Ramona Pop, the head of the Consumer Agency of the Federal Association of Consumers (VZBV), is urging the German government to implement targeted financial support measures for households given the sharp rise in heating oil prices. Ahead of the heating season, many consumers have expressed serious concern regarding the cost of heating oil, according to Pop’s statement to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition).
Pop noted that consumers buying oil now are facing significantly higher prices than they did just a year ago, describing the situation as a palpable financial burden for many households. She stressed that access to a warm home must not become a luxury, insisting that the federal government must ensure that households in the lower and middle-income brackets are specifically relieved from energy costs.
Simultaneously, Pop issued a strong warning to consumers in Germany regarding the purchase of heating oil. She advised buyers to be particularly vigilant, as scammers are currently tempting consumers with apparent cheap heating oil deals online. To help identify reliable vendors, the Consumer Agencies offer a “Fake Shop Finder” that consumers can use free of charge to verify a provider’s trustworthiness.
