An initiative has been launched in the United Kingdom to combat rising energy prices: the “Don’t Pay UK” campaign calls on households not to pay their energy bills – unless the government does so before 1 October against inflation.
“Don’t pay, Great Britain” is the campaign’s translated motto. The initiators denounce the sharp increase in the cost of living. Experts predict that the average household bill of £1,971 will rise to more than £3,300 a year in April, The Guardian reported.
“We are calling for a reduction in energy bills to an affordable level,” the initiative’s website reads. “Our bargaining chip is that we get a million people together who will promise not to pay if the government makes another massive hike on October 1.
“We want to force them to avoid this crisis”
Even if just a fraction of consumers who pay by direct debit stopped paying, that would be enough to put energy companies in serious trouble, the campaign initiators hope. “We want to bring them together and force them to end this crisis,” the website reads.
Government: highly irresponsible message
More than 90,000 people have already joined the initiative, according to organizers. The British government is, of course, not very enthusiastic about the move. “This is a highly irresponsible message that will ultimately only drive up prices for everyone and damage personal creditworthiness,” a government spokesman told the Independent newspaper.
Charities also warn that if you refuse to pay your utility bill, you will only hurt yourself. The NGO Stepchange warns that those who fail to pay their electricity or gas bills could be approached by a collection agency to collect the debt.
It is also possible to install a metering device, where you will have to pay for the energy supply in advance – a prepaid model. “Your supplier can also remove the meter and take out your delivery, but luckily this is incredibly rare,” explains Richard Lane of Stepchange. If you have problems paying your bills, you should inform your provider in good time so that you can agree a payment arrangement.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
