Thursday, February 13, 2020

Overnight hike in LPG price leads to chaos

Consumers Who Booked Cylinders Before Increase Asked To Pay Up

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.02.2020

An overnight hike in LPG prices has put several consumers who had booked their cylinders earlier in a fix as agencies have begun demanding that they pay the difference amount of ₹147 at the time of delivery. The consumers had paid the prehike amount of ₹734 online.

Price of a non-subsidised LPG cylinder weighing 14.2 kg in Chennai has increased by ₹147 to ₹881according to Indian Oil website. The price hike has been the steepest since January 2014 and consumers, especially those who have paid for the cylinders online, are having a hard time making the revised payments.

“When I booked an LPG cylinder yesterday, it was ₹759 and I paid the amount online. I also received a booking confirmation message on my mobile,” said Ganesan, a government employee. “But on Wednesday, the delivery boy asked me to pay ₹145 more since the price was hiked at midnight. Would they return the difference amount if the price had dropped,” he asked.

T Narendranath, a resident of Alwarpet, also booked a cylinder and paid online on Monday. But on Wednesday, when the delivery boy came to his house, he had to return because Narendranath and his family were away and their house help at home did not have money to pay the hiked rate. “We had paid the earlier price online so that when we return home we will have the cylinder. But now it seems like we have to go home and request the agency to deliver once again,” he said.

Narendranath also complained that when he went to re-book the cylinder online, he had to make a new payment. “They would neither adjust this with the old payment nor would we get back the money we paid online. The only option we have is to pay the difference in cash. The authorities should have thought through all this before making the announcement,” he said.

K Parthiban, who also paid for the cylinder online, complained about the steep hike. “People who earn well can afford to buy the cylinders but what about others? The caretakers of my house, who draw a monthly pay of ₹4000, are already worried about making ends meet,” he said.

An official from the oil industry said the steep price hike and increase in online payments by customers was the reason behind the confusion. “But customers only have to pay the amount mentioned on the printed bill and not a rupee more,” he said.



When I booked an LPG cylinder yesterday, it was ₹759 and I paid the amount online. I also received a booking confirmation message on my mobile. But on Wednesday, the delivery boy asked me to pay ₹145 more since the price was hiked at midnight. Would they return the difference amount if the price had dropped?

GANESAN

Chennai resident

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