Page 12 | ENERGY FRAUD … do I report ?

bto35 · 2022-12-06T23:47:08+00:00

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 ?

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 20:43

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 20:17

No one is denying that.

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You are saying that you think reporting someone you know for drink driving is a bigger thing than the damage they could cause.

Why is reporting someone for risking other people lives, so they can have a drink, a big thing? Why is it a bigger ‘thing’ than what they are doing? Why is it a bigger ‘thing’ than the risk they are taking with other peoples lives?

I would how many victims of drink drivers would be living happier and healthier (or at all), if people didn’t think ‘oh reporting my friend for drink driving, even though I know they are, is a big deal and I won’t do it’.

Reporting someone for drink driving is not a big thing at all. If they lose their license, job etc. it’s not the fault of the person reporting. It’s the fault of the person, who feels their need to have a drink is more important than the safety of other road users.

realmsofglory · 10/12/2022 20:53

Most people have grown out of tattle taling by the age of 8

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 20:56

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 20:43

You are saying that you think reporting someone you know for drink driving is a bigger thing than the damage they could cause.

Why is reporting someone for risking other people lives, so they can have a drink, a big thing? Why is it a bigger ‘thing’ than what they are doing? Why is it a bigger ‘thing’ than the risk they are taking with other peoples lives?

I would how many victims of drink drivers would be living happier and healthier (or at all), if people didn’t think ‘oh reporting my friend for drink driving, even though I know they are, is a big deal and I won’t do it’.

Reporting someone for drink driving is not a big thing at all. If they lose their license, job etc. it’s not the fault of the person reporting. It’s the fault of the person, who feels their need to have a drink is more important than the safety of other road users.

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You’re very argumentative. I don’t think reporting someone for drink driving is a bigger thing than the problems they could cause. I just said I wouldn’t report a friend, personally.
I’m not alone on this thread in saying I wouldn’t report a friend for doing something wrong. If you would then fair enough that’s up to you but OP was asking for opinions.

Original poster

bto35 · 10/12/2022 21:12

I reported it . What happens next I don’t know but I used one of those national reporting sites. I explained they have a large outstanding debt , and they will see in the last two months the usage cost has dropped by over 80% which in itself is suspicious for a food place opened 7 days a week. I told them it’s been tampered with for a large fee to someone who has experience in meters and doing this for others .

OP posts:

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 21:13

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 20:56

You’re very argumentative. I don’t think reporting someone for drink driving is a bigger thing than the problems they could cause. I just said I wouldn’t report a friend, personally.
I’m not alone on this thread in saying I wouldn’t report a friend for doing something wrong. If you would then fair enough that’s up to you but OP was asking for opinions.

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How am I argumentative?

You posted I responded, you responded and so on Its how MN works.

I am argumentative for replying? or is it just easier than actually replying to the points.

I don’t understand your point about not being the only one. Doesn’t change that I disagree with you about it being a big thing. I never claimed you were only one. I was replying to comment you made about it big a thing.

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 21:30

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 21:13

How am I argumentative?

You posted I responded, you responded and so on Its how MN works.

I am argumentative for replying? or is it just easier than actually replying to the points.

I don’t understand your point about not being the only one. Doesn’t change that I disagree with you about it being a big thing. I never claimed you were only one. I was replying to comment you made about it big a thing.

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You’re argumentative because you’re putting words into my mouth to try to exaggerate what I said.

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 22:01

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 21:30

You’re argumentative because you’re putting words into my mouth to try to exaggerate what I said.

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I haven’t twisted anything.

I had disagreed with you. They are different things.

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 22:09

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 22:01

I haven’t twisted anything.

I had disagreed with you. They are different things.

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You put words into my mouth.
You stated, “you are saying that you think reporting someone you know for drink driving is a bigger thing than the damage they could cause”.
But I never said that. I said it’s a big thing to report a friend but I didn’t say it’s a bigger thing than the damage they could cause.

wotsinthebox · 10/12/2022 22:26

bto35 · 10/12/2022 21:12

I reported it . What happens next I don’t know but I used one of those national reporting sites. I explained they have a large outstanding debt , and they will see in the last two months the usage cost has dropped by over 80% which in itself is suspicious for a food place opened 7 days a week. I told them it’s been tampered with for a large fee to someone who has experience in meters and doing this for others .

