Energy don’t pay or what else

[jetadore]

So the “don’t pay” movement seems to be gaining some traction but so does the “just shut up and pay” movement telling us to stop being so naive and how there are ‘much better ways’ to tackle the issue? What are these ‘better ways’ then? Place my faith in the leadership and benevolence of Liz or Rishi?

I remember people refusing to pay (and rioting) over the poll tax, you hear about protest movements in other countries, what about the yellow vests for fucks sake. Here we’re too scared to do anything in case it affects our precious credit scores, make excuses not to demonstrate because we allowed the government to take away our right to protest.

What am I allowed to do then? Wait for people to start going broke or dying, and then tut over the newspaper headlines? Wait for the next election so we can vote in the same bunch of bastards, or Starmer’s diet bastards? Research and publish my proposal for a coherent, long term energy policy since nobody in government can be bothered? Campaign for world peace? Come up with patronising explanations for how the crisis is due to a complex and unfortunate coincidence of geo-political factors and the prevailing economic doctrine which is actually much better than the alternative when you think about it what are you a socialist or something? How long should I wait and see if things magically get better? Is ofgem going to wait to announce the price cap? No, they’re doing it next month. Just enough time to get onto my bank.

I’m fortunate that I could probably afford the projected (can’t wait for the big reveal, so exciting) increase with a bit of belt tightening. But I’m inclined to cancel my payments all the same, if it would put the shits up them. I don’t want to be all “I’m alright jack” while others struggle, nor do I want to be intimidated by the threat of ccj’s and conservative claptrap, so that the Tories and their mates can sit there laughing at us and blathering on about how profit isn’t a crime whilst we all meekly wring our hands and wait in the cold for the invisible hand of the market to come to our aid.

Just feel like is there something I can practically do to make a difference, now, or am I actually powerless?

PS I know there was a thread on this recently there probably have been others since I didn’t find any when I searched though.

What do you expect who to do about rising costs?

How does you not paying help those who can genuinely not afford the massive rises?

We will be reluctantly paying but we WFH so claiming the £6 per week allowance back plus everyone gets the government 400 back! It’s not much but I’m claiming all I can, both my husband and I WFH so it’s actually £12.00 per week so over 500 a year, it’s nowhere close to how much we pay but it’s a start! We can’t afford to not pay due our jobs, a ccj would be a nightmare for us unfortunately

I’m fortunate that I could probably afford the projected (can’t wait for the big reveal, so exciting) increase with a bit of belt tightening

The government are not in the business of guaranteeing an amount of disposable income for aspiring or middle class families to spend on what they think their hard work “deserves” .

if you have a belt that can be tightened, you are better off than someone who has no notches left to tighten in the first place

just pay.

How does me paying help those who genuinely can’t afford the rises? Is there anything I, “we” can “do about rising costs” or do we just suck it up and keep eating every shit sandwich we get offered?

Well we're cutting back on our energy consumption because a) Climate change and b) expensive

And we're already below average consumption in kWh before the cut back

The government are not in the business of guaranteeing an amount of disposable income for aspiring or middle class families to spend on what they think their hard work “deserves” .

Cheers, I’ll put that one down as a vote for “come up with patronising and obfuscating explanations as an excuse to do nothing”.

You’re welcome.

now pay your bills.

if you have a belt that can be tightened, you are better off than someone who has no notches left to tighten in the first place

yes, I already acknowledged that I’m better off, I’m asking what, if anything, can I do to force the govt to help the No-notches? I’m alright, so fuck ‘em, not my problem, right?

If the government does nothing, people will riot. Thousands of businesses will go bust. They will do something at the last minute to come across as benevolent tories. But it will be an inadequate response.

Really don't understand how not paying your bill would help anyone else?

I don’t buy into all that stuff about ombudsman fees costing energy companies millions. However if enough people didn’t pay it could cause cash flow problems for the providers which would force the government to step in to prevent them going under.

I’ve already not paid for 4 months after my energy bill jumped from £116 to £239 to £389 this year. I’ve asked for a payment plan, but the minimum payment they’re saying they’ll allow me is the total cost of the bill I owe. They want over a grand off me in one go at this point

It's extortion, simple as that. Legal BS extortion. They are forcing people to struggle and pushing people to the limit. How can the price rise from £1200 last year to an estimated £7000 by next spring. Has everyone gone nuts? They blame it on climate change and rising prices. They just want the 'greener, more expensive options' to look cheaper in comparison. In my opinion, this is staged and people are showing how weak and trained they are, willing to jump how high the government tells them to. I'm sure my view will be unpopular but hey.

I’m sure there are different rules where you are but where I live you can certainly choose to not pay. The utility company then can then choose to not provide service, unless it’s after the winter moratorium starts…then they can’t shut you off. But will in the spring when the moratorium ends.

So…ummm good luck with your not paying

I agree and I agreed with the OP also.

You just take responsibility for yourself, and expect others to do the same.

Anyone disabled or sick should be well looked-after by the state. Everyone else needs to understand that no-one else but they is responsible for providing for their family.

That doesn't sound right, have you spoken to citizens advice?

I thought the government scrapped the WFH allowance from this year?

OP made it clear. Poll tax riots. We don’t pay a poll tax anymore. Got it?

If it was the government selling you electricity you might have had a valid point there.

They wanted to increase our DD from £120 to £400. We refused, agreed to increase it to £140 per month.

The not paying movement is not about not paying at all.

It is about refusing to pay ridiculous amounts of money in advance before you've even used the fuel. You cancel your DD and ask your energy company to bill you for what you've used.

I have my energy company hounding me at the moment to put my DD up to £300 per month. I'm currently £200 in credit. I'd sooner that money sat in my bank account not earning any interest at all then I will pay my £800 bill in January after I've actually burnt through that much electricity.

No its still there for people who don't have an office to go back to. Which I don't.

If people chose to WFH over going into the office, they can't claim it.

My provider wants me to increase my DD to 300. My current usage is well under a hundred a month. I'm a non working parent/carer. They can fuck off. I'll pay for what I use and nothing more. From next month we won't be using light, heat, the TV. Tumble dryer and dishwasher are unplugged. Bought an air fryer. Minimal clothes washing. We'll manage somehow.

This is not remotely like the poll tax! That was a bad government policy that got reversed. The astronomical rise in global gas prices is completely outside the government's control.