Wobblers
Member
Sorry, I realise that might not be the best advice for everyone. Indeed, the Don't Pay plan depends on timing - if you are going to cancel, I guess you might as well time it right and be part of the collective action. I've never paid by DD - I'm aware there's a discount (£2.50 per month on dual fuel from my supplier), but I regard it as more of a bribe - it's got to be worth more to them than they are conceding. Someone more across the numbers than I am might be able to figure out how nicely the suppliers are doing by sitting on customer credit balances from deliberately overestimated DDs. I get my bills mid-month for some reason and quite enjoy the fortnight of ignoring calls from the supplier until payday.
I don't think that following Don't Pay's advice is a terribly good idea. The problem is that, unlike what they're claiming, the big oil companies don't need our custom: the UK's a rather small market on the global scale, and they've plenty of people who'll buy the gas off them if we don't. Don't Pay won't affect their profits one jot - merely ensure you end up shivering in the darkness.
What would work would be a windfall tax on the energy companies, and using the proceeds to target help on the poorest households. A mass campaign to get homes insulated up to a reasonable standard would also be useful for the future - it's far too late to make any difference for the looming winter. It's verging on scandalous that so many billions have been squandered on smart meters (which do very little if anything to reduce demand) instead of insulating houses which would have made a very big difference to the poorest and most vulnerable - who are the most likely to unfortunate enough to occupy the worst, poorly insulated homes.