nPower misleading info

Gers

I can understand the need to 'push' uptake of smart meters. I don't understand that nPower keep on making appointments for me, only visible if I logon to my account (no email, text or letter), then, when I cancel I get an email saying 'All energy suppliers are required by the government to roll out Smart meters to every home in Great Britain by 2020'when in fact the situation is 'All households in England, Scotland and Wales must be offered a smart meter from their energy supplier by 2024. That does not mean you will have a smart meter by that date but it means you should be contacted (if you have not already) by your supplier about getting a smart meter.'

I've already had a conversation with them about a new fixed tariff this week. The agent told me that I couldn't move to the fixed tariff unless I had a smart meter fitted. When I pointed out that the T&Cs made it clear that  I only had to accept 'communications' about smart meters to qualify he spoke to his manager (at length) and then had to honour what was in the email.

Is this attitude more widespread than just affecting nPower? I find it almost unprincipled!

Neil_Jones

Some tariffs can be offered with the requirement of a smart meter.

But equally there are many around that don't.

So if you don't want a smart meter, and you're out of contract on the current deal, hop on the Energy Club/uSwitch/EnergyLinx or whatever, and find them.

mac.d

The Government has set targets for suppliers to install so many smart meters, so yes the somewhat misleading requests for people to agree to have smart meters fitted isn't just limited to one supplier. See the E-on thread for continual questions about which tariff specifies you only have to be contacted about smart meters, and which specify you need to have them fitted for evidence of this. The latter is becoming more prevalent, the best tariffs only available with agreement in the terms & conditions that you will have a smart meter fitted, and if not, they reserve the right to move you onto another tariff.

Swipe

I'd just leave the appointment and let them waste their time when no one answers

Talldave

Last year I signed up to an SSE tariff with mandatory smart meters.  Several months later, when we moved, they still hadn't got in touch!  Smaller suppliers are great for avoiding smart meters - I'm currently with Symbio & Gulf with no mention of smart meters.

Smodlet

Avro were banned, temporarily, from taking on new customers due to their failure to comply with the smart meter requirements imposed by the government and, in turn, Ofgem.  Other than that, I can only echo what Mr. Neil Jones has said; it was spot-on.

Gers

Neil_Jones said:

Some tariffs can be offered with the requirement of a smart meter.

But equally there are many around that don't.

So if you don't want a smart meter, and you're out of contract on the current deal, hop on the Energy Club/uSwitch/EnergyLinx or whatever, and find them.

Thanks - I will next time, for now I'm content to have 'won' the argument!

mac.d said:

The Government has set targets for suppliers to install so many smart meters, so yes the somewhat misleading requests for people to agree to have smart meters fitted isn't just limited to one supplier. See the E-on thread for continual questions about which tariff specifies you only have to be contacted about smart meters, and which specify you need to have them fitted for evidence of this. The latter is becoming more prevalent, the best tariffs only available with agreement in the terms & conditions that you will have a smart meter fitted, and if not, they reserve the right to move you onto another tariff.

As I wrote above:

I've already had a conversation with them about a new fixed tariff this week. The agent told me that I couldn't move to the fixed tariff unless I had a smart meter fitted. When I pointed out that the T&Cs made it clear that  I only had to accept 'communications' about smart meters to qualify he spoke to his manager (at length) and then had to honour what was in the email.

"You must already have a smart meter installed or, if not, you must receive communications regarding smart meter installation as and when you are eligible for a smart meter"

The emails say one thing whilst their agents have a different script.  I don't blame these agents, just the unscrupulous tactics from their employer.

Gers

Swipe said:

I'd just leave the appointment and let them waste their time when no one answers

I live in a very remote area, even the meter readers don't come when appointments are made as they 'are not in the area', however  I submit meter readings online regularly.

mac.d

Gers said:

I've already had a conversation with them about a new fixed tariff this week. The agent told me that I couldn't move to the fixed tariff unless I had a smart meter fitted. When I pointed out that the T&Cs made it clear that  I only had to accept 'communications' about smart meters to qualify he spoke to his manager (at length) and then had to honour what was in the email.

"You must already have a smart meter installed or, if not, you must receive communications regarding smart meter installation as and when you are eligible for a smart meter"

The emails say one thing whilst their agents have a different script.  I don't blame these agents, just the unscrupulous tactics from their employer.

As in the E-on feedback thread, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. The E-on rep on these forums is supposedly feeding back this kind of information to their customer service, as most of them don't appear to realise that there are some tariffs that you only need to agree to be contacted, and they keep insisting people have to get a smart meter fitted.
All you need to know is that the suppliers have targets to meet, so they are trying to get as many people as they can to agree to having smart meters. And while it's not yet mandatory to have smart meters installed, as suppliers are still struggling to meet the targets for smart meter installs, they are now starting to make some tariffs dependant on you having a smart meter installed.

So just make sure you read the terms & conditions carefully when you look for a new tariff, and if it says anything about only needing to be contacted about smart meters, take a screenshot of it, because it's entirely possible that they will bombard you with appointments/requests about a smart meter, and in some cases, will mistakenly insist you need to have a smart meter installed. It doesn't necessarily mean they are being underhand or unscrupulous, they are just trying to meet their government set targets.

As already suggested, it may be worth trying some of the smaller suppliers if you want to keep avoiding a smart meter. For now at least, I'm still willing to either go with a smaller, less well-known supplier, or even not the absolute cheapest tariff available to avoid a smart meter. I fully understand that may become more difficult, and will eventually just get one installed. All I'm hoping to do is delay it until they actually work properly. 

Smodlet

If I could thank mac.d's post more than once, I would.  What mac.d said, and then some.

Gers

mac.d said:

Gers said:

I've already had a conversation with them about a new fixed tariff this week. The agent told me that I couldn't move to the fixed tariff unless I had a smart meter fitted. When I pointed out that the T&Cs made it clear that  I only had to accept 'communications' about smart meters to qualify he spoke to his manager (at length) and then had to honour what was in the email.

"You must already have a smart meter installed or, if not, you must receive communications regarding smart meter installation as and when you are eligible for a smart meter"

The emails say one thing whilst their agents have a different script.  I don't blame these agents, just the unscrupulous tactics from their employer.

So just make sure you read the terms & conditions carefully when you look for a new tariff, and if it says anything about only needing to be contacted about smart meters, take a screenshot of it, because it's entirely possible that they will bombard you with appointments/requests about a smart meter, and in some cases, will mistakenly insist you need to have a smart meter installed. It doesn't necessarily mean they are being underhand or unscrupulous, they are just trying to meet their government set targets.

Yes, luckily I did take the time to read the small print so knew that the T&Cs did not indicate that I HAD to have a smart meter installed to have the benefit of the new fixed term tariff.  AndI acknowledged that the agent wasn't to blame.  Smoke and mirrors!