Active discussions

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

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a pathetic response to complaint about smart meter harassment?

81 replies

NoraThePessimist · 16/10/2019 16:37

Our energy supplier, Eon,has been sending a ridiculous level of smart meter shite our way for months (emails, text message, letter, it's silly). I can't understand why they're pushing it so aggressively when I've told them we can't have one because the meter location doesn't get mobile 3g/4g signal at all (we literally don't get any signal in that half of the house) and we switch supplier a lot so unless they find one that doesn't need signal and can work when switching.. there's no bloody point to keep harassing us.

I've got so fed up I actually sat down and wrote a letter because I keep adding them to junk/block lists but their shit still arrives .. telling them to STOP using our contact details to make it sound like it's a legal requirement...

And they've just got back to my complaint to say they can stop the communications soak "for three months". If I want their messages to stop after, I'll need to contact them to ask to be stopped again for 3 months. Ffs.

Has anyone else been in this position? I'm going to switch supplier earlier this year than normal just to get away from their fucking messages (3 SMS in a 48hr period, then emails two days in a row)..

Is there an energy supplier out there who's less .. aggressive.. with their Comms??

OP posts:
georgialondon · 16/10/2019 19:50

EDF stopped hassling me when I told them they'd already fitted a smart meter at my address ( they haven't) but the lie did the trick!

HiJenny35 · 16/10/2019 19:53

Every energy company will be on at you to get one as it's one of the measures that they are assessed as performing well by. Also most of the top providers have it stated in the terms and conditions that you agree to have a smart meter installed within the first three months to stay on the tariff. As for them being dangerous that's simply bonkers. Generation 1 had issues with incorrect readings however that was years ago, now they are mainly fine and it's very easy to check the readings are correct. It's no different to having a water meter with is compulsory for all within the next few years and you can't even check that yourself. I don't know why you don't just let them come in and install it and then let them see it doesn't work, then it will be down that you have had one installed but not working problem solved. It was nearly pushed through as compulsory for all earlier this year and will be within the next couple of years.

MrsGrindah · 16/10/2019 19:54

I feel your pain.

Me: Hello British Gas can I have a smart meter
BG: No it won’t work with your boiler
Me : oh that’s a shame
BG: Why haven’t you got a smart meter
Me: Cos you said I couldn’t
BG: Why haven’t you got a smart meter

( repeat six times....then)

BG: Right that’s it, We are sending an engineer to fit a meter on a Tuesday
Me: You can’t . I’m not here Tuesday and you told me I can’t have one.
BG: oh yes that’s right.

( wait four weeks)
BG: Why haven’t you got a smart meter....

MancaroniCheese · 16/10/2019 19:55

XH used to work for Western Power Distribution and refused to have a smart meter as one of his colleagues told him that it could be used to restrict / ration power to people.

As a PP said, smart meters do not save energy, I know that if I put the kettle / tumble dryer on then I will use more energy then if I don't, but if I need / want to use either then I will.

BiBiBirdie · 16/10/2019 20:00

Bulb use them, they will offer to let you know if someone nearby is having one installed so you can too if you want. Other than that, it's up to you. They're great actually.

MakeItRain · 16/10/2019 20:04

I've probably had about 300 emails/texts/phone calls from Scottish Power in the last year or two trying to get me to have a smart meter. During the last phone call I was asked why I didn't want one and I just said "no real reason, I'm just happy with what I've got already". They asked if they can ring me again in 3 months to see if I wanted one by then and I said "you can if you like but I won't change my mind." That was about 2 months ago and no contact since but I expect it's just the lull before the next storm of communications.

TwattingDog · 16/10/2019 20:04

I'm with Bulb. I've only been offered a smart meter once. I ignored the email. That was it.

And I'm more than happy to share my "dreadful" referral code to anyone that wants it. We each get £50 account credit, which is a month's worth of gas and electric for me.

Let's face it, it's a cracking marketing plan!

yellowallpaper · 16/10/2019 20:05

Got phoned up by a provider of insurance offering a discount if I booked my funeral through them. I'm early 40s! I told them I had no intention of dying and am planning on being immortal.

