Thinking of replacing Gas and Electric meters with your own to supposedly avoid bills. Here I talk about the truths and the myths.
There’s a lot of hype going on in the UK regarding people replacing their meters with ones they bought themselves. Obviously with a certified installer for safety (under “legal” regulations).
This is completely legal to do anywhere. UK and Republic of Ireland. Then you don’t have to pay a few of the charges.
Some Background:
The freemen in UK then decided to ask who was the supplier of their gas and electricity. In a supposed effort to pay the company directly.
Answers to this was not something the companies could provide. So they then decided to stop paying bills altogether, with various, justifications along the way. Obviously less legal depending on how you look at it.
It is coming to light that many people who spent money getting their meters replaced. Then refusing to pay their bills. Are now facing court and will likely lose. Resulting not only in large bills, but large penalties and legal costs too. All the freemen ideologies in the world wont save them. They have a contract which is legally binding unless broken or altered by the other side. The freemen of the UK are strategically hiding this information. Do your research carefully.
Myths and Truths:
As this progressed, people heard what they want to hear. As always, and what they heard was. If you get your meter replaced with one of your own. Then you don’t have to pay the bills.
The truth however is that you have a contract with your supplier. You have to pay or terminate the contract. You can get away with parts of it by replacing the meter. But they will make it difficult for you.
The parts you may be able to get away with are pretty much all charges but the units you use. These charges are quite small in comparison to the overall bill. So you’ll have to decide if it’s worth the cost of the meter and the labour. Then determine when you will see a return on that investment. In most cases it would be several years.
That’s on the meters and the bills.
Binding Contracts:
Contracts are not binding if they are not signed. This is important. The internet revolution started the craze…”By continuing to use xyz, you have accepted the T&C.” However this is completely false. Try doing it yourself with the no contract, no consent process. Then you’ll find out how binding it is in short order. In order to be bound by any contract. You must fully read, comprehend and agree to understand – stand under – be bound by it.
Did they send you an new contract with the increased prices? Did you sign and return it. If not, then send them a notice. Your terms are as valid as theirs. Alternatively use conditional acceptance. Chances are they wont respond. Which means they have implied consent (acceptance). Consider doing it 2 or max 3 times though. Then it’s legally binding.
That’s one way to reduce or remove your bill.
Complaints Process:
Another is for large groups of people to delay paying their bills. Delaying enough – 4, 6 10 billing cycles (2 or 3 years) and then agreeing to pay. Maybe doing it every 2nd or 3rd cycle.
There is also a whole complaints process you can go through that prevents them cutting you off. Meanwhile, it builds and builds. While you are in dispute they cannot terminate your contract. However you are still legally responsible to pay at some point. But this is an unsecured debt. But doing so delays their funding as well as costing them money. If it builds enough, then you can perhaps put the money towards renewables.
If you hold up the complaints process enough that it goes to the ombudsman, it also costs them €500. So if enough people do it, then it really hurts. So not only are they not getting their income on one side. But drag it out long enough and starts to cost them.
Doing this process, you might even be able to settle before going to the ombudsman for a much lesser amount. Then rinse and repeat. While you will have to pay something. It’s likely it wont be the full amount due.
The Cartel and its Unsecured Loans:
The reason I am opposed to Gas and Electricity is because they have no incentive to treat their customers well. There is an illegal cartel within them. You cannot move from one provider to another, while you still owe money to the previous provider. Using the above methods are your only effective recourses.
Practicing these bill non-payment ideas, is a great way to get practice at peaceful resistance and confrontation. Also with very little cost to you. Dealing with people on the phone and by mail can be very trying. You must at all times keep it respectful and non threatening or aggressive. Even if you do eventually pay, you delay payment for a while and upset their system. Obviously keep the money aside for payment in due course. However, it’s money you can invest in other things while waiting which may open other opportunities. Consider it an unsecured loan.
We are open to additional information from anyone on this and are, as always, still learning.