People have expressed disbelief and fear after Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis warned gas and electricity direct debits would skyrocket by 65% in September. The financial journalist addressed a stark warning to the UK Government ahead of a "bleak" winter, stating that he needed to warn the Conservative Party leadership candidates of just how bad things are ahead of a new appointment in September.
In the ten-minute video, he said people needed to be aware in order to take preventative measures where possible. "The winter coming is going to be bleak. I believe unless action is taken, we are facing a potential national financial cataclysm. As individuals, you need to be aware of that so you can take, if possible (and to be honest, it's not always possible), preventative action yourself.
"Yet more so, the Conservative Party leadership candidates, one of whom will soon become our Prime Minister, need to know how stark things will be on the day they take office. So far, the debate seems to have mostly ignored the fact we are sitting on a financial time bomb that's due to explode in September. And those candidates, in truth, are the only ones with a chance of defusing that catastrophe."
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Using analysis from Cornwall Insight, Martin Lewis revealed that "predictions are frightening" for energy bills. He said the "awful, sickening news is that it's now predicted to rise 65% again" by October. In Facebook comments under WalesOnline's article, Liz Gill wrote: "It’s a joke to think after a 10 hour shift at work you can’t come home to some where warm put the kettle on because you can’t afford to… I just think what’s the point in life to have to live this way."
Other users revealed their energy prices had already soared. "Yep, mine has gone up to £154 from £94," said Joe O'Shaughnessy. Meanwhile Les White WROTE: "This can’t be true surely. Mine's gone up to £252 now. If it goes up another 65% that’s £415 a month."
Christine Humphreys said her electric bill had gone up from £50 to £75, and has just gone up to £120 a month. A 65% increase would mean she would be paying £198 a month. "I hardly use any, so I really feel for families that need to!" she wrote.
Others vowed to stop paying in protest. Sam Bourne wrote: "I suggest people just bring the country to a stop. Enough is enough." Jo Mackay echoed him, writing: "Well when this happens let's all stop our payments until its sorted."
Tim David said: "No they won't, not in my house, if they try that I'll cancel the direct debit and pay as I go. About time the utilities were nationalised again and made not for profit, not for bonuses and not for shareholders. It's scandalous that a lot of people are hugely profiteering from the customers' hardships and hard earned coin."
"Well they won't because none of us will be a to afford it, will we?" Jane Jones pointed out. Others called for energy providers to remove the standing charge, a fixed daily amount added to most gas and electricity bills that must be paid regardless of how much energy is used.
Susan Welsh wrote: "If they ditched the standing charge and VAT we could have a chance. Since when has keeping warm and keeping clean been a luxury?" Allan Morgan said: "They should get rid of the standing charge. Before I switch a light on or spark the gas, I have to find over £25 just for the pleasure of them being my energy supplier, that's before any used power is added."
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