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Original poster

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

73 replies

JustCantTakeItAnymore · 04/12/2020 05:42

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.

OP posts:
Subordinateclause · 04/12/2020 07:26

This sounds really rubbish, I can see why you're feeling so low. Only your DD will have to isolate though, not the household, so I'd put her in a room by herself and let the plumber in to fit a new one. The temperatures are going to drop and you need heating!

Elai1978 · 04/12/2020 07:28

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.

This is my thought as well, I don’t see what interaction the smart meter has with the boiler that could kill it.

Soontobe60 · 04/12/2020 07:32

You can have tradespeople in the house. If your dd is self isolating from school, just keep her upstairs when the plumber comes to fit the new boiler.

MillieVanilla · 04/12/2020 07:33

@JustCantTakeItAnymore

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.

Sorry you op made it sound like the same plumber fitted it and then told you about the boiler
CoconutGrove · 04/12/2020 07:36

It says in the article I posted that an engineer sent out to the woman said some boilers aren't compatible with them and they shouldn't have been installed. It explains the "coincidence " of them breaking at the exact moment the meter's installed

walksen · 04/12/2020 07:40

Do you have home emergencies cover as part of your home insurance? This could cover the cost of a replacement PCB.

I had a similar situation a few weeks back. Boiler had broken down after a service, engineer could not fix. I had a month with no hot water or heating and had to self isolate after catching covid at work.

I informed the boiler company which had booked an appointment 2 weeks before! and they still send someone round. They had to use full ppe and I stayed upstairs. To be honest the engineer seemed to be in his 20s and wasn't bothered.

BeakyWinder · 04/12/2020 07:42

I'm so sorry OP it's no wonder you've snapped. If you can, get on every local site going to find a plumber that can supply and fit a boiler this weekend. Play the cold kids at Christmas card, someone might be able to help before the isolation starts. Even if dd is isolating, get the plumber in, dd in her bedroom, clean the room it's in etc. wear masks when they are there. No boiler is a bigger risk than the tiny risk of someone possibly incubating covid IMO. Take the money offered for the boiler too.

Original poster
JustCantTakeItAnymore · 04/12/2020 07:42

Re the boiler servicing, I did tell the engineer who installed the meter it hadn’t been serviced and was going to get it done on Jan (which I was actually planning to do). If he hadn’t installed the new meters, the boiler would still be working now. End of argument.

OP posts:
Jacky209990 · 04/12/2020 07:43

I've read about smart readers doing this. The engineer really should be checking the boiler is compatible. Really unacceptable to leave you in this situation in winter. They really do hound you as well to get it installed.

MrsRogerLima · 04/12/2020 07:49

@JustCantTakeItAnymore

Re the boiler servicing, I did tell the engineer who installed the meter it hadn’t been serviced and was going to get it done on Jan (which I was actually planning to do). If he hadn’t installed the new meters, the boiler would still be working now. End of argument.
Op you have clearly decided who is to blame.

You have no way of knowing that the boiler wouldn't have broken if the smart meter had not been fitted so that's just conjecture. (aka bollocks)

So you go right ahead stressing yourself out and arguing with your energy company (you will get pretty much nowhere, perhaps a nominal compensation to shut you up if it gets to ombudsman stage as per the article posted by a PP)

Concentrate on enabling your boiler to be replaced.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2020 08:15

Sounds awful and a lot to deal with at once but I don't understand how a smart meter can break a boiler. It doesn't do anything to it.

The boiler uses fuel that is measured by the meter, which then reports that usage to your supplier. The smart meter doesn't affect the operation of the boiler, so cannot break it. Correlation does not equal causation.

Old boilers do just break unfortunately, its a fact of life and it often happens at the start of winter because that's when people start using them more, so the ramping up in use can finish them off. But glad you've got a plan to replace it.

As for Christmas, it's 3 weeks away, that's ages. Decorations don't have to go up yet, its far too early.

Food, just make a list and go and buy something from the shops on the day or two before - go early in the morning and the shops are fully stocked and quiet - easy.

So spend the next few days thinking about presents for your DC so they can get delivered in time, next weekend put the decorations up and you'll be sorted. No need to stress about it Smile.

Original poster
JustCantTakeItAnymore · 04/12/2020 08:20

I’ve been trying to deal with so much alone and now this. Just had a massive go at DP for having his head up his arse and not supporting me emotionally and practically. The reality of it all is i’m now facing being a single parent again. I’m in bed crying, can’t get up, I’m going to have to report myself to social services. I just can’t take this now. It’s tipped me over the edge I just can’t deal with this at the moment

OP posts:
Original poster
JustCantTakeItAnymore · 04/12/2020 08:27

At the end of the day people are dealing with all sorts of problems at the moment - energy companies just can’t go into peoples homes and leave them in this situation. It’s just wrong and what makes it worse is that it appears to be a known problem which for some reason they’re denying

OP posts:
crowsfeet57 · 04/12/2020 08:30

There are still 3 weeks to Christmas. Get the plumber to order your new boiler ready to fit when your daughter is out of isolation.

