Competency of smart meter fitters in press

C_Mababejive

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4737864/Are-smart-meter-blame-house-fires.html

Robisere

At first I thought "Another Daily Wail scare story". Then I began to think of all the many times that unscrupulous people have jumped on a bandwagon and rushed to claim a piece of a newly-cooked pie.

Qualified engineers with many years of experience are probably being outbid by cowboys with minimum knowledge and training. Again.

Serene in the knowledge that smart meters are not compulsory, I will continue to refuse one at my property.

C_Mababejive

Indeed, lots of "training centres" are pushing smart metering courses costing thousands and suggesting that you will get a job paying £x/y/z

One training centre close to me is marketing a course costing £6k and promising earnings of upto £40k pa. There are no pre-requisites to sign up for the course save for a few GCSE's

When a smart meter person turns up at yourt door, just remember,,,a couple of months ago he or she may never have touched gas or electric.

Vegastare

Just to say there is no legal obligation to have a smart meter installed in your home if you do not want one. As Robisere says.

Infact some of those in use now will need to be replaced as wont work anyway in data transfer in 2018/19, and you wonder who is paying for this................bill payer not UK Gov

Hillbilly1

Had a SM fitted by BG. Fitter claimed our gas fire was faulty... then said 'I'm not experienced in gas'.

Service awful, v rude man. Was typical,older guy trying to be one up on female house owner and making decisions won't consent.

Fire actually fine. Complained to BG as it's not the first time I've been subjected to sexist service. Charged them for the time to get it checked by someone else.

C_Mababejive

If you have anyone be it smart meter installer or whatever, come to your house to do gas work, dont be afraid to ask to see their gas safe register card which they should be carrying. On the back of the card will be detailed their competencies.

On the front of the card will be an engineer ref no. You can input it here and check it..
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer/#checkanengineer

MeterMan

Even the journo who wrote the article couldn't be bothered to get a picture of any current smart meter being installed.

Vegastare Just to say there is no legal obligation to have a smart meter installed in your home if you do not want one. As Robisere says.

Infact some of those in use now will need to be replaced as wont work anyway in data transfer in 2018/19, and you wonder who is paying for this................bill payer not UK Gov

Actually, all smart meters will need to be replaced at some point. And as for the cost, the government is paying for it initially, and then paid back through standing charges on a customers bill.

Hillbilly1 Had a SM fitted by BG. Fitter claimed our gas fire was faulty... then said 'I'm not experienced in gas'.

Service awful, v rude man. Was typical,older guy trying to be one up on female house owner and making decisions won't consent.

Fire actually fine. Complained to BG as it's not the first time I've been subjected to sexist service. Charged them for the time to get it checked by someone else.

What was the fault with the fire, where someone else told you it was fine?

daveyjp

A neighbour had one installed last week. The work also involved replacing the external meter box, I can only assume because the smart meter has a different bracket.

His tool box seemed to be limited to a big hammer, a wrench and lots of foam filler. It took him the best part of three hours using a combination of the hammer, wrench and filler to bodge it completely.

The box is far from level and there is foam filler everywhere. I can't believe he is competent to check a gas meter installation after such a performance.