Physical Meter Reading - Frequency and the law?

darkan9el

Great information and being informed is what I like to be. Most often I log online and send meter readings, in fact I can't remember the last time I didn't. As for honesty or dishonesty, it may be a fact of life unfortunately but making everyone a potential suspect is hardly the way to treat customers.

As for smart meters, I have sent letters of non consent to every energy company regarding those toxic devices. I will never consent to a smart meter ever. I am more than capable of looking after my own affairs in that regard.

With regards to discounts relating to payment methods, I will go over my thoughts briefly.
I fail to see how processing 12 payments can cost any less than 4 payments that essentially have the same process, i.e. transfer of funds from my account to yours, I certainly cannot conceive that the savings from my method to DD would be in excess of the £100 annual discount you were offering me if I went via DD. I have asked this question several times and never, not once has anyone given me an answer, I have however been passed around departments with a carefree abandon. I have asked for proof of the cost difference and I have never been given the courtesy of any figures that can justify such discrimination. I believe it has nothing to do with cost to you and everything to do with consistent monthly income, for that you are willing to give those people who use the DD method of payment a reward but such as me because I choose to use a payment method not preferred by you I do not get such discounts, that to my mind is discrimination.
I am always open to other perspectives and thoughts on the payment topic but I certainly will not hold my breath on receiving a clear and concise reply that can answer my question. In the end I am just a number and sometimes a small thorn in Eon's side but I speak my mind and in this case I think I have a valid point.

Thank you for all the information, always interested in people opinions and so much info, it makes for good reading. I think metering reading should have some firmer rules for both parties benefit.

System

I would like to remind the OP that the meter does not belong to him/her, nor does he have a right to a supply of gas and electric and if he cared to read the small print in his/her and everyones T and Cs , some where it will say something to the words of as " a condition of supply you agree to periodic inspections of the meters (without advanced notice of course ) of our meter readers or agents to inspect the meters at a reasonable time ".
Yes you have a right to privacy if you get windmills and generators to power your electricity and use oil or bottled gas, meantime you will have to put up with these grotty little irksome annoyances knocking on your door .30 years ago you would ve have had your electricity cut off if you came out with that sort of attitude and refused admittance to meter readers. Thank god I m retiring in two weeks time so I don t have to put up with these sort of people ever again.
Got to laugh at your description of a smart meter as a "Toxic device ". I see you have been fooled by the fake news and ridiculous lies from Stop smart meters UK ..some people are easily fooled. You want it both ways, no smart meters and no meter readers ever.

darkan9el

I'll ignore your acidic attitude House Martin, I'm here for info not trolls, I've got what I needed thank you to the rest of the people who supplied what I asked for. Enjoy your retirement, as it will mean one less person like you I have to open my door to.

darkan9el

PS I think now the post has descended into trolling can we close this post please. cheers.

CashStrapped

I think what HouseMartin has pointed out, quite correctly, is very much relevant to the thread. I do not consider his post a "troll".

We do not own the meters.

The meter is not our property. The energy company has a right to inspect it for safety and check has not been tampered with. They also can ask to check the meter reading. You of course, have the right to refuse entry.

I completely agree that this [the meter reading] should always been done at the home-owners convenience. If you feel that you need to have a meter reader do their job at a time pre-arranged with you, I completely understand.

However, when this is used as an excuse to prevent what is a very simple check to ensure you are correctly paying for the utility provided (whether you agree with the economics of how/what you are being charge or not), it becomes clear that the individual is just being obstructive for the sake of it.

I value my privacy, but I do not see how someone very briefly noting a set of numbers invades that privacy. I give a reading of my own each month to my energy supplier. I could therefore view the meter readings carried out by the energy companies as a challenge to my integrity. But, I realise that, unfortunately, these things have to be checked as not everyone is as trustworthy. It is the way things are.

A very simple solution would be to have the meter moved to an exterior box (although this would be at your cost).

Furthermore, although you want people to respect your privacy, you have posted a question on an open public forum. You have no right to demand the closure of the discussion or to end the thread just because you have met an opinion to which you disagree.

spiro

The reason DD is cheaper than POD is because with DDs there is little or no risk of the customer getting into debt and refusing to pay. Debt totals millions and if people claim poverty the reclaim rate can be very small meaning it takes years to get to back.

Unfortunately suppliers in this country are not allowed to be as draconian as they can in the rest of Europe. There most energy is billed monthly and you are cut off the day after you were due to pay the bill. Some years ago a survey showed energy bills at number 10 in peoples priority with Sky/Cable and mobile phones at the top, which is totally wrong.

darkan9el

Ok let me be clear on this, because there appears to be a lot of misunderstanding.

• I have never denied access - ever
• I am always courtesy to the meter reader
• I have NEVER said I own the meter, think I own the meter or consider the meter mine in any way shape or form.
• I give consistently accurate readings (barring once when I actually overcharged myself)
• I still have all of my faculties and I am capable enough to read a meter myself, I am ecologically savvy and I am a low-end user because my house ecologically conditioned, so why would I want a smart meter as they can't tell me anything I don't already know.
• Why would I pay to have my house defaced by an ugly box, but in any case, there is no place to site it and I wouldn't have that done.
• I am working towards being independent of energy and water companies and will hopefully achieve this within 10 years
• By all means say what you like about the topic, but nobody has the right to attack me personally.

Assumptions have been made on my behalf and some of those I have now answered, I shall endeavour to be clearer in my details so as not to "mislead" people that make assumptions.

darkan9el

spiro wrote: »

The reason DD is cheaper than POD is because with DDs there is little or no risk of the customer getting into debt and refusing to pay. Debt totals millions and if people claim poverty the reclaim rate can be very small meaning it takes years to get to back.

Unfortunately suppliers in this country are not allowed to be as draconian as they can in the rest of Europe. There most energy is billed monthly and you are cut off the day after you were due to pay the bill. Some years ago a survey showed energy bills at number 10 in peoples priority with Sky/Cable and mobile phones at the top, which is totally wrong.

I pay all my bills, my premise is, "do I need it or do I want it," most things fall into the want and there they stay, I would rather go to a place and experience it rather than watch it on TV.
I fail to see how that argument costs more to administer the quarterly payer? So you are saying quarterly payers will get into debt and the cost of chasing that debt is what stops the discount being applied but DD'ers won't default? How many people pay Quarterly compared to Direct Debit? this must be a figure Eon knows. show me figures. I will accept such things as long as they come from a legitimate source and can be verified.

matelodave

I guess that if you are as argumentative with the neter readers as you are on this forum then I'm not surprised that you dont get on with them.

System

I had a very nice chat to a G4S meter reader earlier this week who came to read my FIT meter for the second time in 2 months. I was mildly irritated that I had to get out of my chair at 4.30pm on on a cold, wet and windy evening to open up my garage but it wasn't fair to take my ire out on the poor chap that was just doing his job.

I e-mailed EDF asking for an explanation and I received a very courteous reply stating that they had no concerns about my FIT account and that the reason for the second read was to re-establish a 2 year reading cycle. I cannot take issue with that.