A UK campaign has been gaining significant traction as they call for 1m UK consumers to stop paying energy bills.
The activists behind the campaign remain anonymous, but ‘Don’t Pay’ hope that cancelling direct debits will have a similar impact to the poll tax protests.
But will the campaign work, and how has it been received?
‘Don’t Pay’ – What is it?
A new campaign is urging nearly 1-million UK consumers to stop paying their energy bills from October in protest of the record price rises. Run by a group of anonymous activists, the campaign launched last Saturday and has already gathered around 4,000 social media followers.
The manifesto, emblazoned in black and yellow on the group’s website, says:
“Millions of us won’t be able to afford food and bills this winter. We cannot afford to let that happen. We demand a reduction of bills to an affordable level. We will cancel our direct debits from 1 October if we are ignored.”
As energy costs have rocketed, the annual cap on average bills has risen from £700 to £2000 in April, and will rise again in October nearly £3000. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced £15bn in financial aid to provide one-off payments to households – but ‘Don’t Pay’ argues this is not enough. A spokesperson for the campaign group said –
“So much hope has been lost and we’re just heading towards a genuinely catastrophic winter… Thousands of people will freeze to death in their homes if we do nothing.”
He went on to say –
“I’ve spoken to people who are suffering with cancer who say they are training themselves to withstand the cold or to only have one or two meals a day – all their energy should be spent fighting this terrible disease. And parents who aren’t feeding themselves to feed their kids, but also wrapping kids in blankets and a coat while they try to do their homework.”
By using social media and community groups, the campaign has gained reasonable momentum. Around 20,000 leaflets have been ordered from their website in the first week by people looking to join the campaign. The group estimates that 1 million people could withhold £1.4 billion from energy company purses through the Winter. Those who sign up will not be asked to publicly state their refusal to pay but simply their approximate location to show the scale of the potential strike.
What are the risks for consumers?
Taking part in the campaign does potentially involve a high degree of risk.
Those on prepayment meters are discouraged as they will be disconnected before their credit runs out, suppliers will usually contact consumers if they have not paid their bill after 28 days. The company must then give them the opportunity to clear the debt through a payment plan.
If consumers then refuse to sign up to a plan they can be forced to move to a prepayment meter, meaning you can’t use energy without paying. In extreme circumstances suppliers may disconnect customers by obtaining a court warrant or cut them off remotely if they have a smart meter. Vulnerable people or those over the state pension age cannot be disconnected during Winter, however. If energy bills are included within rent and the rent is not paid, landlords may move to evict the tenant.
Customer Billing – Will I Be Affected?
As already mentioned, energy costs are spiralling – and the price rises are affecting all of us. For UK energy customers it is difficult to say how your bills will be affected due to the serious volatility in the energy markets. It is important to remember that energy prices as a whole are rising, and this will be passed onto consumers through energy bills, making it something to keep a close eye on.
Different suppliers will feel the pinch in different ways so it is crucial to be aware of the current situation your energy supplier finds themselves in. It is possible to view up to date supplier profiles with any recent changes for all of the energy suppliers in the UK, here.
At a time where bills look set to rise due to market volatility, it is also a good idea to ensure that you are not being overcharged for any of your utilities. It can be a tricky task to navigate but there are free online tools to remove the hassle available.
You can find a free online Gas Bill Calculator to see if you are being overcharged, here.
You can find a free online Electricity Bill Calculator to see if you are being overcharged, here.
Energy Solutions by Us, for You
At a time of great uncertainty in global energy markets, it is easy to feel lost in it all.
Keeping up to date with developing situations and the associated ramifications is a tricky and time-consuming job. It is also one that is not likely a priority for you and your business.
So, what do you do?
You partner with energy procurement experts to take the load off of your desk.
Energy Solutions have been trusted brokers for countless businesses for over twenty years, which means we know how to navigate the energy markets during a time of uncertainty.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you and your business
Website: https://www.energybrokers.co.uk/
Contact Us: Click Here
Email: nick@energybrokers.co.uk
Call Us: 0131 610 1688
WhatsApp: 07757 400 788