New smart meter has left us with a broken boiler 3 weeks before Christmas

[JustCantTakeItAnymore]

I just don’t think I can cope anymore. Going through crap and now we have a broken boiler three weeks before Christmas.

DP has had a major crisis related to something that happened in his past (I posted about this about a month ago on another thread under a different username, it was a 30 day only)...It’s been one of the toughest things I’ve ever gone through but I was just about coping myself, trying to stay calm and look after my own well-being and the DCs etc.

So roll on Wednesday, following endless hounding I had finally agreed to have a smart meter installed. We have/had a very old but reliable baxi boiler but unfortunately something happened when the new meter was installed and it looks like the circuit board has blown. In short, the plumber’s opinion is that the whole boiler now need replacing, if he replaces the circuit board, the likelihood is that there will be a knock on effect and something else will go wrong. I am in agreement and honestly think if he could just fix it he would.

Yes it was an old boiler but my argument is is was working perfectly fine that morning and has broken as direct result of having the smart meter fitted. If the engineer hadn’t been round to install the meter I’d have a fully functioning boiler now.

I’ve spent hours on the phone to the energy supplier and it’s becoming glaringly obvious that I’m going to have to fight for any reasonable compensation. I have a young DC who needs my attention, where am I going to find the time and energy for this?! I’m too busy trying to get help for DP.

In case nobody’s noticed, there’s a pandemic going on and we’ve had to spend our savings. A relative has kindly offered to lend us the money for either repair or a new boiler.

So DP in crisis, boiler is broken but we can borrow the money to sort it out, it’s not the end of the world....the same day on Wed Dd2 comes home from school. Her good friend’s parents have tested positive for corona and now her friend’s twin sister has (they share a room etc), the friends test is inconclusive. We are expecting that DD will be sent home by Monday to self-isolate. Obviously can’t have the plumber in the house under those circumstances and it looks now we are now facing going through coronavirus and Christmas with no heating 😱 i know in theory we’re allowed to visit family at Christmas but it’s been a pretty unanimous decision all round that everyone is staying put this year, we can’t risk spreading it to older relatives. This is just so so crap.

I feel like I’m about to snap. I was just about coping and now this. I’m going to speak to the doctor tomorrow and ask for ADs although I’m still BFing - not sure if I can take them if I am?

Have googled the smart meter/ boiler thing and it is an issue which has happened to others. The engineer should have taken one look at our aged boiler and refused to install the smart meter on the basis that it wouldn’t be able to cope with the switchover. They really should not be installing these new meters at the moment, if at all, if there’s any risk to the boiler whatsoever. I really think they need to halt the installation programme, at least temporarily.

So I have DP in crisis
Broken boiler
Potentially coronavirus
It’s three weeks to Christmas (been so stressed with DP we have no decorations up, haven’t bought a single present, we’re staying at home to avoid giving it to older rellies and I haven’t even thought about Christmas food, turkey etc)

If I hadn’t had the smart meter installed the boiler would still be working. I would be focussing on DP and Christmas

I know other people have it worse but just just can’t deal with it all anymore. I’ve been lying in bed unable to sleep, sobbing because in 1-2 hours I have to get up and deal with a lively toddler all day. I have numerous calls to make for DP, plus the usual food shopping etc to do and now I need to spend hours getting advice and writing letters re the boiler. I just can’t cope, I can’t do this anymore :-(

I know it was an old boiler, I know that but if the smart meter hadn’t been installed it would still be working now. This is so unfair.

Sorry that was so long 😔

I’m sorry, this sounds awful. Will your plumber write a letter saying it was due to the smart meter being fitted? I’d be doing any sort of publicity you can...Twitter, newspapers.

Some places do instalment plans for boilers, is that an option? I think you’ll have to pay yourself and then fight to get the money back.

Oh forgot to say we spent nearly £10 yesterday on energy alone according to smart meter so our bills have now gone up massively. I did rush out any buy 2 secondhand oil filled radiators which we have had continuously on low to keep the chill off, the house is still cold though just not totally freezing.

Go to the Citizens advice Bureau and ask them to deal with it, most are still doing phone and email enquiries, quality of advice and help varies massively but you may be lucky, also some of them may have energy specialists who are able to escalate with power companies

Have you checked eligibility for grants for boiler replacement?

One of my colleagues here (Scotland) had replaced his own recently but a few weeks later was told he could have had it done for free with a grant because of the age of the old one.

Thanks Jacob, the plumber has basically said it’s due to the age of the boiler and it happens all the time with smart meters. It’s apparently happened twice on two different boilers at his yard. So if it’s a known problem I just don’t understand why are they continuing to fit them when there’s an older boiler involved.

It’s like an elderly pet, no one in their right mind would give let an older dog go through an unnecessary operation as they might not survive.

Obviously the loss of a pet is greater. But the cost of a new boiler is crippling to some and people with old boilers are more likely to be in a more vulnerable position financially.

