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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed that he's put in a prepayment smart meter

70 replies

wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 04:47

Without my agreement?

Honestly, I'm so pissed off. Came home to a surprise smart meter and now I've noticed the leaflet says "prepayment smart meter".

DH has wanted one for ages, he knows I don't but booked it in anyway. I wasn't amused but just figured I'd shove it in a drawer if he started obsessing over it and banging on about energy costs.

But now I've seen the leaflet and it says it's a prepayment smart meter 😳 Utility Warehouse if that's relevant.

Wtf is this? Does this mean he's got us on a system meant for those on a tight budget? If it runs out because we forget to top up and go on holiday or whatever, is the freezer going to defrost? Are we now limited to worse deals and tariffs?

I'm fuming, but it's the middle of the night and everyone else is asleep so if someone who has one of these sodding things can reassure me I'd be extremely grateful.

(FWIW we earn similar, share the bills and are not struggling to pay them).

OP posts:
Original poster
wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 04:55

Ffs, apologies. That was quickly sorted. I've found another leaflet that is "your credit smart meter explained".

A closer look suggests it's a credit meter.

I'm still furious that he's taken this decision without discussion but at least it's not a different way to which we were paying.

OP posts:
Climbingthehillfast · 18/10/2023 05:46

Why would anyone do this!!!!

DdraigGoch · 18/10/2023 05:48

Why exactly don't you want a smart meter?

Tartareistasty · 18/10/2023 05:52

I don't know about Utility Warehouse MLM shite, but EDF had me change to prepayment when changing to smart meteer for few weeks then move onto DD

forgotmyusername1 · 18/10/2023 05:55

We have a smart meter. To be fair it has saved us a fortune by being more aware about what things cost and making adjustments to our behaviours (the underfloor heating was consigned to history for a start)

We never used to do readings but got a smart meter when the rates went up dramatically april 2022 and kept a handle on things last year.

Utility warehouse though are an mlm. Wouldn't touch them with a bargepole

VisionsOfSplendour · 18/10/2023 06:00

Smart meter fine, utility warehouse definitely not fine

AsWrittenBy · 18/10/2023 06:01

VisionsOfSplendour · 18/10/2023 06:00

Smart meter fine, utility warehouse definitely not fine

Was literally about to type almost the exact same words

Stay away from that bunch of fucking cowboys

Original poster
wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 06:05

Ah yes, the MLM UW is another thing. I wouldn't have touched them with a shitty stick but several years ago he was talked into switching by a neighbour. He had zero idea it was an MLM and by the time I found out it was too late.

To be fair to him, I was that pissed off after issues with several utility companies that he completely took over the admin relating to our utilities. At the time of him signing up to UW I was just so relieved to not have to deal with them I didn't make a fuss.

I don't want a bloody smart meter. As s poster said upthread, her underfloor heating is redundant now because of it. We got various things knowing that they cost money to run. I don't want him over my shoulder every 2 minutes wittering that X thing just cost 30p or whatever.

OP posts:
Original poster
wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 06:08

"Was literally about to type almost the exact same words

Stay away from that bunch of fucking cowboys"

I assume since they've fitted a meter for us today we are somehow bound to them for a while? God knows, we've been with them a while. Can't quite remember how long since I met our neighbour leaving after signing dickhead here up to all and sundry 😒 she saw him coming. And yes, she also sells fucking wax melts.

OP posts:
Bearcub101 · 18/10/2023 06:09

Can I ask a possibly daft question? How does a credit meter work?

Original poster
wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 06:13

Well according to this leaflet we still pay bills after usage as normal. So it can't run out. Small fucking mercies.

Then presumably it works by DH monitoring it like he's got himself a second job and wittering on about the cost of fairy lights/gas fires/Xboxes and the like for the rest of his natural 🙄

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 18/10/2023 06:13

Bearcub101 · 18/10/2023 06:09

Can I ask a possibly daft question? How does a credit meter work?

You put money on them and have fuel until the cash finishes when you’ve to top up again

@wtfprepayment I work for a company that offers smart prepayment option. We’ve got a website where you can check your balance and top up if it’s close to run out. Is this something this provider offers ? (Asking for when you go on hols) otherwise I’d suggest topping up before going away so you don’t find your fridge defrosted on the way back

Original poster
wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 06:15

@EasterIssland it's ok, sorry for the confusion but it's a credit meter after all.

OP posts:
Original poster
wtfprepayment · 18/10/2023 06:16

"You put money on them and have fuel until the cash finishes when you’ve to top up again"

That's a prepayment meter isn't it?

OP posts:
forgotmyusername1 · 18/10/2023 06:25

I guess it depends on whether you have the money to not worry about bills

Winter pre smart meter when we didn't monitor it we came out 900 in debt with 8700kwh estimated electric usage and 14000kwh estimated gas units

At the unit rates after the unit rates went up this would have cost us 3300 a year electric and 1300 gas so energy bill of £4600 a year

By changing our habits we got it down to 4200kwh electric and 8200 gas so £1595 electric and £765 gas and £2360 a year.

For us it was a necessity. Our direct debt dropped from £380 a month to £200

forgotmyusername1 · 18/10/2023 06:32

Just don't tell him about the octopus agile tarrif. Prices change every half an hour.

Skodacool · 18/10/2023 06:39

We’ve been with Utility Warehouse for some years now. Why are pp calling them MLM? They’ve been fine with us, we take all services with them. They fitted us with low energy light bulbs throughout the house and replace them for free.

Bearcub101 · 18/10/2023 06:43

Still none the wiser sorry (it’s early), so what’s the difference between a credit and prepayment?

forgotmyusername1 · 18/10/2023 06:44

Utility warehouse is a pyramid scheme. People are incentivised to sign up their friends and family to the company by getting paid if they do and people also are encouraged to become reps for the company in a commission only role.

Often the reps know nothing more than how to sign up someone to the company. If you have an issue they can't help you.

My bills are with octopus. The call centre worker at octopus isn't trying to recruit me and doesn't get paid a percentage of my monthly bill. The call centre worker at octopus also gets paid an hourly wage, sick pay, pension, maternity/paternity pay and holiday with full employment rights. Utility warehouse have an unpaid self employed army trying to sign people up as both customers and reps on a commission only basis with most earning almost nothing

Snozzlemaid · 18/10/2023 06:45

Prepayment you have to pay to top up before you use the electricity.

Credit you will be billed and pay for usage after you have used the electricity.

TeenagersAngst · 18/10/2023 06:46

@EasterIssland that's not how a credit meter works, you pay after using the energy not before

EasterIssland · 18/10/2023 06:49

TeenagersAngst · 18/10/2023 06:46

@EasterIssland that's not how a credit meter works, you pay after using the energy not before

Op said on their title
prepayment smart meter

preayment is you pay in advance

credit is like you say

Bearcub101 · 18/10/2023 06:53

ah right so credit is direct debit then?

AhBiscuits · 18/10/2023 07:00

Then presumably it works by DH monitoring it like he's got himself a second job and wittering on about the cost of fairy lights/gas fires/Xboxes and the like for the rest of his natural

Which would not be very long if it was my DH.