Chas Couchman

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@SueKellyUK @DeborahMeaden Agree, Starmer forgot about the working people and too many promises made during election were either broken or not undertaken. Agree on Burnham but he cannot be worse than Starmer has been, I'm sorry to say that as I had high hopes for Starmer.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@DanNeidle I’m not a lawyer, but using misconduct might allow passport to be surrendered whilst ongoing investigations could lead to more solid charges ?.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@bloodgluCOLE @TandemDiabetes Glad your sorted. I use an Tslim, iPhone, G7 and Apple Watch. Always connect to the pump first, then my iPhone - sometimes takes 5 mins for iPhone to confirm. Apple watch follows iPhone again can take another 5-10 mins.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@exitthelemming @facebook Thanks, someone is running a look alike FB page chatting to me as if its you then asking me to move to Telegram, glad I found this X post. Sorry about your mum.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@MartinSLewis I’m on Octopus Cosy, standing g charge has gone up 5%, overall bill shows 14% increase. This 2% rise is complete rubbish.

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Energy Standing Charges news... how disappointing!

@Ofgem will today launch a final consultation that from January firms will be forced to offer a low Standing Charge tariff. Here’s my press quote on it.

How disappointing! There was a chance to see a proper mandated low Standing Charge option to benefit many, and while I hope I’m wrong, it looks like Ofgem may be about to somewhat smother it with the pillow of bureaucracy.

I get more complaints about Standing Charges than anything else in energy bills. It’s like a poll tax where people must pay £300+ a year just for the facility of having gas & electricity even if they don’t use it. This moral hazard disincentivises people from cutting their usage, and punishes especially older people who only use their gas during the winter.

Having campaigned for years to get the Price Cap’s Standing Charges lowered, once it became obvious that had failed, I proposed a dual Price Cap. One as it is, and another option with no or a low Standing Charge, and proposed that vulnerable users should be defaulted to whichever was best for them (lower users are the ones who benefit from no Standing Charges). Ofgem was warm to this at first, and agreed to ask for wide input on the basis of this idea.

Now, at the next stage of consultation, it seems to have substantially watered that down. While a low or no Standing Charge tariff option is an improvement, and will benefit some users, the core problem is it doesn’t look like it’ll be under the Price Cap mechanism. That leads to two big possible problems:

1) There is no limit to what firms can charge, so they could wipe the Standing Charge, but increase the unit rate far above what is needed to compensate for it.

2) Those most in need of this option - vulnerable low users - tend not to switch tariffs. While the Price Cap has unfortunately become a default price for many, the reason it was set up was as a backstop tariff for those who don’t or can’t engage in the market. Mandating a low Standing Charge switchers tariff outside the Cap won’t help them.

Add to that the fact it is proposing a minimum usage level to try and cut out second home owners, which could wrongly capture many very low users and overall I worry Ofgem has picked an easy route to appease suppliers’ concerns, that doesn’t help the most vulnerable.

I suspect if it goes ahead like this, not enough people will switch and they’ll say ‘it wasn’t worth it’. We will robustly be pushing back in response in the consultation.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@archiemcgreal He was poor in first 30 mins, but so were many others. Picked up late in first half and I thought was one of our better players in the second half. Hope Connor is just settling in.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@pn_jordan_cross He would not be lining up today if a big sale was on the cards.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@Pompey Chambery, 🇫🇷

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@nerdabetic Thanks @nerdabetic, great to see what's coming. Interestingly I've had very few issues with current G7.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@James_Ridgeway_ I answered no, because you left out the other CGM’s. I’ve never used the in two you mention in last 16 years on Dexcom.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@eric_eisner Great to see you back, brick by brick ✌️

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@DiabeticDadUK If eaten in excess it will reverse your diabetes, so far I’ve not been able to eat enough 🤣

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@TandemDiabetes Please include details of supported countries, this appears to be USA only !!!

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@solentsport Never dubious, was clear penalty.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@jezzurps Got to agree, so sad. Paramedics are trained to walk to a scene so they don't cause themselves or others any more injuries. Would be better those that complain make use of that time and get first aid trained so they don't need to wait.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@parthaskar @NHSEngland I would like you to stay but understand you need to make your own decision. As a T1d I really appreciate all you have done.

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@rickygervais Woo hoo, it took an hour but have two tickets 👍

[Chas Couchman @Bartonblues]

@rickygervais Joined with 20 min wait, slowly dropped to 6 mins but now jumped to over an hour. Pretty rubbish queue system.