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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think even if your struggling then hacking your metre for free electricity is still not on

204 replies

mpje · 13/01/2017 12:20

NC to be anon, but I just don't think this is right at all. I kind of want to tip off someone about this theft, but I know if she gets caught she will be in a bigger mess.

It's more a WWYD?

OP posts:
EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 13/01/2017 13:45

really someone who is struggling and having to pay considerably higher costs to a company that makes huge profits from those that are struggling

save your outrage for someone who really is gaining from them and it isn't your friend

F1ipFlopFrus · 13/01/2017 13:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 13/01/2017 13:46

OP, do you know the family? If you feel they are genuinely struggling I wouldn't report them, especially not with this weather!

In my opinion, stealing electricity or food because you can't afford it after paying for other essentials (rent, council tax, transport, school uniform, childcare...) is ok.

However, stealing electricity/food because you spent your money on non-essentials is not ok. PPs have said things like "they are not stealing a handbag", well if they bought a handbag and then have to steal electricity, then it is the same as stealing a handbag.

estateagentfromhell · 13/01/2017 13:49

The debt was thousands and because the tenants legged it and can't be found, my mum has to pay

No, your mum doesn't have to pay in the circumstances you describe (unless there is more to it)

I suggest she contacts her local CAB, or a solicitor if funds allow - would be cheaper in the long run.

BatBoobs · 13/01/2017 13:50

This is one of those situations where making someone less fortunate suffer makes you feel better about your own life.

There are people out there a thousand times better off than you getting away with more than a few pounds off a pre-payment metre. But whatever makes you feel good, I suppose.

SomethingLikeFlying · 13/01/2017 13:54

If they're struggling then leave them alone. It's freezing at the moment and we're right in the middle of winter. It gets dark early.

Is it right what they're doing? No, not really. But I wouldn't want to be responsible for pushing someone further down, which you would be.

TheresABluebirdOnMyShoulder · 13/01/2017 13:58

I'd report, people who steal have no morals and make life more expensive for those that are honest and pay

What an incredibly black and white way to look at the world. I remember many years ago watching a programme with Dr Robert Winston about this very issue and the science behind it - even children are able to see the grey areas in moral issues after a certain age. How curious that it's a concept that seems to evade even some adults.

I don't think any compassionate person could condemn somebody desperate for stealing food to feed their children or electricity to keep them warm in winter. We have no way of knowing exactly how desperate OP's acquaintance is, but to just say that every person who steals has no morals is very simplistic indeed.

expatinscotland · 13/01/2017 13:58

Get a life! YABU and spiteful.

loobyloo1234 · 13/01/2017 14:02

Do you actually have any idea of their financial situation OP? ONE person stealing electricity to heat up a house in winter, will not put everyone else's electricity up for the record

SVJAA · 13/01/2017 14:04

What FizzBomb said. If she's struggling, help her. Don't sit in judgement and contemplate making her life even harder. Compassion is a wonderful thing.

dArtagnansCrumpet · 13/01/2017 14:04

awaywiththepixies I was being sarcastic. Ive seen people on previous threads attack those on benefits who have sky TV, mobile phones etc and how they shouldn't have them if they are poor or on benefits.

True I'm sure some do have sky TV which they don't actually need but, it's probably cheaper than say taking your kids out for an activity or going out for lunch as more well off people do. They are still entitled to entertainment especially in this day and age, do we want to go all Victorian? I also agree that mobile phones are essential, I have no landline and if I had no mobile what would happen in an emergency?

I just think the whole attitude towards other people sometimes on here is so unsympathetic.

Katy07 · 13/01/2017 14:05

I despair of the sneering superiority from people like you OP!
Grin That's fabulous - Emeraldscorn accuses the OP of exactly what she's just done in her own post. Pot calling kettle, pot calling kettle, come in kettle!

malmi · 13/01/2017 14:07

Someone nicking ONE fiver out my wallet doesn't make much difference to my annual cashflow but I wouldn't tolerate it because it's theft.

Katy07 · 13/01/2017 14:08

Do you actually have any idea of their financial situation OP?
I'm guessing that the OP probably has a better idea of their situation, financial and otherwise, than everyone else who has immediately decided that they're starving, penniless and freezing to death just because they're nicking electricity. The fact that people do cheat purely because they can and because they enjoy getting one over on the system has obvious escaped the blinkered minds of the vipers on here.

FrutiFlutey · 13/01/2017 14:08

I disagree! The cost of electricity is an absolute joke! This is a basic necessity and should be available to everyone!

AwaywiththePixies27 · 13/01/2017 14:08

Ah. Apologies then DArtagnansCrumpet then. Brew . Love the username by the way!

happy2bhomely · 13/01/2017 14:09

I'm surprised at the responses on this thread.

