Npower letter re smartmeters

EachPenny

House_Martin wrote: »

.Don t forget old Ken and Marge are not too good at bending down nowadays. Eon are not concerned about the end user but they save a few quid on the cost of the meter
I ve seen thousands of these meters in use and never heard a good word said about them.

The thing is HM, I and I suspect many other posters completely agree with you when you say things like this - I've even thanked your post because I agree so much.

Energy supply is a consumer service, which means the consumer ought to get much more say in how that service is delivered to them. They ought to be able to express a preference for the type of meter they want and how their information is shared.

But then you put your other hat on, and join your colleagues who appear to be somewhat obsessed with enforcement and fiddling and imposing their will on people who it appears should consider themselves very fortunate that the energy companies are willing to supply them with energy, provided they agree to be very good boys and girls.

The big energy companies don't seem to have broken away from the notion they are in charge and the customers need to do what they are jolly well told. A wake up call is much needed, but unfortunately I don't think this government is the one to do it.

Carrot007

EachPenny wrote: »

Energy supply is a consumer service, which means the consumer ought to get much more say in how that service is delivered to them. They ought to be able to express a preference for the type of meter they want and how their information is shared.

Don't know much about the other parts you mentioned but I can talk about this.

You can have it if you are prepared to pay for it.

As it stands a prepay customer is a loss if they have to call thier supplier once in a year. Obviously prepay are more likely to.

A non prepay customer only has to ring twice before the supplier makes a loss.

This does not even take into account what happens on the call. It could be worse for the supplier.

There is no supplier that really wants to be in the domestic market. It would be better off being re-nationalised. (beyond the subsequent job losses etc)

House_Martin

Carrot007 wrote: »

Don't know much about the other parts you mentioned but I can talk about this.

You can have it if you are prepared to pay for it.

As it stands a prepay customer is a loss if they have to call thier supplier once in a year. Obviously prepay are more likely to.

A non prepay customer only has to ring twice before the supplier makes a loss.

This does not even take into account what happens on the call. It could be worse for the supplier.

There is no supplier that really wants to be in the domestic market. It would be better off being re-nationalised. (beyond the subsequent job losses etc)

all prepayment meters have been subsidised down in price from the true cost of running them. Politicians got onto this one approx 10 years ago when prepay rates were much higher than even standard/variable.
Recently they have even been notched down another peg to be slightly under SV rates.
Dumb prepay meters are the devils invention.We as meter readers are constantly being sent out, at great expense to try and deal with meter problems many of which are self inflicted criminal damage on the outdated old meters as customers try tricks to defeat the key and cards Smart prepay will improve the situation a lot , at least it will do away with the key and cards. Just as we all pay for the smart meter install roll out we all pay the huge extra costs involved in the commercial losses associated with the UKs obsession with prepay meters, something that is rare in Europe and USA I believe
.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25718447.
This is a link to a newspaper story back in 2014 which involved a gas explosion with a prepay meter, in Dundas Road Sheffield where I have worked a few times .Check the paragraph which details British Gas Revenue protection officers who went into 20 properties in the street, with a police escort and found 7 out of the 20 checked to be fiddling meters.This is a level which surprised the hard bitten RPU men in the extent of the criminality. Just multiply that out to the rest of the UKs downmarket terraced regions (except York ! ) and anyone can see how much energy is leaching away , unpaid for throughout the UK and prepayment meters are fiddled 9 out of 10 compared to credit meters
Everyone certainly is nt a "good girl or boy " when it comes to fiddling meters ot TV licences

thorganby

House_Martin wrote: »

Nice to know a couple of people are my "followers " (or more like stalkers ) I can t reciprocate I m afraid
You both missed my "double standards "post earlier on the same subject .
i do have a hatred of the American Liberty Secure meters which give too much information.Typical Yanks !
It might be acceptable for the odd weirdo s who are techno geeks, but for normal people, we just want the 5 digit number reading displayed (in kwhs for the electric meter and cub3 for gas ) on the first screen,clearly and not have to scrabble about pressing buttons of a tiny keyboard (9 ) which sets the meter scrolling madly round displaying lots of other info which is nt needed by a European just to see what the reading is whilst under the stairs with a torch.
.Don t forget old Ken and Marge are not too good at bending down nowadays. Eon are not concerned about the end user but they save a few quid on the cost of the meter
I ve seen thousands of these meters in use and never heard a good word said about them.
I challenge the head of meter asset boss at Eon to come around with me on my rounds and listen to what the UK think about Liberty Secure rubbish meters.
I can see why the cheapjack suppliers buy them like Ovo, Utilita First Utility etc , because they are £20 cheaper than Landis Gyr meters but not one of the big six like Eon. shocking decision !
I will be switching from Eon in 11 months time anyway so I wont have to refuse them and their dreadful meters

Unfortunately some MSE readers may believe this incorrect information that you regularly post.

Secure meters are NOT Yank rubbish as you like to post, in fact they originated in India over three decades ago and operate very successfully in many countries around the world EXCEPT America:

Africa
Australia
Europe
India
Middle East
South Asia
South East Asia
United Kingdom

Horstmann is another of the companies brands that you should have heard of.

In 2013 the Secure Liberty gas and electric meters were the only SMETS1 compliant system available in the UK but don't let facts get in the way of a good rant.

Readers may actually have some respect for your posts if they contained accurate verifiable information rather than your insults, wild assumptions and strange opinions.

teddysmum

I am assuming a crossover of mail, because after refusing and having my account tagged as a refusal, today I got my appointment to do both meters.


The appointment (fitting only done if you call or email to accept or change the date-so please hurry up or you'll miss out)for 22nd December between 8amand 12pm(is the latter noon or midnight as 12pm doesn't exist?)


This after the CS person said ours wouldn't be done until February when some will get new style meters, so they were certain to be trying to fob us off with an obsolete model.


I won't be responding so hard luck if they turn up as they won't be allowed,though ,on second thoughts I' best contact them because the electric meter is accessible outside.


Also they will switch off each service for at least half an hour (in cold weather) and someone has to be home, even if the meters are outside, so they can show you how to use the setup and save money (the latter is easy: use less fuel)


So that's the burglar alarm going off, all clocks on heating, cooker etc resetting and the aquarium filter playing up; even more reasons not to want useless meters.


PS Just rang to make sure no one will come out as you can't trust the fact that confirmation is required. The lady confirmed that without agreement no one will come out, but added that my refusal wasn't on the main system yet and that it would be an old style meter, seeming to agree by laughing when I commented that fitting one would be a waste of time.