27.06.08
Many small businesses in the UK, potentially including call centres, are facing an "unstable situation" because of high world oil prices and high fuel duty, the
Forum of Private Business (FPB) has claimed.
Spokesperson Phil McCabe said firms were waiting for oil prices to stabilise andin the meantime were passing the cost of increased prices on to their customers.
He said: "FPB members are already reporting adverse effects to their business, saying they are struggling to pay for the inexorable rise in fuel prices."
Mr McCabe described this as an "unfortunate necessity" for many, but one that will make them less competitive.
Call centres investing in appropriate modern technology may be able to reduce energy costs, alleviating the concerns caused by the high price of fuel commodities.
IT commentator Kristen Kiya claimed earlier this month on TMC Net that use of voice over internet protocol technology (
VoIP) significantly reduced telephone bills.