When there is an op saying that they know someone committing benefit fraud, the majority of people say they have a duty to report because it is theft.

Why is this different?

Most of the people I know who commit benefit fraud, (which is quite a few actually) do it because they would genuinely struggle to feed and clothe their families if they didn't, or, they live very dysfunctional lives and they haven't got a grip on things.

I wouldn't report anyone, but I am surprised at the response that the op is getting. She isn't doing anything wrong.

And plenty of people commit theft just because they can. They are not all in difficult circumstances. I know someone who regularly steals his lunch from Tesco, and then spends his wages on cocaine every weekend.

loobyloo1234 · 13/01/2017 14:10

You think katy07 - even though the thread title suggests this person is struggling? And even though the OP says if this person gets caught she'll be in an even bigger mess? Sometimes these battles are not our own

NewNNfor2017 · 13/01/2017 14:11

It's a no-win situation, isn't it?

For all those saying don't report - if there is a tragedy and the OP's house is damaged by fire caused by the neighbours actions (or worse, the DC's are injured or killed) - how many of you would absolve the OP from responsibility because she knew that her neighbour was risking homes and lives, but didn't do anything because it was none of her business?

The Op could be living in temp accomodation, and arguing with insurance companies for months, but she sleeps well at night knowing that she didn't dob in her neighbour for fiddling the meter?

There's a difference between victimless crimes that "only" put the price of goods up, and those which place lives at risk. It's the fact that it is so dangerous that is reflected in the penalties imposed.
I'm surprised there is so little awareness of the risks of electricity - I suppose it's a consequence of the nanny state we live in, some people believe that the "state" protects them from anything really dangerous, rather than taking personal responsibility.

noeffingidea · 13/01/2017 14:16

I would have done this last week if I knew how. It was freezing cold, pitch black and I couldn't cook anything, because my house is all electric. Luckily after a few hours of this my son managed to find the extra £3 I needed to get off the emergency. So happy I don't know anyone like the OP.

dArtagnansCrumpet · 13/01/2017 14:18

No probs pixies and thanks Grin

I really don't think it would be a good idea to report I mean if she gets caught, she gets caught and will have to accept the consequences. If her house sets on fire then again it's her doing.

NewNNfor2017 · 13/01/2017 14:20

If her house sets on fire then again it's her doing.

Shock.... and the OP has been accused of lacking compassion Shock

Birdsgottafly · 13/01/2017 14:21

""Anyway the safety concern has made me realise that I can't ignore it, thanks for the link will be reporting now. Couldn't live with myself if something bad happened with the DC.""

Then why didn't you tell her to stop or you would report?

""Prepay meters are not more expensive than standard ones. Maybe 10rs ago but they changed the law didn't they""

You can't get the same deals on Prepayment, so they get around the policies on them. So it's still more expensive and even if you've been a Customer for thirty years, they won't let you swap.

JeanAndTonic · 13/01/2017 14:22

Someone nicking ONE fiver out my wallet doesn't make much difference to my annual cashflow but I wouldn't tolerate it because it's theft.

It is theft, you're right, but would you report that one person for taking one fiver if you knew that they were in desperate need of it? To heat their home and make their children comfortable? Would you give it to them if you thought that it could make a difference? Some people resort to stealing because it's the only thing that they can do (and I really don't see this as the same thing as stealing money from my purse), they don't have any alternative. So, even though you wouldn't register the difference would you really report someone for this? Genuine question.

Although I would not like to have someone steal from me, I absolutely couldn't see these people go without. I've been a single parent, I've lived on the breadline. I'm no longer in that situation but I remember it and it's not very nice. I'm not holier than thou', but I see so many people living in poverty that I simply couldn't advocate someone shopping someone because of a fiver. To keep their children warm. But I'm also not a cunt.

Katy07 · 13/01/2017 14:24

Criminals who get caught usually do end up in a bigger mess, of course they do. That's the whole idea of punishment.
And the OP has said that the person isn't in a worse state than she is - and she's more likely to know than anyone guessing on here. Besides, what constitutes struggling. For some people having £200k income and not being able to afford a foreign holiday every month counts as struggling. While some OAPs get bugger all pension but pare down their expenditure to match it and count themselves lucky they're getting something.
What would all these self-righteous posters say if the person living next door to this electricity thief was their granny? And this person's actions caused both properties to burn down leaving granny homeless and having lost all her possessions, with insurance not covering the full cost of replacing in several months time when they've finished arguing about who was to blame. Would they still be saying that it was perfectly okay to steal the electricity or would they slating the OP for not reporting it and saving Granny all the trouble?.....