Push back against the cost-of-living crisis
If you were to ask for a pay rise of 54% what would your employer say?
The answer would be a clear 'NO', so why are you tolerating a 54% (average) increase in utility bills.
Do you think your wages or financial support is going to increase by this amount anytime soon?
How are you going to pay the higher price, with other costs increasing also?
Do you think that the utility companies going to lower their prices anytime soon?
This is not a temporary measure and if widely accepted the prices will not be lowered.
This is not only an attack on individuals within households this is also attack on the whole economy. As households will struggle to find the money to go out and enjoy leisure and social events, businesses up and down the country will be left with less footfall, short of income and with higher price bills to pay. With staff struggling to attend work due to their own living costs and fuel price increases. The knock-on effect of this will lead to a market crash with high unemployment, depression, increasing crime and ultimately suicides. It will get very dark if we stand by and let it happen.
In 1991 Gerald Ratner (Ratners Jewllery) gave a speech, in which is claimed the items he was selling was 'total crap' - his business, as strong high street name at the time, went into freefall and ultimately went bust in a very short period of time. That is the power of the people. Something that has been forgotten, substituted for the feeling of hopelessness against the corporate machine.
We have a choice. Be dictated to or step up to the negotiation table. They need us more than we need them and all we need to do is show it.
In the first week of March 2022, the MPs voted to give themselves a pay rise that would equate to £2,200. Interestingly the upper limit price cap on energy is £1,971 per year, £2,017 for prepay. Meaning their pay rise covers the cost of their energy… were you given that level of pay rise in work?
The government have offered everyone £200 to help, this simply doesn’t touch the sides and needs to be paid back, whether you take up the money or not. Adding further debt to a situation that’s escalating.
So what can we do? Welcome to The Great Switch Off. This is a call to action for everyone in the UK.
In simple steps, here is how we show the people have the power and enough is enough:
1. Email your Gas & Electric provider with the template email (Template can be found in the comments). Giving them notice you do not consent to the price increase.
2. Then you wait for a response. Any response has to be reasonable, or we stand our ground.
3. If no response is given by the 30th/31st March 2022 then cancel the direct debt/withhold payment until the complaint is resolved (as outlined in the template email)
4. Keep the money you are prepared to pay to one side each month, as this would need to be paid on resolution.
If we stand together and there is enough of us, then they will be made to take notice.
You are not refusing to pay; you are simply not agreeing to pay the extortionate rate they are hiking it up to and until the matter is agreed with gaining a fair price, then they do not receive any payment. With enough of the public involved it would hinder their business operations and they would need to find a resolution and quicky. Ideally the threat and volume of people that take this action, would make them act sooner rather than later. Be advised that they will try and tell you that you need to pay by direct debit or that it will cost more without a direct debit. Neither of these are the case and they can remove any charges as they wish and until an agreed price is negotiated, you are not on a tariff that charges anything for not having a direct debit.
As the cost-of-living crisis ramps up the same action can be applied to other services/taxes. However, I would hope they would not even try, once they see we are not prepared to be taken advantage of.
Enough is enough…. NOW!!
Template Email in comments.
If you were to ask for a pay rise of 54% what would your employer say?
The answer would be a clear 'NO', so why are you tolerating a 54% (average) increase in utility bills.
Do you think your wages or financial support is going to increase by this amount anytime soon?
How are you going to pay the higher price, with other costs increasing also?
Do you think that the utility companies going to lower their prices anytime soon?
This is not a temporary measure and if widely accepted the prices will not be lowered.
This is not only an attack on individuals within households this is also attack on the whole economy. As households will struggle to find the money to go out and enjoy leisure and social events, businesses up and down the country will be left with less footfall, short of income and with higher price bills to pay. With staff struggling to attend work due to their own living costs and fuel price increases. The knock-on effect of this will lead to a market crash with high unemployment, depression, increasing crime and ultimately suicides. It will get very dark if we stand by and let it happen.
