The Smart Meter Con

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Paul

Seems someone has finally noticed.

They last bit is irritating, I already told them (last year) that I dont want a smart meter.

I know mine is aging, and its almost ready to loop around again (from 99999 > 00000) which Im sure will cause issues, but I'm not in any hurry to swap it yet.

I'll just ignore this for now I think and see what happens.
Another company tried this a few years ago, even sent me a letter with a proposed install date, which I ignored. No one ever turned up.

I’ve been ignoring various suppliers for years, despite signing up to tariffs that claim I’ve “agreed” to have a smart meter installed I’ve ignored the letters/emails and when they’ve rung me up I’ve said the available times for installation don’t suit.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Paul

Seems someone has finally noticed.



They last bit is irritating, I already told them (last year) that I dont want a smart meter.

I know mine is aging, and its almost ready to loop around again (from 99999 > 00000) which Im sure will cause issues, but I'm not in any hurry to swap it yet.

I'll just ignore this for now I think and see what happens.
Another company tried this a few years ago, even sent me a letter with a proposed install date, which I ignored. No one ever turned up.

I’ve been ignoring Shell’s constant texts and emails too.

[nomadking]

You don't get any choice over having a Smart Water meter installed.
Can now see my water usage by the half-hour.

[SnoopZ]

I used to get monthly emails with Bulb about getting a smart meter installed then they sent this email and I've heard nothing since.

What would you like to do?
Hi ********

We’ve sent you a few messages about smart meters recently, but we haven’t heard back. So we’re checking in to see what you’d like to do:

Book your installation
Choose the best time and we’ll book your appointment.

Stop these Messages
If you don’t want a smart meter, or now isn’t a good time, tell us and we’ll stop asking.

Since February I've heard nothing from them.

[techguyone]

I'm lucky enough to live in a shitty mobile signal area so the thing can't phone home, so my installation was cancelled, I've come to the realisation that this is probably for the best.

[Taf]

A rising number of households are having their energy smart meters remotely switched to prepayment meters, the energy regulator has said.

Energy firms use the technology to swap customers who are in debt to the more costly plan without needing a warrant.

Ofgem said it had received reports of "vulnerable customers being left without power for days or even weeks".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63554879

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by techguyone

I'm lucky enough to live in a shitty mobile signal area so the thing can't phone home, so my installation was cancelled, I've come to the realisation that this is probably for the best.

Yes better than you realise mate!!

Good for you

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by techguyone

I'm lucky enough to live in a shitty mobile signal area so the thing can't phone home, so my installation was cancelled, I've come to the realisation that this is probably for the best.

Why? Are you planning on not paying your bills?

[techguyone]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Why? Are you planning on not paying your bills?

Not at all, but I'm seeing no benefit and lots of real and potential issues later on, so I'll just keep as I am thanks.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by techguyone

Not at all, but I'm seeing no benefit and lots of real and potential issues later on, so I'll just keep as I am thanks.

Yep - that's the one. Let's say you're put onto pre-payment by mistake. Or they cut you off by mistake.

[Kursk]

"Trojan Horse that could pull down the whole grid"

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tics-fear.html

Don't want a smart meter anyway.

[GrimUpNorth]

Just had a chap from Scottish Power tell me one of the benefits of having a smart meter is it'll give off less radiation than my current meter . He also told me I must have one because it's the law and it's all to do with the banning of petrol and diesel engines and that Scottish Power are a big company and wouldn't lie to customers. He also said I wouldn't be able to drive in Glasgow soon unless I had an electric car.

I told him I didn't want one, I don't have to have one and him saying I must have one is wrong and dishonest. When it comes to Scottish Power not lying to customers I suggested he Googled the £8.5 million fine they got a few years ago for mis-selling. Also, having been involved in planty of behind the scenes work on Low Emission Zones I offered him the truth about the upcoming changes in Glasgow, but he told me he lived there so knew what he was talking about. I said it was a shame his knowledge on the changes to driving in Glasgow was as poor as his facts about smart meters.

I asked to speak to his manger because I felt he was trying to scare me in to getting one and he put the phone down.

Feel a bit guilty now because he only sounded a young lad and I could tell he was nervous, but he shouldn't be allowed to ring people up and try to bully them however much they laugh at his outlandish claims.

To be fair, I’ve yet to meet anyone in Glasgow who knows exactly what the Low Emission Zone means. It doesn’t help that their online checker is extremely vague (‘your car may not qualify’ is the best it will say. Somehow I suspect the computer that issues the fines won’t act all coy when spitting out its tickets).

As it happens, I’m sure my 10 year old diesel Berlingo doesn’t qualify, while my 5 year old petrol Panda does. Neither are electric, obvs. Your nuisance caller was talking out of his bahookie on all points.

[Taf]

Welsh Water has is going for a big push to fit Smart Water Meters to ALL customer's supplies.

They say it will "help" households use less water and save money. But once the majority have them, I bet the unit rate will rise to return income to previous levels. And then the annual increases will surge I bet.

[Chrysalis]

Even Martin is telling people now the only non SVR tariff worth considering is Octopus agile (although the normal trackers are also good).

My smart meter has saved me a ton of money, but I still see often people not wanting them.