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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:
WeAreTheHeroes · 07/12/2022 06:52

vera99 · 07/12/2022 05:56

I would ascertain the method that they are using. If it is a non dangerous method i.e. the supply hasn't been tampered with in anyway ask yourself if this is really your friend. Reporting them could end up with them in prison, their business collapsed and possible huge implications for their life - and some of that responsibility would lie on you.

If it has been tampered with intrusively I would underline to them with some force as to the danger they are putting themselves in and others.

And how exactly would you ascertain this, as an ordinary member of the public with no Gas Safe knowledge or experience?

Report to Crime stoppers anonymously OP. It's a criminal offence and could potentially cause an explosion and kills people.

If someone I knew had told me they'd done the same thing I would challenge them and distance myself. Utterly stupid, selfish thing to do.

LlynTegid · 07/12/2022 06:53

I think report, as could be tampering.

WeAreTheHeroes · 07/12/2022 06:53

None of the responsibility would like on the OP. She's not the criminal.

WeAreTheHeroes · 07/12/2022 06:53

Lie, not like

HormonalMessEatingChocolate · 07/12/2022 06:57

If this wasn't a safety issue, I'd say stay out of it. Given this can have fatal consequences though, I don't think you'd be unreasonable to report.

MRex · 07/12/2022 06:59

If they did this it would be dangerous and risks an explosion, so report it.

Twiglets1 · 07/12/2022 06:59

I wouldn’t report a friend unless they were committing something like child abuse or cruelty to animals.

CellophaneFlower · 07/12/2022 07:02

a friend does not grass except in cases of abuse.
Is this some kind of Goonie code 😂

I'd "grass" for the safety issues alone.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/12/2022 07:05

Twiglets1 · 07/12/2022 06:59

I wouldn’t report a friend unless they were committing something like child abuse or cruelty to animals.

Even if what they were doing was dangerous?

Cr3ateAUsername · 07/12/2022 07:06

So you want to report it because you feel bitter that you can’t take a bath?

Bakeacaketoday · 07/12/2022 07:08

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.

Could an explosion caused by tampering with the gas supply kill people? (yes)
Will everyone else's bills increase because of this? (yes)
Will your friend get investigated regardless as they do look at suddenly reducing bills (yes)

freyamay74 · 07/12/2022 07:11

Tampering with a gas supply is dangerous and can be fatal- not just to the person messing with it but to others.

But hey, no one likes a grass, eh

Wdib78 · 07/12/2022 07:12

Definitely report.

A local business connected the gas supply of the business in the next unit to his supply to get free gas, he didn't do it correctly and a few staff got carbon monoxide poisoning, one of them seriously ill and hospitalised.

Aside from the morals of it being wrong it's extremely dangerous to mess with gas supplies!

Wdib78 · 07/12/2022 07:13

Sorry, massive gap, the page jumps out when I try to post on here!

Spanielsarepainless · 07/12/2022 07:14

Report. They are thieving.

NewPapaGuinea · 07/12/2022 07:16

Regarding “energy companies making millions”, yes the suppliers are, but the retailers who your friend is ripping off are not. Many have already gone bust ie Bulb.

ADifferentKindofChristmas · 07/12/2022 07:18

I wouldn't because I believe in Karma.

Both you and "friend" will be rewarded by the Universe one way or the other and not always in the way that you had hoped.

You don't sound much of a friend tbh.

Goodgrief82 · 07/12/2022 07:19

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.

@XenoBitch

Would that be your approach to any crime?

is it going to benefit you to report a crime?
if it going to cause issues for your friend, the criminal?

Ostryga · 07/12/2022 07:19

NewPapaGuinea · 07/12/2022 07:16

Regarding “energy companies making millions”, yes the suppliers are, but the retailers who your friend is ripping off are not. Many have already gone bust ie Bulb.

Are we really feeling sorry for energy companies?! My god alive 😂

Survey99 · 07/12/2022 07:19

LikeTearsInRain · 07/12/2022 00:09

Nobody likes a grass

Personally I quite like a person with principles who doesn't sit back and do nothing. Maybe you will as well when you leave school.

Stressedmum2017 · 07/12/2022 07:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Goodgrief82 · 07/12/2022 07:19

ADifferentKindofChristmas · 07/12/2022 07:18

I wouldn't because I believe in Karma.

Both you and "friend" will be rewarded by the Universe one way or the other and not always in the way that you had hoped.

You don't sound much of a friend tbh.

An utterly peculiar post on quite a few levels.

Hibye23289 · 07/12/2022 07:20

You are jealous. Are the energy companies or the gov not robbing us aswel?! I don't believe it is just your concern about the safety issue as you wouldn't have mentioned the bath

NewPapaGuinea · 07/12/2022 07:20

Ostryga · 07/12/2022 07:19

Are we really feeling sorry for energy companies?! My god alive 😂

Show quote history

Not feeling sorry for them, just correcting some of the misinformation in some posts.

reallyhatewinter · 07/12/2022 07:20

All you saying you wouldn't report it because it's being a shot friend and people shouldn't 'grass'.

Would you still feel the same way if it was your family, friends that were killed in an explosion due to tampering??

Thought not - it'd be different then.