[XL5]

So to get a new fixed rate offer eon next among others are saying you have to have a smart meter...
For those who do not wish to have one ..and your within your rights to refuse you are being discriminated against...surely this is not right!

[JoeSoap]

@XL5

It's your choice.

[XL5]

@JoeSoap
I had a smart meter at a previous address, it was faulty and kept taking amounts out of my bank account that cost me a considerable amount in bank charges....my supplier totally ignored the fact...even having previous readings before the meter was fitted to refer to...just didn't care.
It has been on BBC news this morning about how poor the customer service is and how people have been at their wits end!

[WizzyWigg]

The government would like all to have smart meters. Fixed rate tariff offers are a form of incentive to agree to have them fitted.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...0all%20tariffs.

[XL5]

There is absolutely no reason why those without smart meters should be denied the fix rate offers.
It is basically blackmail..if you don't accept our smart meter you will not get the preferred tariff.

[WizzyWigg]

Originally Posted by XL5

There is absolutely no reason why those without smart meters should be denied the fix rate offers.
It is basically blackmail..if you don't accept our smart meter you will not get the preferred tariff.

Sorry not blackmail as no one is forcing you to take up the offer. Also no discrimination as the offer and it's criteria for acceptance is open to everyone, if they wish to take it up. It's exactly the same with any offer. Not all offers suit everyone and the choice is yours to whether it's of benefit.

[meldrewreborn]

@XL5

I agree that tying a fixed rate offer to the installation of a smart meter is ethically unacceptable.

However, if you sign up you just keep ignoring the invitations to have one installed. The suppliers have plenty of other people's homes to install meters at and there seems to be no interchange between the billing department and the smart meter team about refuseniks.

There is also the widely reported fact (reported here on the forum last week but the media have woken up to the fact today) that there are some 3.9M smart meters operating in traditional mode - i.e. they are recording usage (as a traditional meter did) but are not getting that data to the supplier. There is over a years worth of work for the installers just to get those meters functioning.

So my advice just sign up and then drag your heels about the smart meter. and that long covid tends to keep them away too.

We've been told that tampering with the equipment to stop the transmission of data is illegal (but how would they find out?) although I'm certain some sort of shielding around the meter could prevent data transmission if you went about it correctly.

This is what happens when we as a society are not prepared to recognise individuals right to be different.

[JoeSoap]

Originally Posted by XL5

@JoeSoap
I had a smart meter at a previous address, it was faulty and kept taking amounts out of my bank account that cost me a considerable amount in bank charges....my supplier totally ignored the fact...even having previous readings before the meter was fitted to refer to...just didn't care.
It has been on BBC news this morning about how poor the customer service is and how people have been at their wits end!

I understand that you don't want smart meters due to a bad experience but it wasn't the smart meter taking taking the money from your bank account. The bills are produced from the readings pulled from it. Any type of meter can be faulty. If you had a faulty standard meter then that too could lead to higher payments being taken, but you would then have been given notice your DD was changing (unless you had a variable DD set up). You could of course have chosen not pay by DD so as to keep full control of payments but that would also mean you would pay more for your energy.

I'm afraid I still think it's a matter of choice.

[XL5]

@meldrewreborn
thanks for that mate 😉