Well done you could have saved a life there.

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 22:29

Twiglets1 · 10/12/2022 22:09

You put words into my mouth.
You stated, “you are saying that you think reporting someone you know for drink driving is a bigger thing than the damage they could cause”.
But I never said that. I said it’s a big thing to report a friend but I didn’t say it’s a bigger thing than the damage they could cause.

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So if you believe the damage they could cause is a bigger thing than actually reporting them, then you would report them?

And as I said, I disagree reporting them is a big thing at all.

hiyaqwerty · 10/12/2022 23:18

So you want to report them because your paying loads in utility bills. Gosh, stay out of it. None of your business. What kind of person are you, grassing on your own friend. Stop being jealous and spiteful. The gas electric companies are already making highest profits ever

Twiglets1 · 11/12/2022 05:02

Itsthewhitehat · 10/12/2022 22:29

So if you believe the damage they could cause is a bigger thing than actually reporting them, then you would report them?

And as I said, I disagree reporting them is a big thing at all.

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No I wouldn’t report them, as I have said many times. Not everyone who has one Prosecco or beer too many is going to cause a huge amount of damage on the road. Most people do in fact get home safely even if they are over the legal limit. This isn’t a reason to drink drive, which is why I don’t do it myself. But it’s wrong to assume that just because some people go over the limit they are definitely going to cause an accident. For the people who do go over the legal limit, you have to assume that they generally get away with it because for some people it is habitual behaviour to drink a bit too much & then drive home from restaurants/pubs etc.

Therefore, the damage they COULD cause is a bigger thing than the drinking. If we all knew in advance which behaviours would cause massive damage - a gas explosion or a car accident - we would of course do everything in our power to prevent it. But we don’t so we turn a blind eye to certain things we don’t like. Or at least some of us do - apparently you would report someone at the drop of a hat as soon as they had an extra drink (or did anything that could be considered potentially dangerous) because to you it’s not a big thing at all to report a friend/relative to the police.

Itsthewhitehat · 11/12/2022 06:21

Twiglets1 · 11/12/2022 05:02

No I wouldn’t report them, as I have said many times. Not everyone who has one Prosecco or beer too many is going to cause a huge amount of damage on the road. Most people do in fact get home safely even if they are over the legal limit. This isn’t a reason to drink drive, which is why I don’t do it myself. But it’s wrong to assume that just because some people go over the limit they are definitely going to cause an accident. For the people who do go over the legal limit, you have to assume that they generally get away with it because for some people it is habitual behaviour to drink a bit too much & then drive home from restaurants/pubs etc.

Therefore, the damage they COULD cause is a bigger thing than the drinking. If we all knew in advance which behaviours would cause massive damage - a gas explosion or a car accident - we would of course do everything in our power to prevent it. But we don’t so we turn a blind eye to certain things we don’t like. Or at least some of us do - apparently you would report someone at the drop of a hat as soon as they had an extra drink (or did anything that could be considered potentially dangerous) because to you it’s not a big thing at all to report a friend/relative to the police.

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No one said people over the limit will definitely cause an accident. Yet you claim I out words in your mouth.

You whole posts is a long way of saying ‘I feel that reporting someone for drink driving is a bigger thing, than the potential damage they could cause’

And yes, I would report them, after trying to stop them driving in the first place. Because I don’t believe people have a right to break the law and put others at risk because they fail to regulate their own drinking. I certainly don’t believe ‘well they will probably be ok’ is a justification for it.

Drink driving is a huge ‘thing’. Again, I wonder how many lives would be saved if drink drivers families and friends had reported them rather than thinking ‘ah it’s fine. They are being dicks and risking peoples lives, needlessly. But they will probably be alright. Reporting them would cause too much harm to them. Let them drink and drive in peace. After all, I can’t know they will have an accident’

As I said. I completely disagree. Reporting someone isn’t a big deal at all. The big deal is their need to just have another and then get behind the wheel.

loislovesstewie · 11/12/2022 06:22

I wish someone had reported the habitual drunk who killed my cousin and her boyfriend.

loislovesstewie · 11/12/2022 06:24

The habitual drunk was well known for having a few and then driving home, he was a 'good bloke' ,always managed to get home until the night he didn't.

