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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:
StillStayingClassySanDiego · 14/01/2017 14:10

I couldn't and wouldn't report someone for this. She's have been caught by the company eventually and you could've stayed out of it OP.

redfairy · 14/01/2017 14:11

OP, if you are going to report this please be honest with yourelf as to the reasons why. Self awareness is a wonderful thing.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 14/01/2017 15:21

Clocking the car is not such a victimless crime though. Presumably your Dad clocked his car to sell it to some poor unsuspecting person myfavourite? That is basically stealing from someone

I didn't say it wasn't theft. He'd done some big journeys in the car and thought it had too much on it for its age, so wound it back.

Fiddling the electricity isn't a victimless crime though either.

The point is, my mother and I weren't thrown into a terrible situation because someone reported my father. Because they didn't. Remember, these idiots have families who have no say in what's happening. I can't imagine for a minute that nobody around didn't hear the flippin car being clocked, it's a terrible noise. But maybe they knew what sort of a man my father was, and let it go.

So as I said, there but for the grace of God.

We lived in a detached bungalow by the way, so we were close-ish to other houses but not joined to them. So if the house had gone up in flames, it would have only been ours. It doesn't negate the fact the fire brigade would have been called out though.

Charlottelouisa · 14/01/2017 19:34

How could you even think about reporting someone for this. ??? It baffles me. Temperatures are reaching into the minus' and people need heat and light. I don't care if my bill is a bit more due to this.

BabychamSocialist · 14/01/2017 20:34

Sorry, but if I was so desperate my morals over stealing from huge corporations would go straight out the window. When my dad was on strike in the 80s, we fiddled the gas and electric meter because we had no choice. When you've seen your mum crying with joy because she won a tin of beans in the raffle, you'll change your opinion on this.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/01/2017 22:44

I understand what you are saying - but what if your meter fiddling harmed someone else? Like when a neighbour's meter fiddling caused everything metal in my kitchen to go live. Luckily my housemates and I were fit and healthy - what if one of us had had a heart condition or pacemaker that had been affected by the shocks we were getting? Or if tampering with the meter starts a fire and one of the neighbour's is killed? Would it be worth it?

user1470041360 · 14/01/2017 22:49

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Jaagojaago · 14/01/2017 22:57

Ahem now. I can't stop thinking about goady fuckers who are bored post Christmas. The OP beloved won't return perhaps yes? Or maybe now they surely will!

alltouchedout · 14/01/2017 23:21

Yes we had a lovely grade II listed building raised to the ground because some homeless people had tried to make a fire to keep warm
It's shit that homelessness and desperate poverty are so accepted in this country that your disapproval seems far more of the fact that people started a fire than that they were so bloody desperate in the first place.

Manumission · 14/01/2017 23:36

I think you might be right jaago.

Nicketynac · 15/01/2017 00:04

Someone in the next flat to MIL's did this within days of moving in - tinkered with wires to steal electricity off the rest of their neighbours and set the block on fire. Luckily there was no damage to actual flats, just the communal area and nobody was hurt, but obviously everyone was fuming.

HotchPotchLollipop · 15/01/2017 00:05

To those of you attacking the OP, have any of you ever survived a house fire or know anyone who has? I have. I was told by the firemen I was lucky they got to me in time. It is not an experience I care to repeat, nor would I wish it on anyone. This is a question of reporting. For those of you suggesting CAB and other financial support for the OP's friend- I agree that is excellent advice BUT it is the weekend and everything wil be closed now. BTW I am on disability and sickness benefits long term, so I know what it is to struggle. I have medical equipment I need electricity for too. I feel sorry for OP's friend but to me the risk of fire to the friend and others around her is far more important. It is no time to be sentimental.

IvorHughJarrs · 15/01/2017 00:31

I am shocked at how many people will condone and excuse theft, knowing that it puts others at risk and increases bills for everyone, including those others who are struggling but being honest.

NewNNfor2017 · 15/01/2017 09:31

It's shit that homelessness and desperate poverty are so accepted in this country that your disapproval seems far more of the fact that people started a fire than that they were so bloody desperate in the first place.

So desperate people should be absolved of responsibility of putting lives and property at risk?
They destroyed a house. One which was historically significant.

That was someone's property - it could have been their retirement fund and having been destroyed by others, the owners could now face hardship themselves.

