According to a Direct Line business insurance survey, 43% of electricians and gas engineers have been asked to tamper with their customers’ meters.
This is a serious issue, as tampering with meters is illegal and can have serious consequences.
Don’t mess with your gas meter!
There are a number of reasons why people might ask tradespeople to tamper with their meters. Some people may be trying to avoid paying their energy bills, while others may be trying to make their homes more energy-efficient. However, tampering with meters is never the right solution.
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, there are a number of resources available to help you. You can contact your energy supplier to see if they offer any payment plans or discounts. You can also contact your local council or Citizens Advice Bureau for help.
If you are looking to make your home more energy-efficient, there are a number of things you can do. You can install insulation, weatherproof your home, and switch to energy-efficient appliances. You can also make small changes to your lifestyle, such as turning off lights when you leave a room and unplugging appliances when they are not in use.
Don’t tamper with your gas meter!
Tampering with meters is a serious offense that can have serious consequences. If you are asked to tamper with a meter, you should refuse. There are a number of resources available to help you if you are struggling to pay your energy bills or make your home more energy-efficient.
Here are some of the consequences of tampering with meters:
- Fines: Tampering with meters is a criminal offense, and you could face a fine of up to £30,000.
- Prison sentence: In some cases, tampering with meters could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
- Blacklisting: If you are caught tampering with meters, you could be blacklisted by energy suppliers. This means that you may not be able to get a new energy contract.
- Damage to your property: Tampering with meters could damage your property. For example, if you tamper with an electricity meter, you could risk a fire.
- Risk to your health: Tampering with meters could pose a risk to your health. For example, if you tamper with a gas meter, you could risk carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you are asked to tamper with a meter, you should refuse. There are a number of resources available to help you if you are struggling to pay your energy bills or make your home more energy-efficient.
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