Twiglets1 · 11/12/2022 06:38

Itsthewhitehat · 11/12/2022 06:21

No one said people over the limit will definitely cause an accident. Yet you claim I out words in your mouth.

You whole posts is a long way of saying ‘I feel that reporting someone for drink driving is a bigger thing, than the potential damage they could cause’

And yes, I would report them, after trying to stop them driving in the first place. Because I don’t believe people have a right to break the law and put others at risk because they fail to regulate their own drinking. I certainly don’t believe ‘well they will probably be ok’ is a justification for it.

Drink driving is a huge ‘thing’. Again, I wonder how many lives would be saved if drink drivers families and friends had reported them rather than thinking ‘ah it’s fine. They are being dicks and risking peoples lives, needlessly. But they will probably be alright. Reporting them would cause too much harm to them. Let them drink and drive in peace. After all, I can’t know they will have an accident’

As I said. I completely disagree. Reporting someone isn’t a big deal at all. The big deal is their need to just have another and then get behind the wheel.

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Ok we disagree - continuing to argue the toss on Mumsnet won’t change anything. You would apparently report a friend or family member for going even one drink over the legal limit, I wouldn’t.
A habitual drunk would be another thing (responding to a comment another poster made) but none of my circle are habitual drunks.

determinedtomakethiswork · 11/12/2022 06:39

Ginmonkeyagain · 07/12/2022 03:51

If you think they have tampered with their gas meter report it. Tampering with gas meters is illegal and very very dangerous.

I completely agree with this. I can't believe all these people saying that you would be wrong to report it. It's gas for God's sake! Fiddling around with that could cause massive massive problems for all the neighbours. Would you want your own child to go into a place where someone has been fixing the meter?

determinedtomakethiswork · 11/12/2022 06:41

The person who is doing the tampering deserves a very long prison sentence.

Lex345 · 11/12/2022 07:21

Genuinely fascinated by what has been done to the meter, have heard of a few ways meters (gas is it a bit rarer, possibly because its a bit more technical) can be tampered with but never a partial cap where normal gas flow is maintained but it clocks a reduced amount. Surely some kind of bypass system, which must be fairly advanced to maintain the pressure.

TimeForMeToF1y · 11/12/2022 07:22

hiyaqwerty · 10/12/2022 23:18

So you want to report them because your paying loads in utility bills. Gosh, stay out of it. None of your business. What kind of person are you, grassing on your own friend. Stop being jealous and spiteful. The gas electric companies are already making highest profits ever

Where are you getting that statistic from please

Everything I've seen and heard says that the supply companies aren't making high profits. Thats why so many have gone bust isn't it?

Why would that be?

And only 12 year olds think that anyone with a conscious about other people doing wrong are jealous if them. That's so stupid

RedRobyn2021 · 11/12/2022 07:40

You know the sad thing is they obviously trust you and you're thinking of betraying that trust.

If you think it is dangerous then I would certainly say something to your friend. But if not, it's none of your business. That's my opinion, sorry if others think that's the wrong way to deal with it.

Imthegingerbreadwoman · 11/12/2022 07:57

So what did they do to their gas supply? I didn't know this sort of stuff was done any more! Surely they would see a dramatic decrease in price and investigate?

WeAreTheHeroes · 11/12/2022 08:03

Frankly I trust my friends not to do illegal things which endanger others and would think a lot less of them if they did what the OP's friend has. Unless I found out there was something else behind their behaviour I would no longer be friends with them. When I say something else I mean they need help for a mental health condition or are being coerced by a controlling partner, that kind of thing.

If a friend trusted me to tell me they had an illegal handgun, would I keep quiet? Would I hell.

Maldedos · 11/12/2022 08:21

bto35 · 10/12/2022 21:12

I reported it . What happens next I don’t know but I used one of those national reporting sites. I explained they have a large outstanding debt , and they will see in the last two months the usage cost has dropped by over 80% which in itself is suspicious for a food place opened 7 days a week. I told them it’s been tampered with for a large fee to someone who has experience in meters and doing this for others .

I think you did the right thing.
I hope your friend doesn’t get into too much trouble but it would be far worse for them if the tampering caused an explosion.

Imthegingerbreadwoman · 11/12/2022 08:31

How does it cause an explosion? If its jut the metre? If they tampered with a pipe I would understand but I'm a bit confused by it all really