CarolineForbes · 16/10/2019 20:06

I’m with octopus and love them - if you update your meter reading you get a chance to spin a wheel of fortune! Good green credentials and an interesting blog (first time I’ve bothered to engage with a supplier this way tbh).
As far as the marketing - if you have unsubscribed it sounds like they are on dodgy ground. Maybe run it by the ICO? ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/electronic-and-telephone-marketing/electronic-mail-marketing/

NainAGP · 16/10/2019 20:07

Another recommending Bulb

Scrowy · 16/10/2019 20:27

Eon still send a guy out to read our meter every 3 months.

Apparently we are on some magical list of properties that have walls greater than 1m thick or something so we never get hassled about smart meters.

Eon guy (should really learn his name, it's been the same guy for years) said that we won't escape forever though as the WiFi smartmeters are being rolled out.

We get no 3G / 4g signal and our broadband rarely allows us to watch an episode of something on iPlayer without interruption. I will be seriously pissed off if a smart meter makes it even worse.

Autumnchill · 16/10/2019 20:34

Another vote for Bulb. No hassle, bills reduced during second year, excellent app and love their customer service menu (if you've rung, you'll know 😁)

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 16/10/2019 20:57

EDF actually told me they don't manufacture normal meters for my area anymore... So either I stick with credit or get smart meter🤷

Redcrayons · 16/10/2019 21:06

Don’t go with SSE either, they’re constantly on about them.
I don’t want one because I can’t see any benefits for me. SSE don’t seem to articulate any either. I know what used up most of the power. It’s the two teens who don’t know how the off button works.

Tojigornot · 16/10/2019 21:16

As far as the marketing - if you have unsubscribed it sounds like they are on dodgy ground. Maybe run it by the ICO?

I don’t think communications about smart meters would be counted as marketing. Sadly.

DragonflyInn · 16/10/2019 21:23

Yep, also with Bulb and not had any smart metre hassle.

BarbaraofSeville · 16/10/2019 21:35

We're also in the same position of the OP, with E.on and being hounded to have a smart meter even though our mobile signal is almost certainly too weak and I will not have a smet 1 because it's a waste of resources to install something that will lose it's only useful functionality next time I switch suppliers.

Also, the last 2 times we've had anyone from an energy company anywhere near our meters, they've left them in a dangerous conditon without telling us and then left us without heating when we've called them to report the smell of gas Hmm.

Plus I have better things to do with my life then wait in all Thursday afternoon because someone will come somewhere between 12 and 5 to fit a meter.

Maybe I should let them come and detect our virtually non existent mobile signal and then they'll leave us alone.

mencken · 17/10/2019 10:56

the smart meter programme is indeed to ration power; there are 70 million of us with infrastructure for 50 million and no-one can be arsed to save energy. However the rest of the mechanisms to do demand-based charging aren't there yet.

companies should now only be installing SMETS2 so run that by them.

and of course smart meters don't save energy, the ads playing on 'think of the children' are borderline lies.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 17/10/2019 11:58

We have this with Npower. Constant calls, texts, letters and leaflets. It's driving me insane.

GeminiRising · 17/10/2019 12:24

Another one recommending Octopus here.

No exit fees, they tell you each month on your invoice if they have a cheaper tariff you can change to (and that's done with a quick phone call) and one email a month requesting the meter reads.

MulticolourMophead · 17/10/2019 12:26

Octopus. Never have problem with them and their customer service is good.

Ariela · 17/10/2019 12:32

SSE have more-or less stopped ringing about converting to a smart meter. We have lousy 4g signal. So every time they call: Oh good are you going to instal superfast fibre broadband at the same time then?
'Er no the meter works via a mobile signal'
'Yes I realise that,, but you'd have to move the meter to half way down the garden as where it is there is no 4G signal, so I thought you could do it via t'internet instead'

LizB62A · 17/10/2019 12:51

I got a smart meter when I was with SSE (meter broke, doesn't bother me what sort of meter I have)
I'm now with Bulb and it's fine - for the PP who asked about Smile

Timeywimey10 · 17/10/2019 13:02

I was actually going to recommend Coop! They phoned me once about getting a smart meter, I said I wasn't interested at that time, she said she'd make a note to call me in three months, which I said was fine, and I've never heard from them again!

Biker47 · 17/10/2019 13:04

I'm with bulb, happy with it, haven't been bothered with wanting them to smart meters, fine taking the reading myself, will keep avoiding smart meters until I don't have a choice.