Being harassed about Smart Meter

[NewGirlInTown]

Does anyone know if utility companies can force homeowners to have a Smart Meter?
I don’t want one but am getting frequent calls and texts hassling me.
I told them on the telephone that I am not interested.
My meter is very accurate; estimated usages are incredibly close to actual, so no alarm bells there.
I should add that I have recently withdrawn some of the substantial credit balance on my account, leaving 2/3 months worth of direct debit. I did it all through their online service, but since then, I am being hassled.
Many thanks to anyone who can provide advice.

No they can’t force you to have a smart meter.
They used to be able to force pay-as-you-go meters when bills weren’t being paid, but that’s been stopped now.
They want everyone to have smart meters though, so if your meter needs replacing, you can only have a smart meter.

Thank you very much. Their text messages are so rude!

Go into your account and remove your number and unsubscribe from any marketing. When the ring you tell them you no longer want marketing calls
We get letters and just put them in the bin.

Depends on how old your original metre is some need replacing for safety reasons

I really don’t understand the reluctance about smart meters

What have you got against a smart meter ?

They can't force you and you're right to resist getting one. Just look at the Post Office scandal - computers and digital systems can get things wrong, but no one believes they can so it's the individual vs technology in such a situation. Then you'd either have to have enormous patience, time and courage or just acquiesce. Just stay manual/analog.

I'm with EoN. They've been harassing me for two years now. They did take a six month break when I told them my husband was terminally ill but once that expired they continued (DH had died by then). I get one or more calls daily (fortunately my phone says 'suspected spam' and I ignore them) and I also get very regular texts and emails, and the occasional letter. Their stance is that my meter has reached the end of its life and may no longer be accurate. It's true that meters do have a shelf life and mine is very old, but I don't want it changed yet. I had a horrible experience last year when (newly widowed and vulnerable) some of my electrics failed. I had to have a new consumer board fitted and a partial rewire and spent weeks with multiple extension reels running from upstairs to downstairs to keep my downstairs supply running. It's given me huge anxiety about electrics and I don't want anyone touching anything now that's been fixed. I'm even considering changing supplier to see if that helps.

Edited to add: I know I'll have to get it done eventually, but just terrified some bungling engineer will turn up and botch things.

No, they cannot force you, just keep refusing to / remove your number from records as already mentioned.

Eon have stopped asking me when I asked them to stop.

I send meter reading every month.

I have noticed if I want to change tariff it only allows me if I have a smart meter!

We had smart meters fitted when we moved in 4 years ago. Waste of time as they now don’t communicate reliably so I have to take monthly readings on the first of the month otherwise I don’t get a bill for months on end.

Just to mention that smart meters are now 2nd generation so I believe the previous concerns around connectivity etc. have now been reduced at least.

Its not true that only smart meters can ve fitted if you need an old meter replaced as not every property can get a smart meter fitted. It depends on the building and area as they run on WiFi.

They came to replace my brother's meter, he lives 3rd floor in an old tenement. Installer said the type of building and where the meter was he couldn't do a smart meter so the meter was replaced with another normal one.

I left eon as they kept harassing me. They even booked an installer to fit without permission from me. I wouldnt let him in
They can jog on with their smart meters !

Nice chap came to read my meter and I mentioned all this. He said because my meter is outside in a metal cabinet, sometimes this means smart meters don't work because the metal messes with the signal.

Add to that the gas meter is under the stairs and when I had a leak a few years ago, they said they might have to move it to a lovely position in the middle of the hallway right in front of the window....I'm not keen

There's tons of work that needs doing. One is getting a new control unit at some point. I'm not keen to opt for work which won't benefit me.

Depends how old your meter is.

If it's a 1980s radio teleswitch model, then yes, you do need to switch as the long wave radio it runs on it being switched off and your meter will no longer work at all.

Changing the meter is not a big job and doesn't involve changing your internal electrics.

You can also access a range of tariffs that are cheaper. My average electric cost per unit is 19.4p/kWh Vs price cap of 26.11p/kWh, so around 25pc lower because I have a time of use tariff and so tilt my demand towards the cheap hours - eg washing machine runs in middle of day, dishwasher runs at 3am etc.
I don't have an EV so it's just changing my domestic appliance usage.

But perhaps you like paying more, in which case, you are free to do so.

We are with Scottish power, they keep hassling us, a few years ago we did agree to having a smart meter installed, they didn’t turn up for the appointment, we’d sorted out for one of us to be there and made the adjustments for not having the power on for the time it was going to take and booked the dogs in with a sitter for the afternoon. We have since refused all attempts to reinstate an appointment, they can shove it, they aren’t inconveniencing us again.

Do you understand why he said it might need to move?
In a fire, if those stairs are your only escape route, the meter being underneath then present a significant risk both in a fire and in a gas leak. Meters are a common cause of a gas leak.

It's no longer permitted to fit them there - while you don't have to change existing ones, they will likely not repair or replace them in situ, they will move them.

Please consider getting it moved even if it's a bit suboptimal outside and do not store paint, chemicals or lots of clutter and coats in that cupboard.

Hacking? There is a hacking risk. The first generation of smart meters were hacked.

It is claimed the second generation is hack proof. But they said the same about M&S, various hotel chains, MN and even the FBI.

We had our 40 year old gas meter which was under the stairs replaced recently for a smart meter and I was concerned about its position, that they might want to move it and they just replaced it and didn't mention it was under the stairs

I'm surprised about that because a metal cabinet outside is very normal. Ours is in one and we've had no problems with our smart meter whatsoever

Mine was replaced under the stairs, 1930s house, just this August.

Don’t get a smart meter!!! They are awful and not accurate and a lot of us are fighting to get wrong readings sorted!

I asked for my number to be taken off the list and it stopped. A smart meter benefits them not us, tbh just would add to my mental load checking it, and are renowned for errors and build rises. I am usually very pro tech but smart meters no

There was a phase a couple of years ago where we were being harassed about one, but they seem to have given up.

How is a gas meter under the stairs a fire hazard? Gas leaks can cause explosions - I don't see how the meter being under the stairs is a higher fire hazard.

Meters are a common cause of a gas leak.

Including meters that haven't been tampered with? My gas engineer said gas explosions are usually due to people having tampered with their gas supply.

I have this too!! The house is only 15 years old so the meter definitely does not need replacing but I must get weekly emails and frequent calls.