Confused re meter owner and supplier

DFWJane

I've just has Southern Electric at the door saying they own our meter (which on research, they do) and that unless we have them as our supplier we will be paying approx 24% extra for our utilities and we were using a third party supplier.
Our current supplier has been horrendously expensive and are just switching but now I am worried we are going to be in the same situation.
He caught me at a bad time and I couldn't take in what he was trying to say other than if we didn't use then we'd pay.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me?
Many thanks.

jd87

Phone Southern Electric and report the lying scumbag.

DFWJane

He was obviously a salesman and what is also concerning is that most of the people round here are elderly, he told me he had been called by the neighbours about their high bill and because all the meters were owned by them in this area it would be more expensive to have any other supplier as that supply had to go through the Southern Electric meter.
Well I've never heard of such a thing and cannot believe it but we do seem to have paid an awful lot with our current supplier and they are constantly telling us we owe more.
Some of the people round here are going to fall for this but before i go talking to them myself, i need to be clear about it in my own mind.

jd87

Don't take his word for anything. Like you said he's a salesman and will tell you any lies he can to get you to switch to him so he can earn his commision. If you think you are paying too much for your bills then you need to use a comparison site like energyhelpine.com or moneysupermarket.com and find out for yourself who is cheapest for you.

lemontart

as far as I am aware this particular company does not actually own the meters, they may lease them from National grid or an igt, where as British Gas does own some meters,


as others have said ignore salesman - I have heard some real horror stories as to what they say to get the sale, go to a comparison site and get prices

stewie_griffin

lemontart wrote: »

as far as I am aware this particular company does not actually own the meters, they may lease them from National grid or an igt, where as British Gas does own some meters,


as others have said ignore salesman - I have heard some real horror stories as to what they say to get the sale, go to a comparison site and get prices

I think the sales rep would have been referring to electric meters although I agree that what the rep was saying was absolute rubbish

Cuckoo999

Hi there, sorry to jump in on a slightly diiferent tack, but I am having a similar thing at the moment. How do you find out who is responsible for the meter, Mine is 45 years old - seriously, house was built in 1964, original stickers and seals on it! Contacted npower asking when it was due renewal and how long the calibration was guaranteed correct, They said "Your meter operator will be in touch when meter is due" HELP !

Rockyroad

Hi. As far as I know, the electicity meter is the responsibility of the supplier whose area you are in, regardless of who supplies you. The gas is either Transco or the IGT. I think a meter change is due something like every twenty years? Hopefully someone can clarify this for you. You could try npower again and ask them the age limit on the meter and who is responsible in your area, they will be able to give you that information.

jd87

Cuckoo999 wrote: »

Hi there, sorry to jump in on a slightly diiferent tack, but I am having a similar thing at the moment. How do you find out who is responsible for the meter, Mine is 45 years old - seriously, house was built in 1964, original stickers and seals on it! Contacted npower asking when it was due renewal and how long the calibration was guaranteed correct, They said "Your meter operator will be in touch when meter is due" HELP !

Hi Cuckoo. See this map of electricity distribution network operators: http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/AboutElectricity/DistributionCompanies/

DFWJane

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'm very annoyed by the whole thing especially as he would have worried people who may not be as sceptical as me. As he was speaking I was thinking I must post on MSE, someone will know!
I will phone SE and complain about him.
I'm already in the process of switching and quite happily do this through comparison sites and bag a bit of cashback.

Vestra

DFWJane wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'm very annoyed by the whole thing especially as he would have worried people who may not be as sceptical as me. As he was speaking I was thinking I must post on MSE, someone will know!
I will phone SE and complain about him.
I'm already in the process of switching and quite happily do this through comparison sites and bag a bit of cashback.

I wouldn't waste your breath, they know there salesmen are liars but they won't do anything as they get results from it.