I’ve done a terrible thing… what to do now

[Odetojoy]

Hi,

about 9 months ago I was really struggling financially. My dad had just died and I was in a very bad place.

I knew that I hadn’t been paying enough for my electricity and I was being badgered for a meter reading. Stupidly I submitted a lower reading. I’m ashamed of this and know it’s illegal.

im now in a better position and want to sort this. Do I just enter the actual reading now? I’m also considering just calling them up and being totally honest about what I did.

what should I do? Please don’t judge me - I know how bad this is

Don't worry about it. Just submit readings as they are. They're a bunch of crooks anyhow.

Me too! I was thinking murder, assault or a hit and run!

I wouldn’t feel too bad those greedy energy companies have hiked their prices so high that vulnerable people are literally freezing to death in winter. I’d say it’s evening the score somewhat.

No one is going to report you to the police 😂 you poor thing, cut yourself some slack!!

Approximately 0%

Just submit the correct reading. If they challenge it, you can say you must have misread one of the digits when you previously read the meter. An easy mistake.

Just say you must have read it incorrectly if they ask, which they won't.

They're really not going to report you to the police. They are still going to get all the money owed for the electricity you have used. Better to sort this now before winter.

This. They're like pigs with their noses in the trough. OP, please don't make yourself sick with worry about this. Nothing bad will happen, I promise. Next time, just sort out a payment plan

Oh that’s really sweet. You won’t get reported to the police. You’re defo overthinking and you should commend yourself on being honourable at the core and wanting to do the right thing.

Zero chance

Low you are paying it now. Just say you added the wrong reading if they question it. Sausage fingers 😉

It’s not a terrible @Odetojoy you intended to pay for your electricity. You were coping the best way you could. You coped. You got through that time 💪 💐

Oh and yes, just give the correct reading, or work up to that in two readings.

lol

Tell them nothing, give a true reading now and pay the bill immediately. Don't make it harder than it needs to be. All they are interested in is getting their money. They are very unlikely to raise a query and if they do, you just apologise and say that you possibly made a mistake earlier as you were suffering the loss of your Father.....I can't see how they can report you to the police, they haven't suffered a loss (assuming you now pay) and they can't prove or disprove anything.

You did what you did at a time of great loss, you weren't thinking right and now you are rectifying the error, don't beat yourself up. Big hugs x

Doubt the police will be interested they barely respond to violent muggings

Yes I agree with all the other pp. Just pay up (before Oct 1 when prices go up) and put it out of your mind.
Noone is going to be chasing you about this.
Hope you are feeling better now x

Agreed. Good advice here. Take it.

Yes, it'll be fine if you enter the correct reading. Sometimes you can use less or more than expected. Eg. My hot water didn't work for ages, so i stopped having daily baths and had showers. Electricity went up due to using the electric shower only, gas went down due to not heating water. I remember when I entered both it said "Are you sure this is the correct reading?" I just said yes. For all they knew I was lying about the gas being unusually low.

Probably zero risk of involving the police. It will be far cheaper for them to just get their money!

Is that a thing? I doubt the police would bother with it even if it was reported.

Don't stress. You're going to pay it off.

Zero. Many people misread the meter from time to time, there is no way of them knowing that you did it on purpose.

just make out like it was a typo

You might even be pleasantly surprised. Did similar with poll tax in the 80s and getting it sorted was such a massive relief. Good luckxxx

Before the massive, well sign-posted electricity and gas price hikes a couple of years ago I entered readings that dramatically overstated the then current readings. Result was I effectively had 6-8 months of power I had already paid for at a significantly lower price. I'm the one the police should be collaring, not you.