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

[wtfprepayment]

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).

I’m so annoyed by your stupid husband, OP.

"I’m so annoyed by your stupid husband, OP."

Thank you 😊 if he creates a spreadsheet like pps husband I will throw him in the sea where he can annoy us no longer.

I agree with this , I have a prepayment meter and I am sick of companies phoning me up saying that getting a smart meter will save me money.
They always say - it will save you money, no it won't it just makes me more aware of what consumes power.

It's more convenient- I live on the same road as two shops that I can get top ups at , So nope

One particular company sent me a quote to compare it with what I am apparently already paying ( going off my standing charge and pp kj )
However they worked out what I pay by by looking st other homes in my area .
Almost all of the houses near me are occupied by families with 2 or 3 dcs .
I live alone
I also work away from home on average 4 / 5 days per month.
When I am working locally ( so living at home ) I am out of the house around 10 hrs per day.
I had told them all of this info and yet the estimated cost they thought i spent was about £60 / £80 more than my bill , quote brought it down to £30 /£40 above my current bill.
They were baffled as to why I wouldn't change over to them 🙄

@wtfprepayment It doesnt make any appliance redundant it just shows you what it costs to run it - it is up to you what you do with that information.

Anyway the problem seem to be the difference in attitudes to energy consumption in your household - not the smart meter.

oh I agree - I love it
but he will be cooking a roast at 2am

I was with UW for years and had no idea it was an MLM? There's nothing to suggest it is on the website - unless the 'refer a friend' thing is what people are talking about? I mean, Sky, Virgin - loads of places do that?

Anyway I'm not even with them anymore so who cares. They wouldn't allow us to move our account from one house to another, said it would be a 'new account' and they had too many in the area or something.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_Warehouse

@Ginmonkeyagain bloody hell, you're as pedantic as he is 🤪. Maybe I should introduce you, you'd get on like a house on fire. Or not, since he'll make you keep the fire firmly OFF.

Well it's just being accurate - smart meters do not make electrical equipment redundant - your or your husband's reaction to understanding the real time costs of running that equipment may do though!

NB I used to work in energy so unlike a lot of people on this thread, I do actually understand how they work.

"Well it's just being accurate - smart meters do not make electrical equipment redundant - your or your husband's reaction to understanding the real time costs of running that equipment may do though!"

Nobody thought they actually rendered equipment redundant though did they?! Anyway, mine will all be going like the clappers for the next few weeks 😅. I'm doing my own "research" into the most costly appliance in Casa WTF.

Tell him that having the monitor on is a waste of energy, you'll have to switch it off.

I was a bit confused too, they are recommended by Which? (along with Octopus).

@wtfprepayment I mean you literally did: "I don't want a bloody smart meter. As s poster said upthread, her underfloor heating is redundant now because of it."

Anyway do by all means run up your energy bills to prove some sort of point to your husband - i'm sure that is competely sane and normal.

"I mean you literally did: "I don't want a bloody smart meter. As s poster said upthread, her underfloor heating is redundant now because of it."

Yes, and went on to explain exactly how that might come about. I'm not sure if you are always like this but lots of the things I say you shouldn't be taking literally.

For example - I won't literally throw him in the sea.

We have been with UW for a number of years and have always found them consistently cheaper for energy, we generally use their fixed rates. Customer service has been good, the staff have been knowledgeable, helpful and have always dealt with any issues immediately.

My son is on this. I had a phone call to tell me to put the heating on because it was 0pence - it was the middle of the night and I had to open my bedroom window because it was so hot! 🙄

its addictive
I have solar and a battery so mainly use the cheap slots to charge that

Ilovechees3 · Today 14:40

"We have been with UW for a number of years and have always found them consistently cheaper for energy, we generally use their fixed rates. Customer service has been good, the staff have been knowledgeable, helpful and have always dealt with any issues immediately."

That's my experience too.

I might put the washing on to finish at 4am, the unit rate is so cheap tonight.

It's not as mad as it sounds, I work shifts so will be up at that time anyway.