Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Utilita - smart meter frozen and switching to eon possibly

11 replies

Graphista · 26/09/2018 21:00

Been stuck with utilita since moving in here and I hate them!

They sent a message out via the smart meters last fri/sat, saying about some maintenance they were doing. Problem is the message won't clear from the screen for me to see my balance!

Finally got through to a person today (this is one of the reasons I hate being with them - it's murder getting through to any customer services).

Call handler told me "a few" people had the same problem - they were told to tell customers to turn off for min 3 hours and turn back off again and if it still didn't work to call back.

Asked to speak to a manager because she didn't even attempt to explain the problem and the reason for it occurring or how wide spread etc after putting me on hold for a couple of mins came back on and said manager 'too busy' and that she'd given as much explanation as she could (which was "sometimes tech goes wrong it's just a glitch" I kid you not!).

Anyway, refused to put me through to a manager and just kept repeating above phrase.

I said part of the reason I wanted to talk to manager is BECAUSE it's so bloody hard to get through!

So anyway, call ended and I turned the meter off for 4 hours, turned it back on, the balance screen without amounts flashed up then the exact same stuck message appeared and it still won't clear! Angry

So I will be trying to get through to customer services AGAIN tomorrow.

I want away from these clowns for this and many other reasons. Switching Calculators are saying best bet is eon BUT I can't find any information on IF it's possible to switch to them from utilita without a large fee or needing new equipment installed. So... Has anyone switched to eon from utilita? If so how did it go?

OP posts:
vivavivaviva · 27/09/2018 06:58

No, we haven't switched, but I'm here in solidarity as a fellow utilita hater. We tried to change to Scottish power soon after we moved in, and somehow the change got cancelled and we were never informed. Lots of faff with Scottish power but we eventually just gave up.

Need to attack it again really and get rid of them properly!

Graphista · 27/09/2018 13:31

They're a fucking pita! Been fined for preventing customers leaving still bad for it. Frankly I think they should be shut down!

OP posts:
Foxyloxy1plus1 · 27/09/2018 14:06

We had a smart meter from Ovo. It never worked at all. We’ve changed suppliers several times since and the wretched meter just sits in the cupboard.

Graphista · 27/09/2018 16:47

They're not getting the best reputation I know that. Lots of people online saying they hate the things yet govt steaming ahead with rollout regardless!

OP posts:
Graphista · 01/10/2018 18:05

Bumping - utilita sending a new smart meter current one basically fucked!

So is there ANYONE who's switched to eon from utilita?

OP posts:
TheHoundOfWinchester · 01/10/2018 19:02

We switched from utilitia to eon, didn't cost anything at all to swap over but utilities did drag their heels a bit about agreeing! All sorted now though and so much happier!

Graphista · 01/10/2018 19:13

Thanks for replying! Any tips? I know utilita can be awkward and stubborn about letting customers go. How are you finding eon?

OP posts:
Graphista · 01/10/2018 19:13

Oh are u still using the utilita smart meter?

OP posts:
Tianc · 01/10/2018 19:31

I'm really sorry, Graphista, you're experiencing exactly what I foresaw back in 2011. ( www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1327330-Anyone-having-a-gas-leccy-meter-replaced-with-a-Smart-Meter-Something-you-need-to-know )

Except even I didn't guess something as trivial as "sending a message" would be enough to crash the meter.Shock

Utilia: "sometimes tech goes wrong it's just a glitch"

Yes, we know ta.

That's why it's such an obviously godawful idea to make something as important as your gateway to the electricity supply remotely reprogrammable, ie remotely breakable.

Shame it ain't fixable remotely.

As you've said, you'll need a whole new physical meter. And presumably a physical visit from a meter installing person?

I wonder how many new meters they're having to install because of sending one message? And whether they even have the stock and personnel to do this.

Tianc · 01/10/2018 19:34

Loads of good luck with switching provider. I hope it's all resolved for you as quickly as possible.

Tianc · 04/10/2018 12:53

I've just had a look through the Utilia website.

If it's just the In-Home Display part that's broken (separate little display screen), that's a lot easier to replace than the installed Smart Meter.

So with luck just receiving a new one of those through the post will be enough to solve the immediate problem. Of course Utilia might not have enough stock of those, if they broke a large number of their IHDs simultaneously. But assuming the new IHD interoperates smoothly with the Smart Meter, this time you may have got off lightly. (Sorry, I know it's still extremely annoying.)

Good luck with the new IHD, assuming that is what Utilia are replacing, and with the eventual change of provider.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page