At the beginning of April, YW raised its prices by 7.5 per cent or three times the official rate of inflation as measured by the Government's preferred index.

Unlike other utility providers, you cannot ditch and switch from YW. Unless you drill a borehole in your garden, you are well and
truly stuck with them as your water provider.

Given these circumstances, it is outrageous that YW has invented an extremely dubious method of extracting even more revenue from its captive consumer base.

At the end of the financial year it often apportions a proportion of the bill at the rate for the new year. In my case, it charged me for one cubic metre used in March at the higher April rate.

In April 2006, two cubic metres were overcharged. In 2005, it was six cubic metres. I regard this practice as little short of theft, an absolute scam.

However, this scam is not consistent because my 2007 bill was spot-on correct. It seems to depend on whether the meter is actually read before or after March 31.

I recently challenged YW on this issue. The overcharge was reimbursed and £20 added for my inconvenience. My April 2008 overcharge was 16p. You might regard my objection as petty and over the top. I would agree, but consider the following: YW has millions of customers.

If it overcharges one million accounts by this amount, it makes an extra £160,000. Now that's a nice little earner by anyone's standards. No wonder we are known as rip-off Britain.


Can we gain a football win over Europe?


From: Jason Smith, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford.

I FULLY endorse FIFA's proposal of quotas of foreign players in football clubs, which suggests that they should allow no more
than five non-nationals on the pitch at any time.

To me this is the only way we are going to promote and develop our young footballers, which might lead in time to our national team actually winning something, or at the very least qualifying for a championship.

But, hang on a minute, let's stop play, the EU Commission isn't happy! The FIFA decision is expected to conflict with European Union law which says you cannot discriminate on workers based on their nationality.

In terms of English football, FIFA versus the EU could be a very interesting game. Let us hope for the sake of our national game that FIFA soundly defeat them.

A friend recently asked, "Why can't the EU just go away?", or words to that effect. The answer is they won't go away, unless we, as a country tell them to.


In the euro, we can create the future that we want


From: James Bovington, Church Grove, Horsforth, Leeds.


EUROSCEPTIC correspondents are correct to point out that there is considerable divergence between the eurozone economies but
wrong to conclude that this means that the euro is bound
to fail.

Such predictions have dogged the euro since its inception, yet it is presently the world's strongest currency, with about 10 other European nations in the admission line-up and the Danish government again about to urge Danes to vote for the euro.

There is an enormous divergence between the economy of London and that of the rest of the UK, yet no one suggests a separate currency for the capital which always "needs" a different interest rate to the rest of us. However, the UK Government retains responsibility for ironing out problems caused by any apparent interest rate mismatch. Just as the French and German governments do in the euro.

Remember, Britain is still obliged by treaty to follow an agreed overarching EU financial policy even out of the euro. In the euro the UK would be a big fish and unlikely to require interest rates radically different from the eurozone average.

Out of the euro – and for that matter the Schengen agreement – we are much less able to create the sort of Europe that we want, one which, as David Cameron rightly says, should include Turkey – and we certainly
won't have a seat at the currency top table which is occupied by America, China and the eurozone.

So much for the "independence" so prized by the antis.


We need to warn teens about alcohol


Clare Checksfield, Chief Executive Crime Concern

With the issue of binge drinking still high on the news agenda, it would be refreshing to see some discussion of why young people drink and what can be done about it. Our young people say they started drinking because their friends drank and they were following the example of family. They also say their parents condoned or didn't care about their drinking. We believe it's time to find solutions to teenage binge drinking by challenging the problem at the earliest opportunity.


Don't customers deserve better?


A Wyatt, Pocklington, E Yorks.

With reference to Clare Teal's piece on hotel cleaning staff (Life&Style, April 9). This makes appalling reading and is enough to put the toughest of travellers off staying in hotels. We are always most careful to wash out hotel kettles etc but perhaps we should go equipped with our own in future. Years ago there was a case of a chef who spat on a customer's food because they had had the nerve to send it back to the kitchen – what next?

Do we not deserve to be treated better than this?


Importance of spotting breast cancer early


Sister Sue Stones, Bupa Wellness, Trafalgar House, Park Place, Leeds.

The news that TV presenter Trisha Goddard has been diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram has brought home again the vital importance of breast awareness and screening.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. In the UK, more than 44,000 women are diagnosed with the disease every year. We know that early detection can save lives: treatment has a far greater chance of success and survival rates are proven to be much higher.

So as a nurse, I would encourage all women to be "breast aware" and get in to the habit of checking their breasts regularly. Doing this, will mean that they know what is normal for them and will make any changes far easier to spot.

I'd also urge anyone who is concerned about changes they notice, not to delay, but to seek medical advice. Their GP will also be able to help if they feel uncomfortable or anxious about how to check their breasts, while Bupa has a range of free health fact sheets on its website
for those who want to find out more.

Finally, I'm aware that many women find the prospect of going for a mammogram scary, but it is just an X-ray that takes just a few minutes. Its benefits are significant, as Trisha's story shows, with the ability to reveal lumps before they or their doctor can feel them. Women 50 or over should attend routine breast screening and should
not put it off!