Sneaky Scottish Power

Nicholas

Was just looking at renewing my Scottish Power tariff to Super Saver April 2020 using Cheap Energy Club. I really want to avoid having a smart meter fitted. I had to go hunting for all the terms and conditions, but I found this in the small print:

By signing up to this Tariff you are registering your interest for a smart meter. This means
ScottishPower, or an installer working on ScottishPower’s behalf, may contact you in the future
to discuss a smart meter installation as and when you become eligible.

Now, does this mean that I am agreeing to have a smart meter fitted? Being "interested" and actually getting are two different things. I could be interested in buying a new coat but it doesn't mean that I have to leave the shop with a coat or even buy a new coat from anyone.

wavelets

Nicholas wrote: »

Was just looking at renewing my Scottish Power tariff to Super Saver April 2020 using Cheap Energy Club. I really want to avoid having a smart meter fitted. I had to go hunting for all the terms and conditions, but I found this in the small print:



Now, does this mean that I am agreeing to have a smart meter fitted? Being "interested" and actually getting are two different things. I could be interested in buying a new coat but it doesn't mean that I have to leave the shop with a coat or even buy a new coat from anyone.

My guess is that by registering your interest to have a smart meter installed, you will take advantage of that possibilty when smart meters are offed to you.

The supplier will keep nagging you to take up the option. You could ask them to stop contacting you as you don't want a smart meter. But that would effectively be withdrawing your intestest in having a smart meter installed. That would be a breach of the terms of the tariff, and so the supplier will probably seek to move you to one that more suits your needs.
Failure to agree to an alternatiive, the supplier may place you on their expensive standard variable/deemed tariff.

[Deleted User]

wavelets wrote: »

My guess is that by registering your interest to have a smart meter installed, you will take advantage of that possibilty when smart meters are offed to you.

The supplier will keep nagging you to take up the option. You could ask them to stop contacting you as you don't want a smart meter. But that would effectively be withdrawing your intestest in having a smart meter installed. That would be a breach of the terms of the tariff, and so the supplier will probably seek to move you to one that more suits your needs.
Failure to agree to an alternatiive, the supplier may place you on their expensive standard variable/deemed tariff.

This seems to be the latest underhand tactic employed by the energy providers to force smart meters on people who don't want them. I've got a similar issue with EDF. I've just moved to their cheapest tariff, but it comes with a (well buried) T&C that allows them to install a smart meter "when we're rolling them out in your area". My approach is that I'll stick with the cheapest tariff and if and when they try and force a smart meter on me I'll reject it, even if I have to move to another tariff, or even another provider (I don't want to do the latter, because I like EDF due to their non reporting to credit reference agencies). I also have a saved "chat" with EDF whereby they said I wouldn't have to have a smart meter, so if they try and enforce the £60 exit fee I'll wave that in their face.


OP, I suggest you take a similar approach. If the SP tariff is a good one, stick with it until such time as they try and force a smart meter on you, then consider your options at at that point.