Don't Pay U.K. : Protesting Price Gouging and Profiteering

Inflation is skyrocketing worldwide in 2022 and ordinary households are forced to pay a new increased price for electricity, gas and solid fuels. These mark ups stand to push many working people into fuel poverty this winter, especially those already struggling to make ends meet.

Yet energy companies seem untouchable through this cost-of-living crisis as record dividends are paid out to shareholders and fat cat CEOs cash in on the unexpected profits of price gouging, passing any and all exorbitant costs down the economic rung to the consumer.  

One social campaign is resisting unaffordable energy prices and indefensible profiteering. Don’t Pay U.K. is a grassroots movement demanding fair prices for energy for all citizens and an end to excessive profiteering and government subsidies paid out from the public purse.

October 1^st, 2022 will see a series of national demonstrations, stoppages and actions to raise awareness of the campaign. Pivotal to the strike is a mass cancellation of energy company direct debits, an action Don’t Pay U.K. hope over a million people will take part in.    

Don’t Pay U.K. is not about not paying utility bills. It’s about withholding funds to voice dissatisfaction, it’s about mobilising, using strength in numbers to influence government policy. Its about standing up for the rights of customers and energy users against price gouging.

Non-payment of utilities is not a criminal offense. The chance of disconnection is remote, and the worst that could likely happen is a threat of a prepayment meter installation. Cancelling a direct debit doesn’t have to mean no payment, just not in the usual directly managed way.

Britain has form for mass non-payment action. 1990 saw a series of protests against the unpopular and prejudiced Poll Tax, a per-head fixed tax of £180 per annum. Some protests turned to riots. 17 million people refused to pay Poll Tax and the idea was overhauled.    

Losing 1 million direct debits in one day will greatly affect an energy companies’ forecasting and interfere with their stock price. If Don’t Pay U.K. has the desired effect, suppliers stand to lose £1.4 billion from their bottom line by 2023.

The government is employed by the taxpayer, not the other way around. Government should challenge big businesses, capping crazy bonuses and deluded dividends and collect appropriate taxes from multi million-pound corporations instead of facilitating unfair pricing of commodities.

When a government doesn’t work for the people, it doesn’t work.

Purposeful, peaceful and provoking protests like these might wake policy makers up and shake them into action.

As for the rapacious energy companies?

Time to hit them where it hurts.

Right on the bottom line.