Solar energy - Feed-in Tariff payment delays - your experiences?

zeupater

Exiled_Tyke wrote: »

Until today I've been very impressed with E.ON but I received a letter today to tell me that they had been to see my meter last week (strangely it was a day when I was in most of the time so I don't know how I missed them but they left no evidence at the time). The letter goes onto say that they will return in a couple of months 'on or around' a particular date. But it doesn't really matter as I will be at work on-and-around those days so will miss them anyway.

Surely there must be a better way to go about this, than this expensive and antiquated method of turning up unexpectedly, writing and posting letters (surely they have my email address) to tell me they are going to turn up again at some non-specific time?

Hi

Give them a bell and ask whether a photo of the reading will do for now ... they'll probably mention 'safety' & 'inspection' but it's almost certainly to ensure that you've not been telling porkies ... anyway, whilst you're at it and just for fun - ask why they're not able to use one of the registers on a smart-meter as a TGM, then wait for the dumbfounded silence ... :cool::D

HTH
Z

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Exiled_Tyke wrote: »

Until today I've been very impressed with E.ON but I received a letter today to tell me that they had been to see my meter last week (strangely it was a day when I was in most of the time so I don't know how I missed them but they left no evidence at the time). The letter goes onto say that they will return in a couple of months 'on or around' a particular date. But it doesn't really matter as I will be at work on-and-around those days so will miss them anyway.

Surely there must be a better way to go about this, than this expensive and antiquated method of turning up unexpectedly, writing and posting letters (surely they have my email address) to tell me they are going to turn up again at some non-specific time?

Hello Exiled Tyke and sorry we missed you.

Routine visits like this are arranged in batches within a specific area and our representative will attempt to do as many as possible on a particular day. We accept that not all will be achievable as there aren't any set appointments. Those we aren't able to do will be re-scheduled for the next time we're in the area. Again, we accept we'll not catch everyone. Eventually, if we haven't managed to see the meter, we'll attempt to contact the customer to arrange a set appointment.

Customers can contact us at any time and we'll be happy to arrange a mutually convenient appointment. Contact details are on our website.

This side of the operation is looked after by the Meter Operator for the area. This is the company that installs and maintains the metering equipment and is separate from our other services. We appoint the Meter Operator but they have their own systems and may not have an email address for you. We won’t share your personal data with other organisations, including those in the E.ON group, unless you have told us we can.

Sorry again the visit failed Exiled Tyke.

Malc

Martyn1981

Exiled_Tyke wrote: »

Until today I've been very impressed with E.ON but I received a letter today to tell me that they had been to see my meter last week (strangely it was a day when I was in most of the time so I don't know how I missed them but they left no evidence at the time).

Any chance it was G4S doing the meter reads?

I had a letter to say that I'd failed to respond to several cards left, when not home for a meter read, and that my FiT was now at risk. I rang up ready for a fight, as I'm usually home, and no cards were left, but EDF immediately said 'there had been issues'. Which I suspect is code for - 'we've heard from other customers too that they are a bunch of liars'.

Then arranged a meter read for a months time. I was late back due to helping a friend look for lost doggy (we did find it), so back at 12.15pm with meter read between 12-5pm. Card waiting for me.

I rang immediately to say I'm here, can the guy come back, but G4S had no record of the appointment, and the meter reader hadn't completed the 'meter reader reference' bit. They asked if I was sure it was supposed to be today, and was it definitely G4S, I said I've rung you using the number on the card he left .... so yes I'm pretty sure!!!!!

So directed back to EDF for another appointment, and another month.

Appointment 12-5pm again, nobody arrived by 4.45pm, so I rang just to check, in case they shut the phone lines at 5pm. This time they had the appointment, but hadn't told the meter reader.

So new appointment booked, another month, but 10mins later the meter reader knocked, as he'd got the new appointment, but as he lived about 200m (that's meters, not miles) from my house, he came over straight away.

Would have been quicker and easier to arrange the whole thing by shouting out of my Velux window. What a farce.

No problem with the requirements, that seems fair, but huge delays for appointments, threatening letters when it's not me but them, 5hr meter read windows, partly completed cards, appalling admin ...... come on guys work with us, not against us.

