Given the first BBC article about the inadequacies of Manx Gas was posted in January 2023, questions have to be asked as to why the OFT have yet to take full and firm action after over 300 complaints and counting.
If not now, then when?
In light of the recent controversy, several questions have been raised regarding the decision of the Isle of Man's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) not to take action against Manx Gas, despite receiving 300 complaints from island residents. Given the ratio of this to the island population, this tally of grievances is extraordinarily high and adds weight to a sense of growing unrest within the community.
To put it into perspective, the UK OFT received around 50,000 complaints related to PPI, and by 2011, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) received a record-breaking 2.2 million PPI complaints. 300 of 80,000 people would ratio to over 250,000 complains in the UK. Would that be enough for the now Competition and Markets Authority to take action do you think?
You Can't Spell Nepotism without I, O and M...
One possible thought is a clear attempt to placate and deflect complains by mitigating them for Manx Gas instead majorly favours one party. Tipping off in any other sector, if you will.
It also reduces headaches for an OFT, like such a headache where a long and length legal battle that represents 300 island residences will undoubtably raise significant questions on both sides as to why action wasn't taken much, much sooner.
This would also mean any 'friends in the department' would be forced into disclosing relationships they'd also rather left in the dark for reasons we can only speculate on.
You Also Can't Spell Ineptitude withou... oh wait, that doesn't work...
Occams Razor however suggests an accompanying perspective; one that considers the possibility of ineptitude within the OFT. Critics argue that the agency's failure to act indicates either a lack of knowledge or inability to efficiently perform its duties. With such a high number of complaints, the situation certainly appears to require some form of intervention, and the absence of it raises questions about the OFT's efficiency and the effectiveness of its complaints-handling process.
The lack of action against Manx Gas, for whatever reasons, certainly threatens to undermine public faith in the OFT and other public agencies, as residents perceive a lack of equity and fairness. For a body that is designed to protect the interests and rights of consumers, this could be a significant problem.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, it’s essential to take into account other factors that might be influencing the situation. The ongoing legal, procedural, and operational considerations can also play a part in the OFT's reluctance to intervene. Such factors could tie the hands of the agency, despite the public outcry.
As it stands, the situation calls for further inquiry and transparency. The Isle of Man's OFT needs to offer a credible explanation for its inaction, to restore faith in their operations and the overall fairness of the governance structures on the Isle.