Even when desperate and homeless it's possible to live a life which doesn't deprive or put others at risk. In my experience it is a small minority of those who have nothing who disregard others better off then themselves. It's a shame that the desperate and homeless are all labelled by the actions of the few.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 15/01/2017 09:55

alltouchedout thanks for posting that select part of my post but I did go on to explain. As the next paragraph of my post stated. Maybe try reading peoples full posts properly next time?

So although I have sympathy for those desperate enough to do things like this or steal electricity it's not just at their own risk they're doing it. The neighbouring houses were left unstable because of it too

I've been homeless. I know how fucking shit it is thankyou. I was lucky that I got temporary accommodation asap what with me finding out I was pregnant and all. I was simply pointing out that they left other people homeless as a result of this. Of course they didn't intend to harm others and just weren't thinking or were just trying to keep warm but rendering the other buildings unsafe meant they left several other people homeless too. However, as STDG pointed out. The fiddling of the electric doesn't always just affect the person doing it.

SheldonCRules · 15/01/2017 10:00

No one knows anything about the person in the OP, she could have no money as she spent it all on Christmas, drink, clothes, doesn't work etc.

Regardless of circumstances, it's never ok to steal. It's a basic we should be teaching children.

If a parent was struggling that bad to feed or warm a chid then most would do pretty much any job to earn more money the majority wouldn't choose the easy option and steal.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 15/01/2017 10:00

It's okay NewNNfor2017 my full post is clear to anyone who wishes to read it in full. Wink

It left the other houses unstable and they had to be demolished too. They couldn't just be rebuilt because they were so old. Although I'm sure some developing company will snatch the plot up in a few months time and build another student lettings block on it because the two other student lettings block within a stone's throw of each other surely wont suffice Grin

Manumission · 15/01/2017 10:16

I imagine we do all teach children not to steal Sheldon.

The complicated ethics of when to stickybeak and when to report other people's misdemeanours they can work out for themselves later.

specialsubject · 15/01/2017 10:32

Mn morals - it is OK to steal from a company. It is also relevant that it was tatmas because buying presents is more essential than heat and light.Hmm

There is help out there. Dicking about with the meter is not the solution.

NewNNfor2017 · 15/01/2017 10:33

Of course they didn't intend to harm others and just weren't thinking or were just trying to keep warm

I appreciate the sentiment, but The more I think about it, the more this thread pisses me off because it disrespects all those people who are desperate, cold, homeless and struggling who DON'T steal, or put others at risk.

It's almost as if it's expected - oh, she's struggling to pay her lecci so you can't blame her for stealing and putting others at risk yet the vast majority of people in that situation don't - are they the mugs? Are they viewed as Stupid for not fleecing the system and taking advantage of others good will?

If the homeless can't be morally held to account for burning down a house then where does it stop? Is it ok to rob another if the money is for food? Steal from someone who looks as if they can afford it?

This thread implies those who don't are only adding to their own misery, because they could be warm/fed if only they were willing to steal/take advantage of others.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 15/01/2017 10:40

I agree NewNN that's why I said early on that I struggle. (single parent). Still never stole anything and the one time me and the ex were skint. he was out of work and had no electric until payday we sat up playing scrabble by tealights. If only we knew some dodgy leccy key top up people then! Grin

LandLock · 15/01/2017 10:45

If anyone is interested you can donate to a FUEL BANK This one is run by The Trussell Trust and npower.

Vouchers for fuel are given out in much the same way as food.

💥💥💥⚡️⚡️⚡️💥💥💥⚡️⚡️⚡️💥💥💥⚡️⚡️⚡️💥💥💥⚡️⚡️⚡️

Manumission · 15/01/2017 10:47

There's a difference between "not blaming" and "not putting the boot in" NewNN.

It's possible to disapprove of the action and simultaneously sympathise with the predicament.

NewNNfor2017 · 15/01/2017 10:59

It's possible to disapprove of the action and simultaneously sympathise with the predicament.

When the action puts others at risk, is reporting it "putting the boot in" or protecting a desperate person from harming themselves and others?

I'd sympathise with a colleague who got a text to say her child had been rushed to hospital but I'd still report her if she got into her car and drove to the hospital while drunk.

I don't see the difference?

AwaywiththePixies27 · 15/01/2017 11:00

I agree Manumission. Which is what I did in my post. Well so I thought anyway. Confused