What happens if you don't pay your bills ??

[looneyloo88]

Just a curious question really . My neighbours both don't work so claim everything . She was telling me today she's never once paid her water bills , gas bills , electric bills or tv licence . I was pretty shocked as she's lived there for two years !! How can she even get away with that ??? It annoys me a bit as we work really hard to pay ours every month . She then had the cheek to as to borrow my hose pipe as she has no tap outside ( I'm on a water meter and pay about £60 a month as it is !!!!... this is where she said she doesn't believe in paying for water 🤦‍♀️

I presume they can eventually cut off water and electricity but maybe I’m wrong.failing to pay a Tv license can result in a fine and/or prison I think.

Gas, electric, water and tv licence companies can apply for deductions from esa/jsa/is/uc once the bill gets to a certain level.

No way ! Didn't know that. Pretty interesting !

I think there's a law that says water companies can't cut off supply to domestic customers.

Shocking isn't it. And absolutely disgusting.
I once applied for help with my water follow the water companies encouragement. I am on a low wage and got nowhere because I work but am clearly struggling. Then I remember a family member, and I use that term loosely, was boasting how they either pay nothing or a tiny percentage of their bills and have never worked, because how can they possibly work when they keep popping out kids! Makes me sick as most of the time those who aren't paying their bills are also in receipt of some sort of benefits which we all have to cover. So what do that have to pay for

When we got into debt with our gas and electric they made us have a pre-payment meter. I guess you'd have to actually let them into the house to do that though, if your meters are inside?

The water they don't cut off though, we owed them quite a bit for ages before setting up a payment plan.

Haha it's just crazy !! I guess if you don't work and own anything maybe they feel they havnt got anything to lose . I just could not live like that .

Also I was reading that we ( bill payers ) pay an extra amount on top of our water every year to subsidise those who don't pay !!!! It's bloody annoying !!!! Guess the same goes for council tax 🤦‍♀️

Makes me sick as most of the time those who aren't paying their bills are also in receipt of some sort of benefits which we all have to cover. So what do that have to pay for angry

Can you direct me to evience base for this assertion? Ta.

evidence base

Ok, it is my opinion which I am welcome to.

Those who are employed pay their taxes. I know people who have never worked a day in their life and get alot more money that I earn a month. They then go ahead and fill in forms to see if they can obtain deductions on their bills. I know this as going through hard times myself I have been encouraged to fill in forms to see if I am entitled to any help. I am not! Some of the first questions you are asked are what benefits your are in receipt of or have started a claim for.

I use that family member as an example, and it does piss me off (she is not the only one out there) as she does boast how little to nothing she has to pay on her bills. She gets over £2,000 every month, doesnt pay her bills, is living in a £600,000 house paying virtually no council tax compared to what she would normally have to in a house of that size and area. She then goes on to boast how she spends HER money on new tv's, ipads, holidays, etc. Luxurys for most of us and things we have to save hard for. But my biggest annoyance of all its her claiming it is her money. I do not feel it is as it hasnt been earned. Its been handed to her for doing fuck all! Again that is my opinion but its not wrong!

I havent said 'in all cases' but there are many people that do get alot in handouts and still qualify for reduced bills

When we got into debt with our gas and electric they made us have a pre-payment meter. I guess you'd have to actually let them into the house to do that though, if your meters are inside?

Nope, they can actually get a warrant to enter your house and change the meter.

(I don't know this because it's happened to me btw, but I work for the police and we always get calls from the energy companies saying they've got a warrant to force entry to change the meter for non payment, and the resident is usually kicking off about it.)

I use that family member as an example, and it does piss me off (she is not the only one out there) as she does boast how little to nothing she has to pay on her bills. She gets over £2,000 every month, doesnt pay her bills, is living in a £600,000 house paying virtually no council tax compared to what she would normally have to in a house of that size and area. She then goes on to boast how she spends HER money on new tv's, ipads, holidays, etc. Luxurys for most of us and things we have to save hard for. But my biggest annoyance of all its her claiming it is her money. I do not feel it is as it hasnt been earned. Its been handed to her for doing fuck all! Again that is my opinion but its not wrong!

Really? How interesting. Why can't I believe a word of this bs?

There is nothing to be envious of here, she will eventually have to pay. They will get court orders to put meters in, they will deduct from her benefits.

And in the meantime she has the worry of knowing that's going to happen at some point. Most people would find that stressful.

I hope you said no to the hose pipe request?

@outreach29 because i would really make this stuff up!

Well, they'll ruin their credit rating, possibly end up in court with CCJs. Unpaid CCJs can lead to a criminal record. They'll have bailiffs around eventually and they'll cease any possessions they have. They'll never get a mortgage and struggle to get another tenancy if renting.

But essentially it's none of your business if they want to mess up their lives

I wouldn't be too jealous. These type of people get themselves into huge debts. It's always waiting somewhere.

@NGC2017 -sorry as my post was quite rude, I think the rudeness was meant to be at your family member. It does seem hard to fathom that someone could be living in a house that size and not paying a mortgage whilst getting £2000 in benefits. Or if the mortgage is paid off - again - how could they possibly be getting that much in benefits?

When we had a hard time financially when our 3 kids were little, my DH couldn't get a job, and I was off sick with a swollen knee unable to walk (or work) - we took a mortgage 'holiday' for 6 months, and filled out all the forms. We got £14 a week from the powers that be- whoopdidoo - thank god we had family to help us out.

As others have said - no doubt it will catch up with her in the end. I know someone who was claiming housing benefit when they weren't entitled, ending in her losing nursing qualification and getting fined for a lot of cash.

Its ok @outreach29. My apologies too that I took it in the wrong context. I agree it is hard to believe, and even harder to accept when you see it happening.

We have a very split family. One side is very hard working, we don’t earn great salaries but have always worked for everything we have and if we have ever fell on hard times we have never been entitled to any help. I remember when I still lived at home. My dad was made redundant, my mom was ill, and they were entitled to absolutely nothing. They even battled with their insurance provider to get them to pay out on their policy that they had been paying into for years to cover them in such situations. My parents now have very bad mobility issues but are both told they will need to work until retirement as they wont be entitled to any help. It is very unfair.

The other side of my family are as I have explained. And as nasty as it sounds scroungers. Constantly looking to see how they can qualify for more money. How can we not get angry at hearing how easy they have it when we struggle every month. It just seems so unfair. It would never make me want to be anything like them but it does make you wonder why they would ever consider working when they have it so easy.

I have nothing against anyone claiming any benefits or help. The vast majority are entitled and deserving and use they money to support themselves/family with life’s necessities. It is when you see the other side (and unfortunately it is too close to home and shameful that it is someone in my family (not close family may I add)), and realise how unfair it is.

She recently moved into a highly sought after area, with a very high price tag, council tax each money is shocking, however only has to pay £60 a month towards it. Now I live in a small 2 bed, lower band property and I pay nearly double that and that’s single occupancy. She has also never ever paid her water bill and is quite proud to admit that.

Everyone is right though. These things have to catch up with these people at some point

My son is unable to work. He privately rents his own 1 bed flat. Whilst UC pays most of his rent he has to pay and does pay council tax, water, gas, electricity and TV licence so not all on benefits pay nothing.