From Ridus.ru
Russian owe more than 733 billion roubles [£15bn, 17bn€] on their utility bills
The increase in costs of utilities has led to an increase in the amount citizens and businesses are in debt to the authority responsible. This is revealed by data from research by the National Service of Foreclosure, reported in Izvestiya. As journalists report, the overall total of the debt for utilities in our country was 733 [£15bn, 17bn€]
As the main deputy head of the committee for residential policy and utility services of the State Duma Elena Nikolaeva suggests, the reason for the growth of this debt is the increase in utility bills in recent years, which, it must be said, have surpassed the rate of inflation. According to Nikolaeva, it has been a heavy load on consumers, and the margin of safety for those citizens who are able to pay is almost exhausted. Other experts agree with her: “Citizens’ income simply is not keeping up with the growth of charges, so citizens are having to default, having paid for other more important and necessary basic life requirements.”
Comments from Ridus.ru
ЭрикКартманез:
The utility companies are a mafia, after 25 years of confiscation, these tariffs are daylight robbery, and all that we can do is go to protests… in other countries, it’s clear who’s paying what, and in the summer, spring, and autumn, it’s all almost free thanks to alternative energy sources.
комбустиолог-4793: (responding to above)
Daylight robbery? What would you prefer, to pay just a few kopecks for your utilities like in Soviet times? Take a look at your beloved West, there they pay half again – in some places more – and the quality is no better. What do you need? They take your rubbish away, they clean your courtyards, entrances, you have light, water and heating, they repair your roof and so on. If the sewers get blocked, they clean them. What the hell more do you want? And they do so much for you for what you pay them. And if everyone paid their debts fully, then they would collect more money, and the quality of the services would be higher. But they have to repair and serve everyone including those who haven’t paid on the money they have managed to collect. Can you imagine someone in the West who is a chronic non-payer for utilities? Don’t give me that crap about “almost free” utilities. We had them, we know how much they cost. Say “thank you” that you, debtors, have not YET been evicted for your debts. But that’s YET.
wakost: (responding to above)
Oh the wiseguy’s complaining! Can you please treat us to a few links where they talk about pensions and utility bills? Or perhaps you could at least explain how an average Russian pensioner with a pension of 6,000 roubles [£120, 140€] and rent of 4,000 [£80, 95€] roubles is supposed to survive?
Добренький_дядя: (responding to above)
This wiseguy just doesn’t know the individual costs of these services which really are in the kopecks. The difference comes from corruption. He’s a stupid wiseguy.
matvej_bolsoj: (responding to above)
[You’re] an idiot, the individual cost of these services is very high. No Russian rubbish man would agree to take away your rubbish and get rid of your dirt for less than 10,000 roubles [£200, 235€]. That’s why they hire immigrant workers. Not a single firm taking your rubbish away to the tip would do it for kopecks. Not a single manager, plumber, electrician would even think about talking to you for less than 20,000 roubles [£400, 470€]. And the cost of the materials, delivery, the depreciation of their tools, and the cost of fuel. You might be a nice guy [Note: the previous commenters username implies this], but turn on your brains sometimes, if you have any.
буся: (responding to above)
You’re writing rubbish! The salary for our utility workers is 4,500 per month [£90, 100€]. If they paid 10,000, then there’d be a queue to join up!!! I don’t live in Moscow.
penatoliy:
They’ll start taking accommodation from debtors soon…
tab2002:
And how much do the oil and gas mafia owe the people?
andy8181:
Keep it up! Don’t give a single kopeck to these thieves with their soaring prices and insatiable appetites.
espera:
Since 2010, utilities have been free of VAT (it’s a tax, for anyone who isn’t up to date), but I know three utility organisations in my town that don’t pay VAT to the government, but they take it from their residents.
