EU to cut mobile roaming fees

European mobile network providers are braced for another assault on their roaming charges.

The EU will this week unveil fresh steps to limit the cost of making calls and downloading data whilst travelling across the continent.

Officials are expected to propose a dual approach - tougher price caps and a new element of competition whereby customers can temporarily subscribe to a foreign network while using their existing number.

The cost of making and receiving mobile phone calls while travelling in Europe has come down again.

From today, operators cannot charge more than 32p per minute (plus VAT) for outgoing calls, and 10p per minute (plus VAT) for incoming calls.

The new tariffs are the latest in a series of annual price reductions forced on the mobile industry by the European Commission.

Brussels has said it aims to equalise roaming and domestic charges by 2015.

Price regulation was introduced in 2007 by the then commissioner for information society and media, Viviane Reding.

Since then, the maximum call charge has been reduced by approximately 6% per year.

A group of UK mobile operators - O2, Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile - attempted to challenge the Commission's price-cutting agenda, taking their case to the European Court of Justice.

However, their complaint was dismissed in June 2010.

Along with the lower rates for phone calls, the commission also reduced the wholesale rate of mobile data from 80 euro cents (72p) to 50 euro cents (45p) per megabyte.

Whereas the price cap on voice calls applies directly to the way consumers are billed, the data changes only affect what operators charge each other. There is an expectation, rather than obligation to pass on the savings.

Operators are compelled to place a 50 euro (£45) cap on users' data consumption, in order to avoid unexpectedly high bills. Customers who wish to continue their data roaming can request to have the limit removed.

Energy Saving Tips

Small changes equal big energy savings

The biggest long-term savings come from changing your energy habits and being more energy efficient around the home.

As you start to see savings its a good idea to re-invest this money in energy saving products and appliances to reduce your energy consumption even further. The long-term savings will more than pay for the cost of purchasing and installing these measures.

Start using these no-cost energy saving tips energy saving ideas around your home and measure the reduction in your next few energy bills. The more you apply the more you'll save.

Heating Tips
•Set your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and come on again 30 minutes before you expect to return.
•Turn the room thermostat down by 1 degree. This can save you around €50 a year.
•Make sure your radiators are not obstructed by curtains or furniture.
•Draw your curtains at dusk to help keep the heat generated inside your rooms.
•Insulate your loft space and consider cavity wall insulation too.

Electrical Appliances
•Use energy efficient light bulbs which use less energy and last up to ten times longer than standard bulbs.
•Turn off household appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, music systems, and computers when not in use, as they continue to use energy when they are left on standby. Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers and Dishwashers
•Use a low temperature setting and only wash full loads or use a half-load or economy programme.
•In summer, dry your clothes outside rather than using a tumble dryer.
•When drying your clothes indoors, use a clothes rail instead of a radiator as this stops the heat from reaching the rest of the room.
•Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than washing up by hand.
Cooking
•Use a pan which is the same size as the cooker ring to prevent heat loss.
•Use a lid on saucepans where possible, so the contents heat up faster and require less energy.
•Consider using pressure cookers, steamers and microwaves which use less energy.

Hot Water
•When using a kettle, only boil as much water as you need.
•If you live in a hard water area, limescale can effect the efficiency of your kettle. Look out for a buildup of limescale in your kettle and treat with vinegar or descaling solutions.
•Consider turning the thermostat on your hot water tank down to 60 degrees centigrade which is a comfortable temperature for most people and will save on your heating costs.
•If you have a standard shower it will use around 40% of the water required for a bath.

More information available at http://www.tell-me-first.com

Gas and Electricity bills to rise by 20% what can you do

All over the news, all we see is gas and electricity bills to go up by 20% HOW are you suspose to maintain you home, feed you children and pay you bills.

But remember for every cloud there is a silver lining.  Fuelmaster electronic boiler management system can reduce your heating bills by 20 to 25%.  Now is a great time to fit one and start saving TODAY.

Fuelmaster Electronic Boiler Controls works equally well with boilers that burn Gas, Oil or LPG fuels, works on residential and commercial boilers.

Fuelmaster is a British designed and manufactured product which is produced under ISO regulations to meet industry approved standards. Fuelmaster has been used successfully by hundreds of satisfied private and business customers to save money.

The unit, which is only the size of a small camera, is a microchip electronic brain which takes over and precisely manages the firing process of a boiler to minimise the amount of fuel being burned when providing for hot water and central heating. Each unit is tested before leaving the factory and has an individual serial number.

It can be fitted in less than one hour and off you go.  When you move home you can take it with you and carry on saving.

Fuelmaster will reduce these green house emissions by approximately 1.5 metric tonnes per year for the average family home which is more than enough gas to fill up a passenger carrying hot air balloon.

more information at www.tell-me-first.com or e-mail info@tell-me-first.com