paris10:

I thought what I witnessed was just a sort of misinterpretation on my part. But few days later, the same thing happened again!

I visited a friend in the London area at about 8pm and was gladly received. But as soon as I sat down, I noticed the lights were switched off and I couldn't even see the beauty of the house I visited. My friend, his wife and child were seated opposite to me and i couldn't even see them  if not for the television that keeps illuminating and reflecting to their faces once in a while. My friend is financially ok and I couldn't conclude that he did that to save himself some money.

Few days later before travelling back to the states, I went to the same house to finalize some biz, to my disbelieve, same bullshyt happened again! I kept quite 'cause i didn't want to upset him. I thought maybe that was just him.

months later, I attended a birthday party of a female friend in London and something similar happened again. I said no, not in a party. It was a house party which was graced by almost 30 people. I got there around 9pm (late) and noticed people were dancing, but in the almost dark! I called the celebrant and asked, her response was ' Mummy switched off the light because she doesn't want to incur bills', I almost fainted and couldn't believed what I just heard.

I visited her again before leaving.And on this occasion, the mum asked me to switch off the light behind me before seating down (yeah, it was at night as well!). I called a friend and told him about my experience. His response was that it happens in most Nigerian's home in the UK. I was like na by force. Even in Nigeria that things are hard, you don't see people switching off lights whenever they've got visitors!.

Don't get me wrong, I do understand how difficult it is for some, but doing it to the extreme is just too mean. Of course I switch off all lights when I don't have visitors or friends around. People are just too stingy in England, even to themselves. However, every weekend, you'll see them all dressed in new clothes, jewellery, shoes and so on, where the money coming from?

paris10:

I thought what I witnessed was just a sort of misinterpretation on my part. But few days later, the same thing happened again!

I visited a friend in the London area at about 8pm and was gladly received. But as soon as I sat down, I noticed the lights were switched off and I couldn't even see the beauty of the house I visited. My friend, his wife and child were seated opposite to me and i couldn't even see them  if not for the television that keeps illuminating and reflecting to their faces once in a while. My friend is financially ok and I couldn't conclude that he did that to save himself some money.

Few days later before travelling back to the states, I went to the same house to finalize some biz, to my disbelieve, same bullshyt happened again! I kept quite 'cause i didn't want to upset him. I thought maybe that was just him.

months later, I attended a birthday party of a female friend in London and something similar happened again. I said no, not in a party. It was a house party which was graced by almost 30 people. I got there around 9pm (late) and noticed people were dancing, but in the almost dark! I called the celebrant and asked, her response was ' Mummy switched off the light because she doesn't want to incur bills', I almost fainted and couldn't believed what I just heard.

I visited her again before leaving.And on this occasion, the mum asked me to switch off the light behind me before seating down (yeah, it was at night as well!). I called a friend and told him about my experience. His response was that it happens in most Nigerian's home in the UK. I was like na by force. Even in Nigeria that things are hard, you don't see people switching off lights whenever they've got visitors!.

Don't get me wrong, I do understand how difficult it is for some, but doing it to the extreme is just too mean. Of course I switch off all lights when I don't have visitors or friends around. People are just too stingy in England, even to themselves. However, every weekend, you'll see them all dressed in new clothes, jewellery, shoes and so on, where the money coming from?

Vicjustice:

   I almost wanted to dispute this with you, but then i remember one incident that occurred with a childhood friend that i visited in Norwich some time ago, and i remember how he preferred to sit in darkness and watch his TV, i remember warning him of the risk and effect such light could impact in your his eyes; i also remember thinking that the room would have been real dark if not for the glowing light from the TV. Could this really be that he was avoiding the electricity bill or was it just by coincident?

claremont:

This is where you are wrong. Don't blame the people, you should blame the soaring bills and tax regime prevalent in England afterall who no like better thing before

omega25red:

@ topic

so how much is the average electric bill in the u.k?

here in yankee in the summer months you pay from $120 and up due to the air condition etc in the winter it's like between $45-$80

AjanleKoko:

Maybe most Naijas in Limey are fans of Nelly Furtado

AjanleKoko:

Maybe most Naijas in Limey are fans of Nelly Furtado

shawonlese:

I notice this happens mostly in london rather than other cities. 

werepeLeri:

Bros - no be stinginess - or whatever you call it. Even if you dey the same situation - u go just cut the whole light off begin use candle or lantern.

You think say he easy to pay bills in the UK?

AjanleKoko:

Maybe most Naijas in Limey are fans of Nelly Furtado

omanzo02:

What is so special with electricity bill in UK than other European countries?. stop being siilly man.  

nolongtin:

@ coogar,i dont think your right on dis, way back wen i was renting a 2room aprtmt i pay montly 50 pounds on electric,now i gat a 5 bed apart ,i now use pay as u go and still pay same.i was thinking it will be higher cus i gat more rooms but, and again you look @ the service provider, some are more expensive.

coogar:

you can use £10 monthly on pay-as-you-go in a 20 bedroom apartment if you want to. the control is with you and if you use your electricity miserly, it can be achieved. what i am saying here is you must have conditioned yourself in the 5-bedroom apartment not to spend more than £50 a month.
my problem with pay-as-you-go is. . . . .what if your light goes off at 1 am on a cold snowy night in february? you will just die of hypothermia because you are saving money?

beknown:

@Poster,

Electricity, Gas and Water bills in the UK is not a matter of joke. However, switching off light when you really need it is not sensible.

People should learn to switch off light when it is not required.

A recent article in CastlesWeekly is interesting and will be useful for people who like to save on electricity:
http://www.castlesweekly.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=1575

Three bedroom family house in the UK pay an average of:
- £60 on electricity per month
- £60 on gas per month
- £40 on water per month

denzel2009:

Lol, the providers know this would happen that is why all prepaid electric keys have emergency top up. If the light goes off, you just re-insert the key and it gives you an extra 3 days worth of electricity.

debest1:

At the end of the day it's his house and he needs to manage his resources as best as he can. Come month end are you going to help him pay his bills? if you are not happy with his[b] "pana pana" [/b]tactics them next time visit him during the daytime.

See as i dey scatter laugh for hia