Gas distributors charging more for new cylinders

Gas distributors who are charging customers extra for cylinders made before 2000 have residents fuming.

Normal prices should be charged for cylinder models that date back to 1990, according to the emirate's law, they said. Cylinders older than 15 years are illegal.

Gas distributors are ignoring this law and are overcharging residents for cylinders made in the 1990s.

Residents face many problems as distributors take their time when making house calls, and before changing a cylinder they check the date before replacing it with one from the same year. If it is a newer model, they charge an extra Dh10 to Dh20.

UAE national Mohammad Hassan complained there was no system to check up on these distributors to monitor their performance and protect customers.

Those with 1995 models or older find it a real problem getting a replacement because none of the distributors are willing to accept such old cylinders unless they have the same model in stock.

In fact, distributors tell customers who have cylinders from the early 1990s to buy new ones even though there is nothing wrong with the old ones.

The new ones cost at least Dh200 and even then the distributors do not provide brand new cylinders. A senior municipal official said the municipality is aware of the problems and inspectors have been instructed to get involved in between customers and distributors.