HAVE YOUR SAY: Feeling a bit chilly towards gas suppliers

At the beginning of the summer a reader called Sheena “optimistically” bought a cylinder of patio gas for her barbecue.

“When I bought the gas I had to pay for the gas and also a deposit as I did not have an empty cylinder. After another washout summer, I am left with an almost full bottle of patio gas and nowhere to store it for the winter. I thought I’d cut my losses and just return it to the hardware store and at least I’d get the deposit back.”

Nope. To her considerable annoyance she was told that they don’t give the deposit back when you return a cylinder “however the hardware store will happily take back the empty cylinder for free. Apparently the deposit works its way up the ladder and back to the gas supplier but it will not refund the retailer for returned cylinders,” she writes.

“This really annoyed me, as essentially the supplier is keeping my money and also getting the cylinder back, which means it can charge the next customer a deposit for the same cylinder.”

She checked the supplier’s website and found a line which says that unless you have signed up to a registration scheme you are not entitled to your money back.

“Now in theory I have no problem with that but I was never told about a registration scheme when I bought the gas. I’m sure that there are a lot of people out there who have been caught out like this and the gas companies are making a lot of money from it.”

Driven mad by licence application rules

May Duberry is in a Catch-22 situation that is, understandably, driving her a bit mad. Her driving licence expires in January 2012. Last March, while she thought of it, she decided to send off her renewal form.

“A few days later, I received everything back, saying I could only renew my licence within four months of the expiry date.”

So that means she cannot apply for a new licence until September at the earliest. This presents her with a problem. Last week, she went to the AA office in Drury Street to get an international driving licence so that she can drive in Canada while on holiday next week.

“I was told that this was impossible as I had less than six months left on my current licence. I explained I had tried to renew it but had to wait until it was within four months of the expiry date.”

A sprinkle of vinegar will do the job

Last week we reviewed window cleaners – the sprays not the people – and it prompted a reader called Orla to get in touch with a very valid point.

“A much, much cheaper alternative to expensive and chemical-filled window cleaners is vinegar and water in a spray bottle and some left-over newspapers,” she writes.

“Simply mix two parts vinegar (any kind) to three parts water in a spray bottle, apply to the window and wipe with the scrunched-up newspaper. This will leave a smear-free finish (with some elbow grease) and more money in your pocket. If you don’t adore the smell of vinegar, add a couple drops of your favourite essential oil. It lasts for ages.”

A shop local initiative in Rathmines

For a week beginning next Monday, 26 retailers in Rathmines in Dublin will be offering substantial discounts to shoppers in an initiative designed to get people in the community shopping locally. The programme has been organised by local business search engine yelp.ie and will see restaurants offering free desserts or cocktails to diners, discounts in off-licences and businesses in the area offering everything from discounted books to free bicycle services.