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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:
listsandbudgets · 07/12/2022 07:22

Twiglets1 · 07/12/2022 06:59

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

Well I would if reasoning with them didn't work and I was of their view that their actions may result in a number of ( of theyre lucky involuntary ) manslaughter charges and massive damage to property.

Dibbydoos · 07/12/2022 07:23

It's the safety aspect that worries me, gas is not something to mess with. Call it in.

I'm sorry your friend feels they need to endanger lives to make the profits they've become accustomed to, but life before money imo.

1dayatatime · 07/12/2022 07:23

"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"

+++

Whilst the posts about a safety risk are entirely valid it should be pointed that her original motivation for reporting her friend was envy and "it's not fair for can't afford to have a bath".

The subsequent faux concern about gas safety only came about after another poster raised this risk.

Millana · 07/12/2022 07:23

I'd report them. I used to work in the energy business and some of the tampering we'd see was scary and us stopping it almost certainly saved lives. Forget the ethics, think about the safety.

How do you know all this stuff about their bills though?

torquewench · 07/12/2022 07:24

Ponoka7 · 06/12/2022 23:55

Show quote history

That was nothing to do with fiddling, it was because he was one of a pair of drug addicts hoping to sell the copper piping who didn't turn off the gas supply before removing the pipes. So not someone amy normal person would consider letting near their meter.

I also don't understand the OP as it says its the direct debit that has reduced - so has mine and I'm not on the fiddle. My consumption is another thing altogether.

Chimna · 07/12/2022 07:26

LikeTearsInRain · 07/12/2022 00:09

Nobody likes a grass

I think you've mistaken mumsnet for the hood or somefing blud?

See I'd prefer to report than play any part in the death of an innocent passer by or neighbour.

Stunningscreamer · 07/12/2022 07:27

WeAreTheHeroes · 07/12/2022 06:53

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

This.

Can't bear those don't be a grass, the Krays were nice to their mum, attitudes. It's what lets people literally get away with murder and makes people sound like five year olds. I can only think they're from people who are also playing the system.

These crimes are not victimless. If people like them paid their bill then other people's bills would likely lower in comparison. Someone socking it to the big companies does not help us, it just puts up our own bills as I'm sure they have an element of their bill to cover exactly this kind of fraud.

Stressedmum2017 · 07/12/2022 07:28

People do realise that there are people who are qualified to cap gas and do so in a professional capacity? So chances are it's someone who does this professionally anyway making extra and helping people out on the side. Just because this guy wanted cheaper bills doesn't mean he is prepared to blow himself up for it fgs 🤣

Millana · 07/12/2022 07:29

Stressedmum2017 · 07/12/2022 07:28

People do realise that there are people who are qualified to cap gas and do so in a professional capacity? So chances are it's someone who does this professionally anyway making extra and helping people out on the side. Just because this guy wanted cheaper bills doesn't mean he is prepared to blow himself up for it fgs 🤣

Not necessarily. Just because someone does it a lot doesn't mean they know what they are doing.

SaySomethingMan · 07/12/2022 07:32

From the point of view of safety, then yes.

From the ‘trickle down’ bit, I don’t agree. The energy companies will keep bumping up their prices for higher prices no matter how little people use or pay.

DomesticShortHair · 07/12/2022 07:32

LikeTearsInRain · 07/12/2022 00:09

Nobody likes a grass

My golden rule in life. Snitches get stitches.

SaySomethingMan · 07/12/2022 07:33

Millana · 07/12/2022 07:29

Not necessarily. Just because someone does it a lot doesn't mean they know what they are doing.

Show quote history

Not even if they’re trained and qualified?!

Goodgrief82 · 07/12/2022 07:33

DomesticShortHair · 07/12/2022 07:32

My golden rule in life. Snitches get stitches.

Show quote history

Sounds like something a 14 year old in a knife gang would say 🙄

bloodyplanes · 07/12/2022 07:34

If it wasn't such a dangerous thing to do my attitude would be good on them! The energy companies are quite happy to shaft us all so fuck them. However messing around with gas is a dangerous thing to do and can have potentially fatal consequences for everyone around that business! Also as a pp stated the energy company will notice very quickly the sudden decrease in usage and get suspicious.

Stressedmum2017 · 07/12/2022 07:34

Millana · 07/12/2022 07:29

Not necessarily. Just because someone does it a lot doesn't mean they know what they are doing.

Show quote history

So someone qualified and does it as their profession on a daily basis doesn't know how to do something?? Better not use a gas fitter, an electrician, a heart surgeon cos you know just in case.

Survey99 · 07/12/2022 07:35

Stressedmum2017 · 07/12/2022 07:28

People do realise that there are people who are qualified to cap gas and do so in a professional capacity? So chances are it's someone who does this professionally anyway making extra and helping people out on the side. Just because this guy wanted cheaper bills doesn't mean he is prepared to blow himself up for it fgs 🤣

Of course and the guy would have checked his corgi (is that still a thing?) credentials and made sure he got a gas safety certificate too. Would you trust him if you stayed next door with your kids and knew he was fiddling with the gas supply?

DomesticShortHair · 07/12/2022 07:36

Goodgrief82 · 07/12/2022 07:33

Sounds like something a 14 year old in a knife gang would say 🙄

Show quote history

I wouldn’t know. Still, it’s nice to hear you sharing your experience.

youtwoandme · 07/12/2022 07:36

So you're in a trusted position which enables you to view these bills, yet you're going to report them. Pat on the back OP, what a great "friend" Hmm

Fedupofdiets · 07/12/2022 07:37

Gas explosion

This happened in July this year around the corner from where I work, why on earth would anybody say do not report?! Absolutely baffling 😡

sst1234 · 07/12/2022 07:37

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.

And this ladies and gentleman is true face of how those that like to lecture others about morality really live.

CellophaneFlower · 07/12/2022 07:38

Stressedmum2017 · 07/12/2022 07:28

People do realise that there are people who are qualified to cap gas and do so in a professional capacity? So chances are it's someone who does this professionally anyway making extra and helping people out on the side. Just because this guy wanted cheaper bills doesn't mean he is prepared to blow himself up for it fgs 🤣

Helping people out? He's not Robin Hood, no matter how much he convinces himself he is - otherwise he'd do it for free!

sst1234 · 07/12/2022 07:39

You just know that people who make comments like these are on the rob.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 07/12/2022 07:39

You're clearly a very close friend, if she's showing you her bills and sharing details of her company turn-over, so tell her yourself how dangerous it is and give her the chance to remove it before you report her and get her sent to prison/massive fine.

Goodgrief82 · 07/12/2022 07:39

phew… AS would seem to suggest those saying talking about karma and “snitches” etc don’t have children. 🤞 that doesn’t change

Ginmonkeyagain · 07/12/2022 07:39

People who offer to fiddle meters are not nice, helpful people. They are criminals that are endangering life and leave a trail of destruction behind them.

I used ti have ti work clearung up thebaftermath of meter tsmpeting and it is not great. Best case scenario you end up with your supply cut off (mandatory action due to H&S legislation) and a stonking great bill that has to be paid before the energy supplier will reconnect you. If you are a business you may find that energy companies will refuse to supply you going forward as there is not duty to supply enenrgy to business premises.

Worst case scenario you or people near you end up dead.

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