Smart meters/PAYG to DD issues

magicguitarman

Hello everyone, long time reader of these forums. First time poster (sorry its to ask something, I'll do my best to contribute too).


When I moved into my current house the cheapest PAYG energy was OVO (I had very few hours at work). They wanted to install new "smart" meters which the guy on the phone told me could be switched easily and digitally from PAYG to Monthly Billing and would allow me to leave to another supplier if I wished.


A few months down the line I'd like (due to more work) to go back to monthly billing. And tried to switch to British Gas to get the MSE big switch deal.


BG told me that they don't use OVO meters and would have to install their own PAYG meter and then subsequently another, DD meter. Clearly I have missed the deadline now but I would like some advice having spoken to both WHICH and the Ombudsman about this.


Do I have a complaint to make about mis-selling the smart meter? I wouldn't have taken it if I had know it would be so hard to move away.


And what's the best way out of this. Moving to a bigger supplier that will give me a DD meter eventually? Can I insist on a "dumb" meter? Anything else I should consider?


Help please, Moneysavers!

[Deleted User]

Are you saying that BG will definitely not accept Ovos Liberty Secure meter when its been switched to credit meter mode ? I can understand BG failing to make it work in PAYG mode but not as a non smart dumb meter. BG do credit check new customers for credit meters like other suppliers will, so have Ovo accepted you as a credit meter customer ?
If that is the case I think you really have a case for mis selling. The Ovo gas meter in credit mode and acting as a dumb meter accurately records gas consumption ( reading is on button 9 I think ) so how can any supplier not use the meter. If they can t then you are at a disadvantage and Ovo should have made it clear before you joined them. I ve seen others on forums complaining about Ovos tactics when trying to switch. Its as if they are saying once we have got you in our clutches you re going nowhere else without a struggle.

magicguitarman

BG will not even take over the meter in any mode. Smart, dumb, credit, PAYG. Seems the meter is useless for anything not OVO related.

BG will put another meter in, but I am really annoyed as I was told I was getting a meter that would basically do everything from then on.

Wolf3

BG should be able to arrange the transfer and then organise an exchange after the transfer has taken place and should be able to install DD credit meters. Most of the problems appear to revolve around switching away from OVO as your supplier. Mainly due to the fact the other suppliers don't support the Key you would use to top up the meter.

magicguitarman

I use the app and online, part of the attraction of the smart meter was not having to go to the shop every time!


The whole thing is a bit of a farce really. I will be complaining to OVO and trying to get away to BG I think. Once they have put in DD meters I think switching to another supplier on DD is possible as BG are not the cheapest round our way. However the smaller companies won't put a new meter in or use OVO's.


It's a complete idiot shop ringing them all. Everyone has a different answer. Almost as if they're a bunch of poorly regulated cowboys.

System

magicguitarman wrote: »

I use the app and online, part of the attraction of the smart meter was not having to go to the shop every time!


The whole thing is a bit of a farce really. I will be complaining to OVO and trying to get away to BG I think. Once they have put in DD meters I think switching to another supplier on DD is possible as BG are not the cheapest round our way. However the smaller companies won't put a new meter in or use OVO's.


It's a complete idiot shop ringing them all. Everyone has a different answer. Almost as if they're a bunch of poorly regulated cowboys.

Complaining will most likely get you absolutely nowhere. The fact that smart meters cannot talk to every supplier is well documented, and covered on Ovo's website:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/ovo-answers/topics/smart-technology/smart-meters/can-i-switch-energy-suppliers-with-smart-meter.html

If anyone is to blame it is the Government that has tried to keep the smart meter roll out programme at arm's length. They cannot be blamed for delays etc

magicguitarman

That page reads VERY differently to what I was told on the phone.

[Deleted User]

We dont want smart meters having to talk to every supplier, thats not necessary , just that a smart meter can act as a dumb meter when needed. Only Ovo and Utilita with their Liberty Secure meters use an excuse to stop customers switching. They are bunch of lying cowboys, I ve read about this on another forum where they try every excuse possible to just ignore their customers who have had enough of their free smart prepay meters.Sounds good until people have had enough of it and want to leave.. I still can t understand why BG or anyone else can t accept the meter in credit mode operating as a dumb meter. I ve been to read these meters occasionally and its just a matter of pressing button 9 for total Kwhrs on the meter since it was installed.

magicguitarman

What I think I need to do, is get away from OVO to a bigger supplier who also do DD (OVO don't and so won't switch the meter to DD mode). I can switch to that supplier on PAYG and then ask them about a credit check.


Bit of a workaround but if it gets me away from this lot (who're hiking their gas prices too) then so be it.

MeterMan

'got what I asked for, now I want compensation because I didn't read the terms and conditions'

magicguitarman

That's not the point of the post. And did I mention compensation? No.

Now if you haven't got anything useful or at least polite to contribute, get lost.