Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

ENERGY FRAUD … do I report ?

337 replies

bto35 · 06/12/2022 23:47

Hi. I’m really torn on this and not sure what to do if anything . Someone close to me has a business that uses a lot of gas and electricity of which with the rising costs are now thousands in debt .

They mentioned some time ago about knowing someone who could cap the gas meter for a fee . This would slow down the gas meter and produce a much lower bill but wouldn’t close it off completely.

the person close to me was previously paying about £550-600 a month in Gas and I’ve seen their last two direct debits have now dropped to under £100 a month for gas ( no way this is accurate ) they told me they didn’t get the gas capped because they couldn’t afford what they guy wanted paid to do it but it’s clear looking at the recent drop compared to the last 6 months that they have indeed done something to the gas .

Im annoyed because I too like all of us are paying a lot to even heat our homes and here is someone on purpose committing fraud and I believe it could be dangerous as this is a commercial business surrounded by flats above .

Do I report it or ignore it

Would they even take a report seriously ? Has anyone ever had to report for energy fraud ?

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 06/12/2022 23:49

Would reporting it reduce your own bills?
Would reporting it cause your friend a lot of issues?

Just a couple of things to ask yourself.

Original poster
bto35 · 06/12/2022 23:52

It wouldn’t obviously reduce my own bills and yes it would cause my friend issues but the business takes £20,000 a month before expenses …. I’ve had to stop having baths because I cannot afford heat and hot water

OP posts:
WheelOfFish · 06/12/2022 23:52

XenoBitch · 06/12/2022 23:49

Would reporting it reduce your own bills?
Would reporting it cause your friend a lot of issues?

Just a couple of things to ask yourself.

Because of course the only important things in life are you and your friends. No wonder society is going the way it is.

WheelOfFish · 06/12/2022 23:55

It is possible they massively overpaid and now the next few months are much lower to compensate. I’d say if you knew for sure then yes, you should see if you can find a way to anonymously report but if there are any doubts then probably best to leave it.

Ponoka7 · 06/12/2022 23:55

XenoBitch · 06/12/2022 23:49

Would reporting it reduce your own bills?
Would reporting it cause your friend a lot of issues?

Just a couple of things to ask yourself.

Would reporting it stop the deaths of people if there's an explosion?

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/05/neighbour-from-hell-jailed-over-gas-blast-that-killed-toddler-george-hinds&ved=2ahUKEwjX4rO2mOb7AhXHi_0HHbpBAKUQFnoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1-1UNHC1AyXqv0cVJqAXxG

That death is one of a few that's happened when people have messed around with gas.

Orangepolentacake · 06/12/2022 23:56

This is what happens when there is too much pressure and no relief and society is slowly sliding. People take matters into their hands, resort to criminality, and so on. Read on another thread on here that the UK is on way to experiencing eastern europe in the early 90s, I agree

Original poster
bto35 · 07/12/2022 00:02

That’s my own dilemma . I do worry about the safety of the person who has capped it . He does it for a lot of people so he’s known / experienced but there are people living above and neighbouring shops .

There is no way they are in any kind of credit with the gas and electric . The direct debit bills show a clear debt , gas alone being over £5,500…

OP posts:
jtaeapa · 07/12/2022 00:04

Keep well out of it IMO

LikeTearsInRain · 07/12/2022 00:09

Nobody likes a grass

Legallypinkish · 07/12/2022 00:13

Yabu. It’s not your business. You’re obviously in a trusted position to be able to see their bills and know their income so don’t betray that trust. Jeez who needs friends like you 🙄

Museya15 · 07/12/2022 00:21

I say good on them. Those energy companies are making massive profit from our misery. Well done your friend.

Gingerangel · 07/12/2022 00:22

Don’t report it. The big energy companies are robbing bastards and if someone has figured out a way to reduce their bill, then good on them.👏

why exactly do you want to report anyway? If it’s jealousy then maybe ask if the same person can come round and do the same to your gas meter… Otherwise just mind your own business🙄

MoreSleepPleasee · 07/12/2022 00:23

Yabu stop being jealous of your friend.

LeakyTapTap · 07/12/2022 00:24

The companies are making millions. Mind your own business.

Gingerangel · 07/12/2022 00:24

Also give me the number of the guy who knows how to do this?

Im sitting around in an oodie in a cold house 🥶

GreenLunchBox · 07/12/2022 00:25

With friends like you who needs enemies?

IrmaGord · 07/12/2022 00:29

The likelihood is that the energy company will get suspicious at some point and send someone round to check the meters. There was something in the news today about EDF sending inspectors round to someone's house because their bill had dropped (albeit legitimately) and this was only for about £100 a month. They're going to notice if it's dropped by thousands.

Want2beme · 07/12/2022 00:30

I couldn't do that to someone. Anyway, if you do, they'll know it was you. This close person to you obviously doesn't think you'd grass, otherwise they wouldn't have mentioned it to you.

XenoBitch · 07/12/2022 00:35

Energy companies are making record profits despite the CoL crisis.
If I could get away with what your friend is doing, I would try it. I would hazard a guess that most people reading this would too.

Underanothersky · 07/12/2022 00:36

I read Staziland and I thought "that would never happen here" How wrong i was

Leftleg · 07/12/2022 00:42

You should report it. Theft of gas costs eventually gets passed onto all of us as the gas used from the network still has to be paid for by the suppliers. It's also dangerous.
Hopefully the supplier will notice the change in usage and investigate.
cadentgas.com/help-advice/theft-of-gas

Northernsouloldies · 07/12/2022 01:03

Fucking about with gas supply can have fatal consequences, if memory serves me right, a little boy died cos the neighbour did the above n the house got blown to bits.

Notatallanamechange · 07/12/2022 01:15

Such a breeding ground of hypocrisy is mumsnet. People told to shop a shoplifter but heaven forbid a business should pay its bills. A. The ludicrously low bill the OP is suggesting would be below the average before the price changes, so greed. B. Like a previous poster has pointed out; fiddling with gas COSTS LIVES. C. Again, another previous poster, these costs trickle down to us all. To all of you saying stick on up to the man, that you can’t heat your houses and are wearing blankets to compensate. This costs you. D. For those saying anything along the lines of ‘Don’t be a grass’ - grow the fuck up.

Christmasnero · 07/12/2022 01:24

bto35 · 06/12/2022 23:52

It wouldn’t obviously reduce my own bills and yes it would cause my friend issues but the business takes £20,000 a month before expenses …. I’ve had to stop having baths because I cannot afford heat and hot water

If you want to report it because you’re worried about safety or whatever then report it
but doing it out of spite is ridiculous, you’re not in competition with your friend, your bills are high because the companies, the companies who happen to be making record profits. This company won’t suffer because of the reduced bill for your friend. And it doesn’t make your bill any better or worse now.

like I said do what you think is best, but your main motivator seems to be how it’s not fair for you. It isn’t fair for you that you can’t pay your bills but that’s not your friends fault.

LBFseBrom · 07/12/2022 02:04

bto35 · Yesterday 23:52
It wouldn’t obviously reduce my own bills and yes it would cause my friend issues but the business takes £20,000 a month before expenses …. I’ve had to stop having baths because I cannot afford heat and hot water
.......................
It will not do you one bit of good to report your friend and a friend does not grass except in cases of abuse. I don't want to be judgemental but you do sound resentful about this. Resentment eats away at you, let go of it for the sake of your own health.

I'm sorry you can no longer take baths but you can take showers, they are a lot cheaper. An electric shower only heats the water that you are using at the time.