In 1991 Gerald Ratner (Ratners Jewllery) gave a speech, in which is claimed the items he was selling was 'total crap' - his business, as strong high street name at the time, went into freefall and ultimately went bust in a very short period of time. That is the power of the people. Something that has been forgotten, substituted for the feeling of hopelessness against the corporate machine.
We have a choice. Be dictated to or step up to the negotiation table. They need us more than we need them and all we need to do is show it.
In the first week of March 2022, the MPs voted to give themselves a pay rise that would equate to £2,200. Interestingly the upper limit price cap on energy is £1,971 per year, £2,017 for prepay. Meaning their pay rise covers the cost of their energy… were you given that level of pay rise in work?
The government have offered everyone £200 to help, this simply doesn’t touch the sides and needs to be paid back, whether you take up the money or not. Adding further debt to a situation that’s escalating.
So what can we do? Welcome to The Great Switch Off. This is a call to action for everyone in the UK.
In simple steps, here is how we show the people have the power and enough is enough:
1. Email your Gas & Electric provider with the template email (Template can be found in the comments). Giving them notice you do not consent to the price increase.
2. Then you wait for a response. Any response has to be reasonable, or we stand our ground.
3. If no response is given by the 30th/31st March 2022 then cancel the direct debt/withhold payment until the complaint is resolved (as outlined in the template email)
4. Keep the money you are prepared to pay to one side each month, as this would need to be paid on resolution.
If we stand together and there is enough of us, then they will be made to take notice.
You are not refusing to pay; you are simply not agreeing to pay the extortionate rate they are hiking it up to and until the matter is agreed with gaining a fair price, then they do not receive any payment. With enough of the public involved it would hinder their business operations and they would need to find a resolution and quicky. Ideally the threat and volume of people that take this action, would make them act sooner rather than later. Be advised that they will try and tell you that you need to pay by direct debit or that it will cost more without a direct debit. Neither of these are the case and they can remove any charges as they wish and until an agreed price is negotiated, you are not on a tariff that charges anything for not having a direct debit.
As the cost-of-living crisis ramps up the same action can be applied to other services/taxes. However, I would hope they would not even try, once they see we are not prepared to be taken advantage of.
Enough is enough…. NOW!!
Template Email in comments.
20 comments
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Account number(s): xxxxxx and xxxxxx
Given the increase in prices to gas and electric planned in April 2022, in law no contract can exist without agreement and I cannot agree to these terms and lawfully notify you that I do not consent to the price rise. I hereby reject your offer of new rates.
I am happy however, to agree to a reduced fee and my terms are as follows:- discount for me as a loyal customer or continue to pay the same rate as before and prices will freeze until your supply increases or reduced rate for one year.
As your company has made vast profits each year, awarding bonuses to the top tier staff and the volume of green energy created, amongst other initiatives that should have reduced costs, making a saving that could have been passed on to the customer. I find it hard to believe that most people need to see a 54% (average) price increase.
I feel that the proposed increase does not reflect value for money and is an assault on your customers, given that we are currently in a cost-of-living crisis. People should not have to choose between the need to heat or eat. The results of this increase will be devastating for households and the economy. As the supplier that is setting the price, the responsibility falls upon you to act responsibly. In the event you aren’t able to apply good responsible business ethics, that put the customer at the front of all business decisions, then maybe you should consider your position in the market place.
Kind Regards
British Gas - Iain Conn Chief Executive Officer
EDF Energy - Simone Rossi Chief Executive Officer
EON - Leonhard Birnbaum Chief Executive Officer
Npower - Paul Coffey Chief Executive Officer
Scottish Power - Keith Anderson Chief Executive Officer
SSE - Alistair Phillips-Davies Chief Executive Officer
You can either search for their direct emails or send it to the complaints or accounts department.
Send off a letter stating you aren’t paying and withhold your money until they lower the price..
OR
Remove “their” meters and replace with our own?
I’m confused. 🤔🙃