Prepayment Meters Force-Fitting, #DontPayUK Newcastle, & How to Stop Bailiffs
Community organizing during the cost-of-living crisis
Cost of Living and Debt Community Meeting
In September 2022, Food & Solidarity held a pivotal "Cost of Living and Debt" Community Meeting that set the stage for organizing against oppressive financial practices—particularly force-fitting of prepayment meters (PPMs) and aggressive debt collection by bailiffs. Drawing on lessons from the poll tax non-payment campaigns and utility strikes in Bolivia and South Africa, members heard about the #DontPayUK campaign and got an introduction to debt resistance.
The event emphasized grassroots direct action, debt education, and collective resistance. It was covered by Vice media, bringing wider attention to the work members were doing.
What the Meeting Covered:
- Food & Solidarity's principles, origins, and community actions
- Lessons from the poll tax non-payment campaign and its victory
- How people get into debt and why it's usually due to unpredictable changes in material conditions
- The #DontPayUK campaign and collective non-payment strategy
- Bailiff resistance workshops - what bailiffs can and cannot do
- International solidarity - connecting UK struggles with water activism in Bolivia
Prepayment Meter (PPM) Workshops
Energy companies were increasingly force-fitting vulnerable people onto PPMs—breaking the law—and trapping them in a cycle where energy becomes unaffordable. Well over 60% of Food & Solidarity members were on PPM, meaning that #DontPay was not an option for them. Responding to this, members organized PPM workshops across Newcastle, with the first at the end of September 2022.
Real Member Victory: British Gas Forced Entry
British Gas broke into one member's house while he was at work to force-fit a PPM. Members supported him in getting the meter removed and securing hundreds of pounds in compensation. The member was on the vulnerable customers register, and the debt wasn't even his—it belonged to a previous tenant.
These workshops educated participants on their rights regarding PPMs, many of which had been illegally fitted by utility companies. Members learned about forced fitting laws, how to protect themselves from these installations, and worked together to have meters removed.
The sessions were part of a broader effort that included #DontPayUK—activists from around the UK attended online PPM workshops. The combined effort led to a massive victory in March 2023, when the government removed the premium charged to PPM users and temporarily halted force-fitting of meters.
Bailiff Resistance Workshops
Simultaneously, members ran bailiff resistance workshops with the intention of building a community-wide group of people who would know their rights and be able to react at short notice. Notable events were held at:
- The Star and Shadow Cinema in January 2023
- The Lubber Fiend in February 2023
- Recovery College Collective (Recoco) in Spring 2023
- Riverside Health Project in Spring 2023
- Church halls in residential areas with targeted door-knocking
Workshop Focus:
- Legal rights when dealing with bailiffs
- How to prevent bailiffs from entering homes
- Resisting illegal actions by debt collectors
- Supporting neighbours facing bailiff action
- Organizing direct action and community mobilization
- Building long-term community defence networks
These sessions focused on educating participants about their legal rights and how to protect themselves and their communities from unlawful debt collection practices. The workshops emphasized the importance of solidarity, providing practical advice on how to support each other.
Key Victories & Community Empowerment
"Don't Pay' campaign and other direct action - A million customers cancelling their direct debits on 1 Oct means a c£265 million loss per month across the energy retail sector meaning a c£45m loss per month for E.ON alone... Can't pay or won't pay, this is existential for the sector and will result in further major supplier failures. What is the government & industry's response?" — E.ON internal presentation to government
These workshops were part of a larger effort to build a rapid-response team capable of protecting the community. By March 2023, Food & Solidarity had helped raise public awareness about the injustices of PPMs and bailiff actions, contributing to major legislative wins:
- Suspension of forced PPM installations by all major energy companies
- Removal of the PPM premium that charged vulnerable customers more
- Government intervention in regulating energy company enforcement practices
- Increased protections for vulnerable customers on company registers
This success demonstrated the power of collective action and direct resistance, empowering participants to take control of their situations while fighting back against systemic exploitation.
Leaked E.ON presentation showing energy companies' fear of Don't Pay UK and grassroots resistance
Bringing Down a Chancellor
In a broader context, the Don't Pay UK movement, with strong grassroots involvement, launched a mass campaign encouraging people not to pay energy bills in protest against rising costs. The energy crisis led millions to financial instability, with many unable to meet energy costs.
According to an E.ON presentation obtained through an FOI request, energy companies were aware of these growing movements, acknowledging the risk posed by campaigns like Don't Pay UK and Food & Solidarity promoting direct action and collective resistance.
The pressure from these movements contributed to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's downfall, as the government's fiscal policies failed to address growing discontent. Kwarteng's plan, including tax cuts for the wealthy, was at odds with the immediate financial struggles faced by many, exacerbating the situation.
What We Achieved Together
Food & Solidarity, Don't Pay UK, and the broader coalition of grassroots activists demonstrated the power of collective resistance. Success in organizing community efforts, training local leaders, and applying pressure on policymakers showcases the importance of solidarity in achieving tangible victories against systemic exploitation during the cost-of-living crisis.
Read more: How Don't Pay helped bring down Kwasi Kwarteng (Novara Media)
Want to Get Involved?
Members continue organizing around cost-of-living issues, bailiff resistance, and energy justice. Become a member to participate in workshops, support others facing these issues, and build collective power in Newcastle.