LakieLady · 04/12/2020 08:37

I'm having a new boiler installed on 7 Jan, but currently have a 14 year old Weissmann boiler.

A couple of years ago, when he was here to do a service, my plumber warned me against getting a smart meter installed because so many people with older boilers had experienced problems afterwards. Because the boilers are old, he said that such problems were invariably uneconomical to repair, and led to people having to have new boilers.

I think there's a connection, and when he comes I will ask him to explain how a new meter can bugger up a boiler. But it seems to me that there is a connection, and the companies that are installing the new meters should check the age/model of the boilers first, and warn customers so that they can at least make an informed choice before deciding to proceed with the meter change.

I daresay their KPIs are based solely on the number of meters switched, so that there's a disincentive for them to give the best advice.

I want Smart meters because now that I'm on my own, I really struggle to get into the stupid cupboard where the meters are (it involves pulling out a heavy sofa and crawling in on my hands and knees, while holding a torch, ffs), but there's no way I'm going ahead until the boiler's been replaced.

And then there are all the tales of smart meters catching fire ...

FightingWithTheWind · 04/12/2020 08:48

I'm so sorry your having such a rubbish time of it at the moment, I don't have any helpful advice about the boiler that you haven't been given already but I did want to reassure you that there are antidepressants that are safe for breastfeeding, i've been on 200mg of sertraline since my baby was 3 months old and she is now 18 months ans still breastfed - it has literally saved my life so please don't hesitate to ask the doctor for help. You need help too and it sounds like you have been absolutley amazing through all of this it is no wonder your at breaking point.

Starisnotanumber · 04/12/2020 08:49

Have a look at Boxt.
They seem to be able to fit boilers now and will give a price for work online.
They have a sale until Sunday, have used them but on a planned replacement not emergency

BoobsOnTheMoon · 04/12/2020 08:51

A plumber can come even if your DD is in isolation. Just keep DD in her room while s/he is fitting the new boiler! It's essential repairs and the rest of the household aren't required to isolate so I don't see why this means a plumber can't come. Obviously if she actually gets symptoms then it's a different matter though.

Nanny1Nanny2 · 04/12/2020 08:51

Sounds like you need an electrician, not a plumber

Original poster
JustCantTakeItAnymore · 04/12/2020 08:54

A couple of years ago, when he was here to do a service, my plumber warned me against getting a smart meter installed because so many people with older boilers had experienced problems afterwards. Because the boilers are old, he said that such problems were invariably uneconomical to repair, and led to people having to have new boilers.

I think there's a connection, and when he comes I will ask him to explain how a new meter can bugger up a boiler. But it seems to me that there is a connection, and the companies that are installing the new meters should check the age/model of the boilers first, and warn customers so that they can at least make an informed choice before deciding to proceed with the meter change.

This exactly! Why didn’t they inform me that there could be an issue? It’s just not their decision to make. The energy company claims they’re unaware there is an issue yet 1000s of gas plumbers report the same problem. The energy providers get paid by the government to install these meters and apparently get fined if they don’t meet their quotas.

I’m in a crappy situation as it is and this has just tipped me over the edge. I just don’t get why they’re just allowing this to happen to people. I feel like this is some kind of bizarre, real-life nightmare.

And for those who think I’m just after a new boiler, I’m honestly not. I just want to turn back the clock to Wednesday morning and make this stop. And most of all I want for this to not happen to anyone else.

OP posts:
GreyishDays · 04/12/2020 08:57

They does sound totally crap.

I was thinking arrange a plumber for when your DD is out of isolation, but what if she actually gets it and then passes it on? You don’t want to be waiting weeks and ill.
I’d maybe try and get the boiler replaced sooner. Shut DD in her room, air the house in advance and keep a window open in the room with the boiler. Clean the bathroom and wipe down door handles.

Go onto the Christmas board here for ideas and write a good Xmas list, including stocking stuff. Then go to amazon when you get time. Order things in a few batches, don’t save it all to the end in case of postal delays and things going out of stock.

LakieLady · 04/12/2020 08:57

OP, please speak to your doctor. They will be able to offer you something that is safe to take and that will help you cope while you're going through these difficulties.

And as for the Christmas food shop, book a delivery slot and do it all online. You might not get exactly what you want, but anything is better than supermarket shopping in the run up to Christmas, especially when you're already stressed.

Is your DP getting support with his MH? He owes it to you to do that, so that he can get back to being a supportive partner as soon as possible.

Original poster
JustCantTakeItAnymore · 04/12/2020 08:58

FightingWithTheWind thank you, I am going to call the doctors now and see if I can get an appt x

OP posts:
BIWI · 04/12/2020 09:00

@Elai1978

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.

This is my thought as well, I don’t see what interaction the smart meter has with the boiler that could kill it.

Read the links that PP have made to The Guardian/Observer - it's happened to lots of other people. Just because you don't believe it doesn't mean that it can't have happened!
BIWI · 04/12/2020 09:00

@JustCantTakeItAnymore Contact The Guardian/Observer consumer team - they might be able to help you, given the number of other readers who have contact them about this.