Old meter, forcing us to stay on standard variable tariff?

Spittle1002

We've bought an old house. Post through from SSE to register closing and opening meter readings, set ourselves up as account holders etc. Man at SSE said we have an old meter type when I gave him serial number, he said it might cause us problems and also that we needed special documentation on how to use it to be sent. I asked to be able to review cheapest tariff for us and he said he had to check with a colleague as he wasn't sure we could on this old type of meter. 

No call came at time promised next day so I called back abd couldn't get through. Emailed and asked for documents to be sent and for confirmation if we could or couldn't change tariff. Also asked for meter to be changed for newer one. 

Got reply just saying they'd checked and we could keep our old meter. 

Replied saying we don't want it, we want to be able to change off of expensive standard variable tariff and can we please have documents for how to use it correctly. 

No documents have been sent, no replies from them since following chases.

Can they leave us with a meter that forces us to only be able to be on standard variable tariff and only with them? 

Gerry1

How many registers does it have?

MWT

Perhaps a photo or at least a description of the meter(s) might be useful?

This link may help...

https://sse.co.uk/help/energy/meters/types-of-meter

Ultimately the answer though is 'no' they can't leave you tied to them but without knowing what you have now it is impossible to say if anything that has been said by SSE so far is accurate, hence the questions...

Gerry1

The document may be the instructions about how to read a clock face meter. They are very easy to misread if you don't realise that each dial reading must relate to the number that the pointer has just passed, and that it's not necessarily the closest number.  Many people would get this example wrong...

Sadly, many energy companies just don't have a clue and show images which are hopelessly misleading.  This wonky meter seems to be showing 17028 but they claim it's 27038, so the mythical user would have an extreme case of bill shock !

Terresa

Spittle1002 said:

Old meter, forcing us to stay on standard variable tariff?

No.

Ten characters

PixelPound

Tell them if they are not putting you on their cheapest tariff you'll switch away. Whilst it is possible they have a smart meter only tariff they will have a non-smart tariff a lot cheaper than SVR. It sounds like a ploy to get you to get a new meter.

[Deleted User]

nic_c said: It sounds like a ploy to get you to get a new meter.

Spittle1002 said: Emailed and asked for documents to be sent and for confirmation if we could or couldn't change tariff. Also asked for meter to be changed for newer one. 

Got reply just saying they'd checked and we could keep our old meter. 

Replied saying we don't want it, we want to be able to change off of expensive standard variable tariff and can we please have documents for how to use it correctly.

Hi,

OP has already asked for a change of meter.

The meter shouldn't determine what tariff you are on, it is only to record usage.

Have a look on comparison site for cheaper tariff and just instigate a switch.

MWT

frugalmacdugal said:

The meter shouldn't determine what tariff you are on, it is only to record usage.

Have a look on comparison site for cheaper tariff and just instigate a switch.

Unless he has one of the 'complex' meter solutions which is why the OP needs to come back and tell us what it is that they have there...

[Deleted User]

MWT said:

[Deleted User] said:

The meter shouldn't determine what tariff you are on, it is only to record usage.

Have a look on comparison site for cheaper tariff and just instigate a switch.

Unless he has one of the 'complex' meter solutions which is why the OP needs to come back and tell us what it is that they have there...

Hi,

he said he had bought an old house, so must be a really odd meter when he was told 'it might cause us problems and also that we needed special documentation on how to use it to be sent'.

Be interesting to see the 'special documentation' if op is willing to share.

MWT

frugalmacdugal said:

he said he had bought an old house, so must be a really odd meter when he was told 'it might cause us problems and also that we needed special documentation on how to use it to be sent'.

Could be anything from a really old dial meter that hasn't been tested in decades through to a THTC setup, but unless the OP gives us more information we may never know...

macman

Even if it's something like E10 or HeatWise, then that wouldn't support SVT either. Sounds like yet another SSE call centre drone requires some 'retraining'.