The_Green_Hornet

Exiled_Tyke wrote: »

Until today I've been very impressed with E.ON but I received a letter today to tell me that they had been to see my meter last week (strangely it was a day when I was in most of the time so I don't know how I missed them but they left no evidence at the time). The letter goes onto say that they will return in a couple of months 'on or around' a particular date. But it doesn't really matter as I will be at work on-and-around those days so will miss them anyway.

Surely there must be a better way to go about this, than this expensive and antiquated method of turning up unexpectedly, writing and posting letters (surely they have my email address) to tell me they are going to turn up again at some non-specific time?

Same thing happened to me (twice) and I had a long conversation with the EON Fit Team who clarified what their meter reading process was, as follows:

1. Call unannounced and if they can't get access to read the meter send first letter with approximate date they will call again
2. Call unannounced for a second time and if they still can't get access to read the meter send second letter with another approximate date they will call again
3. Call unannounced for a third time and if they still can't get access to read the meter send a third letter requesting you contact them to arrange a date/time for the meter to be read

As you say, there must be more efficient ways for E.ON to do this,(maybe they could add a notification/booking function to the web site where you enter your quarterly meter readings), but when I spoke with them they didn't seem to be that bothered about it.

pinnks

I too am with EON and this process is a complete farce. My TGMs are in the loft, which is fully floored and accessible by a fixed loft ladder.

First visit was a not-so-small lady in her 50s who called unannounced. I said I had nothing that would make me let her (or anyone else) past my front door but if she cared to make an appointment then she is welcome to climb up into my loft. Why would anyone allow a complete stranger into their house without warning. She murmured health and safety and left. EON got a bit stroppy at that and whimpered on about FIT being at risk - really? Grow up people!

Nothing happened for ages, then some chap turned up, complete with ladder, and was surprised when I said that he wouldn't need that as there is a loft ladder. He said he had been told that there was no safe access - really? Anyway, he struggled up into my loft and did the business. And that should have been that for a couple of years.

Had another one or two unannounced callers, who were again sent packing and then a gentleman of portly stature turned up. He couldn't even make it through the hatch, so I took photos of the TGMs and he typed the data into his machine. Nice guy, said see you in 18 months or so and left.

Then a couple of weeks ago the doorbell rings, I open the door and there is this guy again, unannounced, only 3 months or so after his last visit. He says, "I was here a few months ago wasn't I?" I say "yep" and he says "Well there's not point reading things again and they shouldn't have sent me here again.

As others have said, this part of the process is broken. I will never allow a person to enter my home unannounced, even if they have an ID card. You need to contact customers, make an appointment and stick to it. It's actually quite simple!

So, Malc, feed this one back up the chain and let's see some positive change by the time my next (totally pointless) visit is due in about 18 months!

Mnd

I have had letters saying we have left a card that I havnt responded to and my fit payments are at risk.
Utter lies..

ASavvyBuyer

EDF have been prompt again with our FIT payment.

Submitted reading last Tuesday evening (1st August), BACS notification on Thursday (3rd August) and payment in account over the weekend, available today (7th August).
Not bad, less than 130 hours from submitting reading to money available in bank account. :T

michaels

To Malc at Eon - as Eon provide such good CS on this site and also pay much quicker than First Utility, is it possible to switch to EON for my FIT (I am already an Eon customer for supply). Thanks

wosnick

British Gas FIT , it it me or are they getting worse? For me over the last 12 months payments are getting slower and slower. In the past if i submitted my reading on a Monday the cheque would be in my hands by the Friday.
On the 1st May i submitted as requested by email and receipt acknowledged and didn't receive a cheque. After two weeks I phoned and they claimed they didn't have my reading.!
This quarter i didn't receive the email requesting so phoned up on the 1st Aug and submitted it. No cheque received by 11th so phoned and spoke with Mr Obnoxious, "We got 28 working days to send" queried this and he said "didn't you read your terms and conditions? Its clear" they now wont entertain a complaint until then! Its now 17th Aug and still no cheque. Are other people having the same problems?

legoman62

Sent my FIT reading Tuesday evening, money in the bank this morning:)
3 working days. Well done E.ON:T