ben Scammell possibly offer them?

It's not as though they don't have a lot of customers. And, when I used to work in the oil industry, it wasn't selling petrol (or "motor spirit" as we called it) that generated the most profit. Every company's main effort, as far as the forecourt was concerned, was put into making sure it didn't lose market share.

[shifty_ben]

Presumably the theory of X number of people are likely to only buy from you where possible because you offer discount. Just a guess, because I can't see what else it could be
_________________
Need a New Signature

[TheDoctor]

If one of the oil majors drops petrol prices to those who hold a discount card, then the others will drop prices to match. The X number of people who switch to the company that does a deal with Scammell will imediately switch back. The net effect will be that profit margins on petrol for all the oil companies will be cut back - and they aren't high to start with. The company that gives a discount to card holders will do worst of all, since a percentage of the cut in price will go to the discount card company. That's how discount card companies finance themselves.

In the meantime, the consumer won't benefit by much, since most of the cost is tax (as the site in question admits). A 5p to 7p a litre reduction amounts to a cut of 15-20% in the before-tax cost of petrol. There's no way oil companies are going to slice that much off their revenues, particularly if all they can get out of it is a no-win price war.

[shifty_ben]

I was talking about it with a mate the other day, correct me if I am wrong but the Government is making more money from us than we entirely realise. Yes you have fule tax, but every time they boost the tax on fuel, not only does that go up but so does their cut in terms of VAT. Therefore one can surmise that they can afford to lower the fuel tax and not lose nearly as much as you would first think.
_________________
Need a New Signature

[TheDoctor]

You can work out the tax from the article I cited.

Average cost of a litre of unleaded = 94.13p
Before 17.5% VAT = 80.45p
Cost of petrol = 34.7p
So duty = 80.45-34.7=45.75

Therefore: total tax (duty + VAT) = 59.43p (ie 63% of the price).

[shifty_ben]

63% Damn! I knew it was bad, but that is worse than i thought. The same theory I mentioned goes for Alcohol and cigarettes as well as petrol by the way. Had they only increased cigs by a penny (instead of 9) they would still have seen a massive increase in their incomings.
_________________
Need a New Signature

[TheDoctor]

But remember that excise duty accounts for only about one-thirteenth of the taxes the government receives. The is less than comes out of corporation tax. And also remember that the government spends the taxes it receives. It isn't pocketed by MPs!

You can see a breakdown of where UK taxes come from and how they are spent on page 8 of this leaflet

[shifty_ben]

Arggg Government leaflets! I gave up reading anything like that written by the government after I tried to fill out my passport application form (admittedly not a good idea to do so drunk).
Problem is I am not overly concerned with who pockets the money, its more the scrooge inside me not liking paying out quite as much tax as I actually do. I got a pay rise last year that pushed me just into the next tax boundary, problem is it means because of the increased tax although I was earning more my 'take-home' earnings are less than before the pay rise

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying taxes (though I don't like it ) but I don't like the way everything seems to have a fairly high level of tax - especially as it is quite effectively hidden. If you go to canada and see 14.50 as the price on an item, that is what you are paying Walmart (or whoever) The tax is then added on at the till so you pay about 15% more. Admittedly its a pain when you are trying to make sure you don't spend more than X amount, but I like the principle of it, it just seems open and honest.
_________________
Need a New Signature

[CJLL]