Don't Pay

[paxman]

There's a movement on Twitter that is suggesting customers don't pay for their energy by cancelling DDs. I can't see who they people behind the movement are. Anyone know?

No, I was saying that they can't just cut you off immediately as you seemed to imply.

I'm not on Twitter and don't know the group you are talking about but if this protest is properly organised they will have a fund to help individuals .

And while in theory energy companies can take 'everyone ' to court it will be impossibly slow and the public attention and ground swell of support for the protestors will not be in the energy companies interests .

Once things hit a certain level of disruption it becomes a government issue .
It's been a government issue all along but while people accept whatever boot is on their neck why wouldn't the government look the other way

This

Well I need my utilities to live so I’ll be paying the bills.

The rich get richer . . . particularly under this shit show of a government.

They don't care. That's the point.

More and more people are using food banks. Do they care? No.
Wages are so low lots of people are really struggling. Do they care enough to raise minimum wage and make companies pay their staff fairly? No. They prioritise the companies.

I mean, anybody who could think that people not paying their energy bills will make the government step in in any meaningful way is delusional.

They don't care.

We're screwed.

I think the no pay campaign is different from food banks ( I don't disagree with the rest of your post )

Civil disobedience has a history and it can work .

Two points here.
Firstly we are in this mess because of Tory policy, both historic and current so I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for a solution from the current government.

Secondly I'm pretty sure that no one will cut off far more likely is having your meter changed to pre payment, which is great for the energy companies and nothing would please them more.

If you really want to hurt the big companies then the best way is to interrupt their cash flow.
It would be good if everyone cancelled their monthly direct debit but put the money aside then pay quarterly.
If enough people did that it would hurt them.

Yes the direct debit system is a very poor deal .

There are laws about cutting power off but fitting a prepay meter gets around that.

The other issue is about the profits the energy companies are making only this is a misunderstanding. The wholesalers are making massive profits because demand is high, the energy companies supplying our homes aren't as they are having to pay more for the energy.

Sounds like the fastest way to make a dire situation even worse. The internet certainly helps stupid people connect with stupid people and be more stupid.

Yes I realise it's the likes of BP and Shell who are really raking it in but it's the monthly bill that matters for most people

I’m sure mass non-compliance with paying for services tendered will put more gas in the ground. Excellent plan, very well thought out.

I have pre-pay metres for both gas and electric (at my request). The amount I pay, even taking into account the standing charges, is half of what I have seen if I were to go back to a "normal" meter. For all the negative talk surrounding PP meters I would not go back. My electric is £200+ in credit and my gas is over £400 in credit. For my very small (5 rooms), bungalow, I pay a combined total of £120pcm, which is more than I use but I am in control of my payments. Funnily enough I often get letters from both companies "encouraging" me to go back to DD payments, I can only imagine it's because "they" have worked out that doing that means more money for them.

Yes! That was why I asked who they were.
in case it was similar to the ‘Tax Payers Alliance’ or if it was a genuine Wolfie Smith-type movement. I like to know their genuine motives for persuading people to cancel their DDs

@JosephineGH
It's nothing to do with ego.
But yes it has a lot to do with 'joining in'

Your post illustrates 'divide and conquer' works . Especially when the divided are encouraged not to think too much

But they aren't saying don't pay full stop...they are saying stop the direct debit which are often way over the level you actually use. Read your metre, get an actual amount / then pay that much. So not paying £200 dorect debit but pay through the back, the £150 you have actually used. That way the money stays in your account and isn't sat in the utility account earning them interest. You can still pay a little overpayment if that's possible.

'Secure working capital' ie a loan?
That costs

@JosephineGH 'Well, you do what you must. You can let your children go cold and hungry'

People are already cold and hungry .
That's why we are here .

Yes.
That's how I do it too.
Wait for the bill