Money Moral Dilemma: Should I report my broken meter to my energy supplier?

Minihauk

Report it, but don't expect miracles.

I've been reporting my faulty meter since February. Had 5 appointments not met and still no nearer to being sorted. Now in the hand of
Citizens Advice Customer Services to try to resolve.

simh

As a meter reader of many years, always report it, and keep on reporting it, as they always take an age to fix these things. Meter readers will be reporting it too when they attend site

Also, 1st gen smart meters don't work when you change suppliers as the suppliers have been installing their own systems and kit. A new national network (SMETS2) is coming in at some point that they'll all be using

And, smart meters ARE the new meter on the wall replacing the old meter. The little mobile digital screen they give you showing you how much is costing you is just that - a wireless lcd screen and not in any sense an actual meter

jumping_mouse

I am with this poster all the way about not accepting a smart meter. My brother has one that no longer works because he switched suppliers and it is now a nightmare to read.

crmism

Whether or not your energy company gets round to discovering the fault itself, you are responsible as consumer to report it; you will probably find there's such an obligation mentioned in the small print of your terms and conditions.

Surely you must realize that's the decent and honest thing to do? People routinely carp about being cheated by others, and yet they're more than willing to do it themselves if they get the chance.

You might be treated leniently by your supplier, but don't hold your breath.

Kevin_Draper

Why would you think its somehow ok to cheat.

Fbpc

Sorry but your response to 1) was incorrect. A Smart meter is an typical gas meter which has an additional unit attached to the front of the meter which makes it ‘smart’. The handheld unit is called a ‘In House Unit’ (IHD) and shows the usage.

-taff

jumping_mouse wrote: »

I am with this poster all the way about not accepting a smart meter. My brother has one that no longer works because he switched suppliers and it is now a nightmare to read.

Snap. The old meter works fine. I'm not suddenly going to be charged less for either gas or electric because I have a smart meter, I know how much I use and how much I spend, and neither of those will change for the inclusion of a shiny new meter whith a whizz bang app.


And for the record, once I'd informed them [in writing] that the meter looked like it was playing up, I would have left it to them to sort out and enjoyed my free electric guilt free.

Ebenezer_Screwj

Report it, they'll catch up with you eventually. Anyway, money saving is not about being dishonest.

omendata

If its Scottish Power they will probably mess you around before it gets fixed.

I had a fault also with the economy 7 white meter - i think the boxes all have the same issue - ie the digits no longer move but you get the electricity.

I reported my fault right away and it took them 5 years , yes 5 years to fix it - 50+ phone calls , over 100 emails, 7 engineer and meter reader visits and it was only when i demanded to see a manager and quoted the Wathdog tv programme that they did anything. In the end i got compensation £50 and the 5 years completely written off as long as i dropped the case and didnt go on the Watchdog tv program!

My view is not like most people who obey the law and do everything they are told by those in charge ie the rich and powerful , the bankers , the corrupt politicians and greedy companies who crush the small man every day - Dont follow the sheeple or you will become one of them!!!!!!!!! - these companies are ripping us off wholesale with their energy price rises and dire customer service - dont report it and screw the system for as much as you can get.

If you dont you are just another one of the many sheeple who take it up the butt and say thank you afterwards.

They told you smart meters would save you a fortune - we knew in the IT dept
a decade ago you wouldnt be saving anything , they can use them to spy on you , they are unreliable and a fire hazard when installed incorrectly and as more and more things go digital there is more option to fail! Dont listen to those in charge , dont be a sheeple , be a wolf or at the least a Shepherd!

People wonder why there is so much identity fraud - think about it - since all the call centres went to India , Pakistan etc its so obvious when you bribe a call centre worker in India for a few rupees your personal data was gone long, long ago and all the energy companies use them in Gurgaon and Delhi etc They play fast and wild with your data so why shoould you play ball - at least think about it and grow a pair!

Read up on the law = back billing in particular - they can only back bill you for 1 year if you have a problem with your meter but most people can get off completely as Scottish Power have numerous problems since Iberdrola took over - I know i used to work for them in the IT department and as an engineer - they are ripoff merchants and useless!

Honesty doesnt pay - I have learnt this lesson and its taken me 40+ years to do it!
If you doubt it then just open your eyes and see what happened to FRED THE SHRED , IDI AMIN, TONY BLIAR - Take what you can get and don't be a sheeple - they might like to sound all high and mighty on here advising you to be honest lol Makes me wanna puke all these people living in a pink bubble with their so called scruples - scruples soon go out the window in reality - these are all probably all the ones with plenty of money in the bank who dont have to scrimp and save! Its great to be Altruistic when you can afford to be - I've yet to meet a poor altruist!
Limousine liberals - the worst type of people!
:eek:

Ezorqs

I'd wait for the meter reader to come round. It's their job to notice if there's something wrong with the meter.

You have no technical knowledge to know whether the meter is broken or in good working order. It may look like it has stopped, but then you don't know how it works or how it is measuring the electricity.

As long as you give them the reading diligently every month, then you are informing them by default that there is probably something wrong, you aren't lying, you're just reading the meter.

Maybe, just maybe... they'll install a better meter.

Do I think the Big Six screw us all over more than they should? Yes.