What is abuse? Is it not at its most polite treating someone unfairly ? and to put it bluntly ? taking advantage of the most vulnerable person available?
If this is the case, is it not abuse of the elderly to charge tenants of sheltered accommodation for dubious services; make errors in adding up the figures ? always in favour of the landlord; dream up new charges and add them to the ?bill? which means a 19.5% increase in Service Charges in one year ? when basic pensions only increase at the rate of 2.5%?
Is it not a form of abuse to fail to follow the correct procedures ? and fail to communicate Board decisions in time limits set by the landlords themselves?
Is it not abuse to set basic rent increases at twice the increase of basic pension ? even if so-called ?bench mark? figures set by the Welsh Assembly allow for that level of increase across all tenants ? without regard for the special needs of vulnerable and poor tenants?
Is it not patronising to then state that every effort is made to make pensioners aware of benefits available to pay these horrendous increases ? when such increases have led to those who have worked hard and saved for a decent living finding they are reduced to poverty levels like this by the charges they have set ? leaving an actual income of less than a quarter of the average wage?
Is it not a scandal that the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales clearly states on the website that he or she (it or them?) cannot deal with complaints about ?the rent and service charges set by a social landlord.?? Should there not be clearer guidance as to whom to complain to get justice?
Last, but not least ? does anyone care? Referring the problem to the benefits system is simply passing the buck onto the taxpayers who in years to come will only find themselves in the same situation when they have saved for years to avoid it? Is this a farce? No ? it is reality. So who does care ? and will do something about it?
If anyone has a positive contribution or information ? or even a similar tale to tell ? please let me know ? email me at snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com or phone 01633 852893. Thanks. David Morgan. This is no mere rave ? this is desperately serious.