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Original poster

British Gas - smart meter - twats

17 replies

CrochetedOwl · 27/10/2023 13:23

So annoyed! I am on a pay as you go smart meter. The monitor that lives in my kitchen has stopped working. BG have said they won’t replace it as I have had it over 12 months. They also say I can’t buy one. I know lots of people don’t like smart meters but I do. I want a monitor in my kitchen - it helps with me budgeting. BG say nothing they can do - they offer no solution. Waiting for a call back from a manager.
Electricity/Gas companies push for people to have these meters by saying it is useful for budgeting and environmental reasons but now there is a problem they don’t want to know. Just needed to vent 😡

OP posts:
Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 27/10/2023 13:39

Is it a 1st or 2nd generation smart meter? If it’s 2nd gen then you could download an app like loop.

If you’re not sure which gen you have download loop if it’s doesn’t connect then it’s 1st gen.

FallingAutumnLeaf · 27/10/2023 13:45

Your smart meter is still working. What you are after is an in home display, and yes,unfortunately BG are correct - the displays are a gimmick, and only supplied with the initial installation.

Depending on the age of your meters, an app like Hugo, loop, or an IVIE bud may give you the info you are after. As might the BG app?

Original poster
CrochetedOwl · 27/10/2023 13:53

Thank you - will have a look at the apps. Still annoying I have to do that which means nobody else in the house can see the current balance unless they look at my phone. You are right it is a gimmick.
The BG app takes 2-3 days to update for me so is not very useful.

OP posts:
TheThingIsYeah · 27/10/2023 14:36

If smart meters are so "smart" , why doesn't my energy provider just auto-debit the £s I have used every month instead of a fixed DD that they review from time to time?

Nothing to do with the opportunity to earn tons of interest on credit balances I'm sure🤔

Original poster
CrochetedOwl · 27/10/2023 14:41

TheThingIsYeah · 27/10/2023 14:36

If smart meters are so "smart" , why doesn't my energy provider just auto-debit the £s I have used every month instead of a fixed DD that they review from time to time?

Nothing to do with the opportunity to earn tons of interest on credit balances I'm sure🤔

Don’t get me started on that! I am approx £300 in credit on my gas and £200 on my electricity and I put the same amount on every month but they won’t change me to direct debit!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/10/2023 14:57

TheThingIsYeah · 27/10/2023 14:36

If smart meters are so "smart" , why doesn't my energy provider just auto-debit the £s I have used every month instead of a fixed DD that they review from time to time?

Nothing to do with the opportunity to earn tons of interest on credit balances I'm sure🤔

You can ask your supplier to set you up on a variable direct debit to pay for what you use each month. You would have lower bills in summer and much higher ones in winter though

Glittertwins · 27/10/2023 15:24

Have you tried a different cable and plug? Turns out that was the problem with mine. Binned the originals after testing out with a different cable and plug.

TheThingIsYeah · 27/10/2023 15:36

@dementedpixie we have done and we are on a winter amount for 6 months and a summer amount for 6 months but again that's fixed. They should be able to just debit what I've used. I'm in credit nearly £200. Imagine if they have 100,000 customers in the same situation that's £20m bunce they can play with.

GladysHeeler · 27/10/2023 15:37

Could you ask around and see if anyone has got one they don't use? I bet loads of people have the display units but haven't installed them.

dementedpixie · 27/10/2023 15:39

TheThingIsYeah · 27/10/2023 15:36

@dementedpixie we have done and we are on a winter amount for 6 months and a summer amount for 6 months but again that's fixed. They should be able to just debit what I've used. I'm in credit nearly £200. Imagine if they have 100,000 customers in the same situation that's £20m bunce they can play with.

Which company?
I know some that ask for a reading and then use that to calculate how much you owe for the month and then that's the amount you pay

TheThingIsYeah · 27/10/2023 15:52

@dementedpixie So.

RedRiverShore4 · 27/10/2023 15:56

You might find one on eBay or you can probably buy a compatible one for about £50. The energy forums on MSE may have details and recommendations about these if you want a physical one rather than app

RedRiverShore4 · 27/10/2023 15:59

They are really just part of the marketing to get you to have a smart meter, once you have a smart meter that job is done.

Irridescantshimmmer · 27/10/2023 16:09

I am not justifying BG.

I understand the purpose of the DD ( direct debit ) is to allow their customers to build up credit on their energy acvounts to offset the larger bills during the colder months. So this is the reason why the DDs are high plus on top of that the cost of living crisis.

Its a real pain in the nether regions to be honest.

I have recently had a new smart meter with one of those effigee-whatsit dongles and its quite enlightening to see my consumotion in so much detail so I can understand why OP wants a replacement.

I worked out, by chance exactly how these utility companies calculate their DD amounts.

Work out weekly consumption then x by 78 weeks ( this is 18 months of energy useage) then divide / by 12.
This means we are charged in advance for energy by 18 months.

So no wonder bills are sky high.

I do like the the gizmo, its quite useful but Its concerning that if they go faulty there is no way of replacing it.

Sleeplessinseattle234 · 28/10/2023 08:35

I didn’t know they didn’t replace them. Will have to remember that. We are with British Gas and a few weeks go they sent all our money from being in credit back. Stating that they now only keep credit up to £70. So I have chucked it in a savings account.

RedRiverShore4 · 28/10/2023 08:50

You can get them on eBay if you check the model no., one may be there, I don't think any of the energy companies replace them after 12 months.

davegrohll · 28/10/2023 08:52

We used to be with British Gas, switched to edf years ago but I still have the British Gas monitor at home and it still works even though I've switched providers

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