We’ve borrowed the money so could get it done ASAP but now can’t because of the damn virus. The energy provider shouldn’t be doing this to people in the middle of a pandemic!

So glad I posted on here, Nyctophyllia and Canyousewcushions both really good advice

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation/
Also covers boiler grants as well as insulation.

Ofgem is the regulatory body I think for energy companies so you can look at raising a complaint with them as well.

I don't know why 2 people have voted YABU? This is the least unreasonable thing I've read in a long time. You'll get through it OP. It looks insurmountable now but plod through bit by bit. Borrow or buy (or look out for freebies on local fb groups) hot water bottles, draught excluders, thick curtains at any draughty doors or windows. Fleecy onesies for the kids. Order some xmas food and a few gifts online, nothing extravagant- don't over think it. Next year you'll look back at this as a time when your family and you coped with extreme adversity and got through it together. Best of luck.

That sounds really rubbish and glad you can borrow cash. Can you not get a boiler change booked in for 21st and 22nd?

Thats crap Op....i live in fear of my boiler breaking down.....i have a very old cold house so it would be a nightmare....on another note what is the point of these smart meters....my energy company keep trying to get me to have one but so far ive resisted.

Surely if the plumber had experienced the same outcome before,he should have said to you, "OK so you've got quite an old boiler here, I would advise you go back to the energy supplier and tell them you can no longer have the smart metre as it will probably blow your boiler out". Surely he's responsible and therefore negligent? Telling you afterwards he thought it would go bang as several have previously is terrible!
I would say he is insured, his lack of professionalism caused the boiler to malfunction, he should speak to his insurer.

Borrow the money and et the boiler replaced ASAP.

Even if your child is isolating put them in another room and let the plumber in.

I know how it feels to be overwhelmed but you just need to break it down and keep going.

MillieVanilla - Plumber didn’t know I was having the smart meter installed, it’s usually v reliable, I haven’t seen him for about 5 years!

myusernamewastakenbyme Don’t do it unless you’re getting your boiler replaced anyway.

I haven’t seen him for about 5 years!
Are you saying your boiler hasn't been serviced for 5 years? If so, I very much doubt you'd get any compensation from whoever installed your smart meters.

@MillieVanilla

Surely if the plumber had experienced the same outcome before,he should have said to you, "OK so you've got quite an old boiler here, I would advise you go back to the energy supplier and tell them you can no longer have the smart metre as it will probably blow your boiler out". Surely he's responsible and therefore negligent? Telling you afterwards he thought it would go bang as several have previously is terrible! I would say he is insured, his lack of professionalism caused the boiler to malfunction, he should speak to his insurer.

I'm assuming an engineer fitted the smart meter and a plumber came to look at the broker boiler.

Could be wrong.

Ignore me. Read it wrong. Too early. One eye still shut.

Hello, that is awful. Sorry, I can’t offer any practical advice but I read about a similar case in the guardian about a week ago. www.theguardian.com/money/2020/nov/23/smart-meter-wrecked-our-boiler-but-eon-wont-pay

Where is your evidence the smart meter broke the boiler?

Sounds hugely coincidental to me. A smart meter is just a bog standard meter with a sim card in that sends readings to your supplier. It does not increase the voltage into your house in any way so it is impossible that the smart meter is at fault here. It is not connected directly to your boiler and the smart meter engineer would not have touched your boiler as part of the installation.

Your looking for someone to blame for not having services your boiler for 5 years and knowing it was getting old have not organised a replacement. I fail to see how that's your energy companies fault.

Just get the boiler fitted ASAP. Keep your DD away from the engineers, which you should be be doing anyway. If you get any symptoms then obviously postpone.

Sorry this has happened to you. I was lucky as I'd made an appointment for a smart meter and then a story about exactly this happening to someone popped up in my news feed, so I cancelled. I think the story was on Money saving Expert. The woman did get compensation, but only after Martin lewis got involved if I remember rightly

Sorry I remembered wrongly. It was The Observer not Martin Lewis
www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/2020/sep/27/installation-of-smart-meter-leaves-elderly-woman-facing-4000-bill

Even if they do decide to compensate you their liability is only the cost to put you in the same situation you were already in. So with a creaking boiler that hadn’t been serviced for 5 years and could have gone at any time. So minimal value. There’s no way they’ll buy you a new boiler to replace an old one. I’d concentrate on getting your plumber to fit a new boiler ASAP if it’s too much for you to deal with the energy company. I’m sure you’ve read how intransigent they are over boilers breaking after meter swaps.

I’ve also read reports of boards frying when the new meters are installed so there probably is something there but it doesn’t happen every time so it’s probably something to do with the way a particular installer is reconnecting the power which causes a spike. I did read something that indicated that you should unplug everything after a meter swap and turn things on one at a time to avoid a power spike. You’re supposed to do that after a power cut too to avoid drawing too much power in one go and causing a spike in your house.

I've got an older Glow Worm boiler like the woman in the article. Mine's 20 years old