The Don’t Pay UK movement began to gain relevance in the United Kingdom with an unusual campaign, whose sole objective is to express disagreement with the rate increase in the country. Joining the group is simple: the only exclusionary requirement that must be fulfilled is to refuse to pay the bill.
From the British group they believe that this is the only way to obtain a reduction in the values that British citizens must face monthly. So far, and according to The Guardian, the new trend has garnered more than 90,000 followers. But still it is not enough.
On their official website, the main organizers consider that a setback in terms of cost will only be achieved if they get a million people to join their “massive strike”. There is still time until next October 1, when the regulatory body increases the energy price cap.
Mass default is not a new idea. It took place in the United Kingdom itself at the end of the 1980s and 1990s, when more than 17 million people refused to pay the Poll Tax or community tax, a tax that had no apparent reason to exist but that everyone They had to pay the same.
“Even if a fraction of those of us who are paying by direct debit stop paying, it will be enough to put energy companies in serious trouble. We want to force them to end this crisis. That’s how we think we can get there. It is the only way”, they consider from Don’t Pay UK.
The economic and social situation, according to analysts consulted by the British media, is “worrying”. The average domestic bill paid by English households is forecast to rise to £3,300 a year, up from £1,971 in April.
All of this is happening against the backdrop of a major cost-of-living crisis facing Britain. Citizens Advice, an independent organization that helps people with all kinds of consumer debt, also found the scale of the problem truly significant.
He revealed that he had supported more people who were unable to recharge their prepaid meter in June than in January 2022. And he explained that the existence of a record number of users of his service who lack funds to buy a refrigerator or even an oven for cook food.
The serious consequences of not paying the bill
Gas and electricity bills are classified as priority, which means that there can be serious consequences for missing or late payment, warned from the Stepchange organization. If people don’t pay them, the provider can collect the debt through a debt collection agency.
They can also get a court order to enter people’s homes to place a prepaid card meter. “In the event of any delay, a fixed amount will be added to the meter and deducted each week, so the collection will be made more frequently,” they anticipated.
“The supplier can also remove the meter and cut off your supply, but luckily this doesn’t happen often,” said Richard Lane, Stepchange’s director of external affairs. However, he did slip in some advice: “If you’re behind on your payment and you’re worried about how to pay, it’s important that you don’t wait to get help.”
“What you have to do first of all is contact the representatives of the regulated entity to inform them that you are having difficulties. I may be able to offer you support and tell you about available grants to pay a utility bill or negotiate an affordable payment plan,” he noted.
The only exceptions for which the company in charge of electricity and gas could not cut off your supply, however, and even if they wanted to, are those people who suffer from an illness and/or disability who are at risk if they do not have the supply.